Paul Gruber: Berowra man pleads guilty to importing US gun parts

A father-of-two was living a double life as a major gun importer, stockpiling a deadly stash of weapons in Sydney’s northern suburbs.

Court documents have revealed how a disability pensioner from Berowra lived a double life as a major gun importer, stockpiling a deadly stash in Sydney’s northern suburbs he amassed from the US.

Paul Leslie Gruber, 45, was living a modest life when his world came crashing down in August 2019, stepping off a flight from China and straight into the custody of waiting AFP officers.

The series of events which saw him pose as a buyer in Florida to send guns down under are coming to a close after he pleaded guilty to 13 of his 60 firearms-related charges on Tuesday.

The father-of-two left the Downing Centre Local Court briskly after entering the pleas through his lawyer Javid Faiz.

Gruber, right, leaves court with his lawyer Javid Faiz, left. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Some of the guns the AFP allegedly found.

According to court documents, Gruber would import the items under the label “car parts”, detailing why they needed to be concealed, and repeatedly told sellers the reason for doing so was because “my girlfriend hates my hobby”.

“This will be sent to my address in FL then reshipped to me in Australia but that’s not important :),” court documents state he said in one transaction.

“Basically it needs to be ‘Girlfriend Stealth Packaged’ as she truly hates me spending money on my hobby,” he said in another.

“My wife will kill me.”

Gruber did not have permits for the weapons.

A previous court hearing was told Gruber was on the disability support pension as a result of mental health issues including bipolar and a severe panic disorder.

The documents set out how the AFP cracked the case, tracking shipments by Gruber to several addresses in Florida before they eventually ended up on Sydney’s north shore.

They had also intercepted messages to a relative on Telegram while Gruber was in China showing him repeatedly asking if any packages had arrived for him, according to the documents.

He was arrested in dramatic scenes at Sydney International Airport just days later.

Gruber, right, is potentially facing 20 years in jail if convicted in the District Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

A search of a garage rented out by Gruber located two rifles, a pistol and almost 1000 rounds of ammunition he was not permitted to possess.

At his home police found more firearms including a crossbow and a silencer, court documents state.

He had used PayPal to engage in 107 transactions to purchase firearm parts.

Gruber will be sentenced in the District Court after he was committed and entered pleas. Though his lawyer Mr Faiz told the court he and the police were negotiating on small elements of the case.

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