Indy Gun Ring: 7 Sentenced in 240 Firearm Heist

INDIANAPOLIS – A brazen scheme to steal and illegally distribute 240 firearms through an Indianapolis shipping hub has landed seven individuals in federal prison, according to the Department of Justice. The ring, operating between January and March 2022, funneled stolen weapons into the hands of criminals across the Midwest and beyond, contributing to a surge in violent crime that continues to plague multiple states.

The masterminds behind the operation were identified as Bruce Williams, 33, and Ryan Hurt, 30, both former employees of the Indianapolis shipping facility. They exploited their positions to pilfer four separate shipments destined for various states. Their network extended to include accomplices like Malyk Mendez, 32, and convicted felon Antonio Grant, 33, who assisted in the theft and distribution. The stolen firearms were then sold to individuals including Kevin Jones, Jr, 23, and convicted felons Dominique Ellison, 37, and Zackary Doss, 27, who further expanded the network by reselling the weapons.

Sentencing details reveal the extent of the varying roles within the conspiracy. Williams received the harshest sentence of 9 years imprisonment, along with 3 years of supervised release, after being convicted of Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Hurt was sentenced to 4.5 years imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release on charges of Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms and Possession of Stolen Firearms. Jones, Jr. received 3.5 years imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms and Possession or Sale of Stolen Firearms. Doss got 2.5 years imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Ellison received 1.5 years imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Mendez received 1.5 years imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release for Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms. Finally, Grant received 3 years of probation for Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.

ATF agents uncovered the scheme after noticing significant inventory discrepancies at the Indianapolis terminal. The stolen firearms included a disturbing array of weaponry: 174 9mm semi-automatic handguns, 38 .45 caliber semi-automatic handguns, 13 .38 caliber revolvers, 2 .22 caliber revolvers, 5 semi-automatic rifles, and 8 10mm semi-automatic handguns. While investigators have recovered 61 of the 240 stolen firearms as of May 5, 2025, the remaining 179 remain unaccounted for – and likely in the hands of criminals.

The recovered weapons have surfaced in a terrifying range of criminal activity, spanning Indianapolis, Lafayette, Gary, Chicago, Florida, and Oklahoma. Law enforcement has linked the stolen firearms to incidents including felonious possession of weapons, drug trafficking, domestic violence, vehicle pursuits, shootings, carjackings, and even homicides. “Stolen firearms are a major source of crime guns for violent offenders and pose a serious threat to public safety,” stated Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we’re committed to stopping gun traffickers, recovering stolen weapons, and keeping them out of the hands of dangerous individuals.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) jointly investigated the case. U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson handed down the sentences. Acting U.S. Attorney Childress specifically thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pamela S. Domash and Bradley P. Shepard for their work on the prosecution. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.

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