Christopher Grays, a 25-year-old resident of West Memphis, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and handed down by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
Grays was indicted on June 6, 2024, after being found with two firearms while still on supervised release from a previous conviction for the same offense. He pleaded guilty to the charge on February 4, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Judge Moody imposed three years of supervised release following his incarceration. This sentence represents an upward variance from the recommended sentencing guidelines. There is no parole in the federal system.
Previously, Grays had been sentenced to 46 months in prison on November 16, 2020, also for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was released from federal custody on October 4, 2023.
The latest arrest occurred on February 28, 2024. According to testimony at the sentencing hearing, West Memphis Police responded to reports that a female was being held against her will and that Grays was armed with multiple guns at a local hotel. Officers encountered Grays at the hotel room door and observed an extended ammunition magazine in his back pocket. During their attempt to take him into custody, Grays kicked several officers.
After detaining Grays, police discovered two firearms hidden in the toilet tank of the hotel bathroom; one weapon was loaded with ammunition matching that found in Grays’ magazine.
At sentencing, Judge Moody reviewed police reports detailing alleged gun violence involving Grays dating back to his time as a juvenile. Between 2015 and 2020 alone, he was mentioned in more than seventeen police reports—most involving violent behavior.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Memphis Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens prosecuted the case.
“Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas,” said: “A second federal firearm conviction has resulted in Christopher Grays spending the next 120 months in prison.”
