‘WE WILL NOT REST’
Authorities dismantle network that illegally sold nearly 100 firearms
NORRISTOWN >> State and local authorities dismantled a multi-county gun trafficking organization that illegally obtained and sold nearly 100 firearms using straw purchase schemes and charges are pending against eight Philadelphia residents allegedly linked to the network.
“Gun trafficking is a serious crime that endangers our communities since these illegal firearms are sold on to people who can’t buy their own guns. Law enforcement is committed to fighting these illegal gun sales and gun trafficking organizations whose sole purpose is to make money by arming criminals,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said at a Wednesday news conference.
Members of the network allegedly purchased 94 firearms and attempted to purchase an additional 23 firearms in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Philadelphia, Columbia, Northampton and York counties.
Of the 94 illegally purchased guns, only 29 have been recovered by law enforcement.
“That leaves 65 in the wind. We don’t where they are and that’s one of the dangers of straw purchasing,” Steele said.
Some of the firearms were recovered during investigations of other crimes including in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and during an October 2021 gunpoint robbery in Wolcott, Conn., according to court documents.
“We are taking this very, very seriously and getting those other 65 guns back is a priority to us,” Steele said. “And I’m afraid and fear they’re going to be involved in other crimes.”
The illegal purchases were made using straw purchase schemes. A straw purchase occurs when someone who is legally allowed to purchase a firearm purchases one and then gives it illegally to someone who is
not permitted to purchase that firearm.
Larry B. Williams, 40, of the 3600 block of Jasper Street, was identified as the alleged leader of the organization.
“Williams couldn’t buy a firearm because of some of his past indiscretions so he was prohibited from buying, owning or possessing (firearms) so he recruited other defendants who lived in Philadelphia to buy firearms,” Steele alleged. “The investigation found that oftentimes Williams would accompany these straw purchasers to gun stores and help choose the weapons or he directed the purchases from afar using text or phone conversations.”
Seven others were charged with illegally purchasing firearms or attempting to purchase them for Williams and his organization, according to court documents.
Robert Otis Cooper III, 23, of the 1300 block of Colwyn Street, allegedly purchased 41 firearms and attempted to purchase eight others for the organization in less than two months.
Ziair Stenson, 26, of the 400 block of West Wellens Street, allegedly purchased 36 firearms and attempted to purchase an additional seven for the network, while Malik Keyon RowellJernigan, 24, of the 1900 block of East Pacific Street, allegedly purchased eight firearms and attempted to purchase three others.
Daynell M. Jones, 40, of the 3600 block of Jasper Street, Zakayla S. Deshields, 22, of the 4100 block of West Godfrey Avenue, and Kevin Logan, 24, of the 5200 block of North American Street, each allegedly purchased three firearms for the network, according to authorities.
Shadiid S. Smalley, 23, of the 4600 block of Kraydor Street, allegedly attempted to buy five firearms for the organization.
The alleged members of the organization are facing various charges, including corrupt organizations, illegal purchase, sale or transfer of firearms, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal use of communication facilities and making materially false statements. They face March 7 preliminary hearings on the charges before District Court Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar in Lower Providence.
Those joining Steele at the news conference included Acting Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub, Abington Township Police Chief Patrick Molloy and representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Philadelphia Field Division.
“This gun trafficking organization was significant and it was dangerous. Far too frequently these weapons end up in the hands of dangerous individuals to be used to commit crimes and fuel gun violence in our communities,” Henry said. “I am grateful for the hard work of all the agencies who partnered in this investigation. Together, we will continue to fight hard to stop the trafficking of firearms in our state and make Pennsylvania safer for all who live here.”
Weintraub emphasized the violence associated with illegal firearms.
“After these guns were purchased illegally, many were then used by criminals to commit violent crimes,” Weintraub said. “Working together, our goal is to deter straw purchases by vigorously investigating each one and holding the gun purchasers and end users criminally accountable. This requires relentless commitment by law enforcement. We will not rest. More to come.”
In June 2022, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau initiated an investigation into illegal activities associated with the gun trafficking organization. Law enforcement began following the multiple purchases of firearms by the defendants through the state’s Electronic Record of Sale (EROS) system and through hard copies of ATF and Pennsylvania State Police forms at gun stores.
Detectives used surveillance, interviews, information from law enforcement agencies, call detail records and cellphone downloads, social media analysis, records of cash transfers, inspection of forms used in purchasing firearms and other methods of investigation. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies and increased data sharing through initiatives like Track and Trace aided in uncovering the scale of the widespread operation.
Steele said about half of the 94 illegal gun purchases and 23 attempted purchases were completed at gun shows statewide including at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks.
“Typically these defendants would purchase multiple firearms from different dealers at the same gun show,” Steele added, alleging Cooper, at one gun show, purchased 13 guns over two days from seven different federally licensed firearms dealers.
The following law enforcement organizations participated in this investigation: the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force; Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Violent Crime Unit; Bucks County District Attorney’s Drug Strike Force; U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Pennsylvania State Police; Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole; FBI Bucks Montgomery Safe Streets Task Force; U.S. Marshal’s Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force; New York State Police and multiple police departments including Abington Township Police, Philadelphia Police, Middletown Township Police, Wolcott, Conn., Police, Darby Police, New York City Police and the Pittsburgh Police.