Houston gun dealer pleads guilty to federal weapons offense linked to military-grade weapons trafficking

A Houston gun dealer has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms offense, ending a string of illegal gun sales that diverted high-powered weapons to illicit markets. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, former Cypress resident and NE Guns operator Nicah Anderson was involved in helping straw buyers acquire at least 41 firearms between December 2022 and March 2023, which were quickly resold, some to Mexican drug cartels.

An investigation into arms trafficking has revealed that Anderson’s operation facilitated the movement of military-grade weapons, such as Barret .50 caliber sniper rifles and FN SCAR 17S assault rifles, into channels that were never intended for civilians. Anderson reportedly knew about these transactions — a serious implication given the firepower involved and the violence these tools can unleash. The illicit trade funneled $115,000 to NE Guns from the straw purchases, as detailed by federal prosecutors.

A search conducted on July 19, 2023, yielded a cache of 266 firearms, more than 138,000 rounds of ammunition, and seven silencers from NE Guns. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating: “Weapons of war, including a .50 caliber rifle, walked out of Nicah Anderson’s gun store into the arms of straw buyers, and he knew it.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which led the investigation, noted through its Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel that “this defendant chose profit over helping to maintain the safety of the general public and he will be held accountable for those repeated decisions.” As part of his plea, Anderson has agreed to a two-year prison sentence, though he will remain out on bail until his Oct. 24 sentencing, according to details from a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release.