The owner of Grips By Larry, a former federal firearms licensee in Arizona, was indicted last week on charges of attempting to provide material support to two Mexican cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations. The indictment against Laurence Gray, 65, of Hereford, Arizona, was returned by a federal grand jury in Phoenix on March 17 and announced on Mar. 25.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat the flow of firearms and support to criminal organizations that have been labeled threats to national security. Both Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) and Cartel de Sinaloa (CDS) were designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. Secretary of State in February 2025.
Gray was arraigned on charges including Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Conspiracy to Provide Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. He had previously been indicted for firearms trafficking offenses in 2025 along with Barrett Weinberger, 73, of Tucson, Arizona. The original indictment included charges such as trafficking in firearms and aiding and abetting straw purchases.
According to the superseding indictment, Gray allegedly attempted in May 2025 to provide firearms specifically to CJNG and conspired during that year with others regarding both CJNG and CDS. Convictions for conspiracy or attempting to provide material support each carry up to 20 years in prison or fines up to $250,000; related firearms convictions carry penalties ranging from ten years up depending on the offense.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at countering illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations through coordinated law enforcement efforts involving Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation; Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Shand is handling prosecution duties.
Officials remind the public that an indictment is not evidence of guilt: all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
