Grand jury indicts East Valley business owner suspected of aiding firearms straw purchases

A 34-year-old Gilbert man has been indicted on eight counts on charges related to aiding and abetting straw purchases of firearms and failing to report cash transactions more than $10,000, authorities said Wednesday.

Esteban Yanez, the owner of Virtus Armament and The Armory, Virtus Armament, a federal firearms licensee in Chandler, was arraigned on April 14, according to a release from the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On April 8, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned the eight-count indictment against Yanez for false statement during the purchase of a firearm, straw purchasing of firearms and failure to file forms relating to cash received in trade or business, the release stated.