YOUNGSTOWN — A gun dealer accused by the government of taking part in a scheme to illegally sell 60 military-grade rifles to buyers in Mexico pleaded guilty to one charge.

Paul A. Groves of Canfield during a hearing in U.S. District Court on Friday pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm, a 40mm caliber machine gun. In September 2018, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives searched Grove’s Canfield home at 5638 S. Raccoon Road.

The government dropped one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., reported 21-WFMJ TV. Groves, when sentenced later, could face up to two years in prison.

The indictment alleged Groves, who operated High Powered Armory in Youngstown, provided false information in the purchase of firearms to purchase military-grade weapons and resell them to illegal purchasers, who then resold them to Mexican buyers.The indictment does not identify who received the guns in Mexico, or how the weapons were used.

Co-defendant Eric L. Grimes, 47, of Columbus, operated Great Machine, LLC in Hilliard, pleaded guilty earlier to engaging in the firearms business without a license, WFMJ reported. While High Powered Armory was a federal firearms licensee, Great Machine was not, prosecutors said.

news@tribtoday.com