A former arms dealer in Canfield who was convicted in 2022 of having an unlicensed machine gun has been granted early release from probation.

U.S. District Court Judge Pamela Barker has approved Paul Grove’s motion to end his probation early. Government attorneys did not oppose the motion.

Judge Barker based her decision on a recommendation from Grove’s probation officer.

Groves was sentenced to nine months in prison followed by two years of probation after being convicted for having an unlicensed machine gun.

When Groves submitted the motion earlier this month, he still had another year of probation, also known as supervised release.

Groves’ motion noted that he had performed well throughout the legal process. "He has had no new contacts with law enforcement, he has operated an upstanding business venture with operations in excavation, demolition, trucking and a novel upstart involving spraying crops with a drone where excessive raid makes traditional method cost prohibitive," the filing reads.

The filing also included images of Groves's company presenting checks and working in the Mahoning Valley.

Groves once operated the High Powered Armory on Market Street in Youngstown. In 2020, he pled guilty to possessing an MK 19 Mod-1 40mm caliber machine gun not registered to him.

According to a sentencing memorandum filed by the United States Attorney’s Office, Grove was caught with an MK19 grenade launcher, a “destructive device” capable of automatic fire while expelling explosive grenades.

The public first became aware of the government’s interest in the former licensed federal firearms dealer when agents searched his Raccoon Road home in Canfield in September 2018.

That search was followed by an indictment that alleged Groves provided false information to fraudulently purchase military-grade weapons and resell them to illegal purchasers, who would then resell them to Mexican buyers. Grove's attorney said the allegations were not supported by evidence and had little to do with the charge to which Grove eventually pleaded.

You can read more about this case in our related coverage below.

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