Saint Marys Resident Charged with Conspiring to Traffic Illegal Firearms into Canada

ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Saints Marys, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie for violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

The three-count Indictment named Gary James Murray, 44, as the sole defendant and was unsealed on July 15, 2024, following his arrest.

According to the Indictment, from October 1, 2022, to April 4, 2024, Murray conspired with individuals in Canada to conceal and ship Glock pistols from the United States to Canada without the required license and contrary to exportation regulations. The firearms Murray allegedly smuggled across the border were prohibited weapons in Canada. Specifically, the Indictment alleges that Murray communicated with multiple buyers in Canada who were interested in purchasing firearms from him and arranging to have them smuggled over the border. Murray, who communicated with the buyers using the encrypted Telegram messaging application, allegedly purchased numerous Glock handguns from local dealers in the Western District of Pennsylvania, disassembled the weapons, and concealed the parts inside household objects such as glue guns, camping kits, and staplers. Murray then allegedly packaged the items and shipped them to British Columbia via the U.S. Postal Service and UPS. As alleged, Murray provided the buyers with instructions on how to reassemble the firearms after they had received the packages in Canada. In exchange for purchasing and smuggling the firearms, Murray allegedly received payments from buyers via Cash App, including more than $20,000 in payments during a two-week period in late January and early February 2024.

"Gary Murray allegedly used his ready access to firearms in the United States to pursue a lucrative cross-border trafficking enterprise," said U.S. Attorney Olshan. "This prosecution demonstrates once again the resolve of our office and our partners at the ATF to track down and put a stop to illicit firearms sales-including those that span international borders-as well as our commitment to keeping guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them."

"Stopping firearms trafficking, which puts guns in the hands of violent criminals and other prohibited people, is a top priority at ATF," said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF's Philadelphia Field Division. "Far from being a victimless crime, trafficking presents a grave threat to public safety. Through enhanced cooperation and coordination with Canadian authorities, including expanded access to the eTrace systems, we disrupted this international firearms trafficking operation, keeping many illegal guns from criminals in the U.S. and Canada."

Murray is charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit firearms smuggling, unlawful transfer of a firearm to an out-of-state resident, and firearms smuggling. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $750,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Molly W. Anglin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment, with critical assistance from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit from British Columbia, Canada.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.