Christopher Grays of West Memphis has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after his second conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms. 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, 25, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2024. He pleaded guilty to the charge on February 4, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Judge Moody ordered three years of supervised release following incarceration. The court imposed an upward variance from the recommended sentencing range. Federal sentences do not include parole.
Previously, Judge Moody had sentenced Grays to 46 months in prison on November 16, 2020—also for being a felon in possession of a firearm. After his release from federal custody on October 4, 2023, Grays was arrested again while still under supervision when he was found with two firearms on February 28, 2024.
According to testimony at sentencing, West Memphis Police responded that day to reports of a female being held against her will and that Grays possessed multiple guns in a hotel room. Officers arriving at the scene saw an extended ammunition magazine in Grays’ back pocket as they encountered him at the door. During efforts to take him into custody, Grays kicked several police officers.
After detaining him, officers found two firearms hidden in the toilet tank of the hotel bathroom; one weapon was loaded with ammunition matching what was found in Grays’ pocket.
During sentencing proceedings, Judge Moody reviewed numerous police reports detailing alleged gun violence involving Grays dating back to his juvenile years. Between 2015 and 2020 alone, over seventeen police reports referenced incidents involving violent conduct attributed to him.
The investigation involved both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Memphis Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens prosecuted the case.
