Canfield Gun Dealer Accused of Arming Mexican Cartels

COLUMBUS, OH – Paul A. Groves, 36, of Canfield, Ohio, stands accused of fueling the violence south of the border. A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment yesterday, charging Groves with conspiracy to illegally buy and resell military-grade semi-automatic firearms destined for Mexican buyers. The case, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), reveals a brazen scheme to profit from the flow of weapons into potentially dangerous hands.

According to the indictment, Groves, operating High Powered Armory in Youngstown, allegedly used deceptive practices to acquire the firearms. He’s accused of providing false information to fraudulently purchase these weapons, then reselling them to individuals who would further traffic them into Mexico. Working alongside Groves was Eric L. Grimes, 47, of Columbus, who operated Great Machine, LLC in Hilliard – a business that wasn’t licensed to deal in firearms.

The operation wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. In January 2015, Groves attempted to legitimize Great Machine as a secondary location for High Powered Armory by applying for an ATF license. While that application was pending, the alleged illegal activity continued. Investigators discovered a network stretching into Indiana, where individuals were conspiring to acquire firearms from licensees specifically for transport to Mexico. Groves allegedly negotiated deals with this Indiana group, securing inflated prices from Mexican buyers eager for high-powered rifles.

The financial trail is damning. On January 28, 2015, Grimes accepted over $48,000 in cash at Great Machine, acting on Groves’ instructions and on his behalf, as payment for the anticipated rifle purchases. Weeks later, Groves allegedly transferred the weapons to the Indiana group at High Powered Armory. These rifles were then driven to McAllen, Texas, and ultimately sold to buyers in Mexico. Gun Envy, LLC on Indianola Avenue in Columbus was also identified as a meeting location used by the conspirators.

Groves now faces serious federal charges: one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, punishable by up to five years in prison, and one count of receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm, carrying a potential maximum sentence of 10 years. Grimes, meanwhile, pleaded guilty Wednesday to engaging in firearms business without a license – a crime also punishable by up to five years. U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman and ATF Special Agent in Charge Trevor Velinor praised the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Kelley and Jessica H. Kim leading the prosecution.

It’s crucial to remember that an indictment represents allegations, and Groves is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence presented thus far paints a grim picture of a calculated effort to circumvent gun laws and profit from the illicit arms trade, potentially contributing to the ongoing violence in Mexico.