The Justice Department announced on Wednesday that a gun dealer from Arizona has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly supplying weapons to at least two Mexican drug cartels.
Lawrence Gray, 65, who resides in Hereford, Arizona, is said to have knowingly provided firearms to both the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel in 2025, according to federal prosecutors. It’s worth noting that these gangs are labeled as foreign terrorist organizations by the State Department.
Gray is facing charges for attempting to support a foreign terrorist organization and for conspiracy to provide support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
He owns Grips by Rally, a dealership that is federally licensed, and was first indicted last year alongside Barrett Weinberger, 73, from Tucson. The prosecution claims that they were both involved in an illegal arms trade.
On February 22, 2025, Gray allegedly played a role in facilitating the purchase of a Colt 1911 semi-automatic handgun. Other questionable transactions reportedly occurred in the following months, according to court documents.
When they were first charged, the accusations included trafficking in firearms, assisting in straw purchases, and supporting false statements made during firearm purchases. The recent indictment has significantly bolstered the terrorism charges against Gray.
As stated by the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), “Mexican drug cartels extensively use straw purchasers in the United States to legally obtain firearms and then illegally smuggle them across the border.”
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Trump administration aiming to consolidate efforts within the Department of Homeland Security to tackle illegal immigration and eliminate cartels, thereby enhancing community safety.
Attempts to reach Gray’s attorney for comment are ongoing.
