CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily) — A gun store owner in the East Valley was charged in federal court last week after prosecutors said he lied about purchasing firearms that were later given to felons and failed to report gun sales.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, a federal grand jury in Phoenix on April 8 returned an eight-count indictment against Esteban Yanez, 34, of Gilbert. He is charged with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, straw purchasing of firearms and failing to file IRS forms related to cash received in a trade or business.
Prosecutors alleged that on three occasions between October 2025 and February 2026, Yanez — who owns The Armory at Virtus Armament near Ray Road and Arizona Avenue — aided and abetted people who knowingly made false statements at his shop when submitting background check forms, misrepresenting the actual purchaser of the guns…