An Albuquerque resident, Anthony Lutz, has admitted to dealing firearms without a license. According to court documents, between 2019 and 2023, Lutz sold dozens of guns for profit. The operation came to light after Mexican authorities seized one of his rifles at a crime scene in 2022. This prompted an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which linked Lutz to 11 additional firearms recovered from crime scenes—six in Albuquerque and six in Mexico—and found evidence that he had purchased about 82 firearms, including 50 AR-15 rifles of two specific models.
In his plea agreement, Lutz acknowledged building receivers into functional firearms and selling them through online platforms such as JasonsGuns.com.
Lutz pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully dealing in firearms. Under the terms of the plea agreement, both parties will recommend that he serve five years on probation and pay a $30,000 fine.
“Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.”
The ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting.
“This effort is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.”
