Jury seated for alleged gun trafficker’s trial
Man accused of operating a network throughout region
NORRISTOWN » A Lower Pottsgrove man accused of leading a gun trafficking network that included so-called “straw purchases” has selected the jury that will weigh his fate.
Michael Hill, 31, of the 2900 block of Walnut Ridge Estates, appeared to take an active role with his lawyer in the selection process but showed no reaction Tuesday after a jury of eight women and four men was seated to hear testimony at his trial this week in Montgomery County Court.
Testimony at the trial before Judge Garrett D. Page gets under way on Wednesday. The trial is expected to last several days.
Hill faces charges of corrupt organizations, criminal use of a communication facility, unsworn falsification to authorities, unlawful transfer of a firearm, person not to possess firearms and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities in connection with alleged incidents that occurred between February 2015 and December 2016.
Hill, who has a lengthy criminal record and was not permitted to possess firearms, was identified in court documents as the “principal subject” of the investigation surrounding the alleged gun trafficking organization.
“The main purpose of this corrupt organization was to arm individuals, including Hill, who are precluded from legally owning a firearm… due to their criminal history,” county detectives alleged in court documents. “Hill recruited and employed individuals in this gun trafficking organization with ‘clean’ criminal histories. These underlings then falsified documents to purchase multiple firearms on Hill’s behalf.”
Such criminal behavior is commonly referred to as “straw purchases.” A straw purchase occurs when the actual buyer of a firearm uses another person, a “straw purchaser,” to execute the paperwork necessary to purchase a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer, detectives explained.
Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ringwood, captain of the Pottstown Community Prosecution Unit, and co-prosecutor Robert Kolansky are prosecuting the case.
Hill is represented by defense lawyer Pietro D’Angelo.
Authorities also rounded up Hill’s alleged associates, those who conspired with Hill by either purchasing or attempting to purchase firearms on Hill’s behalf. Hill, detectives alleged, supplied the funds, the transportation and was present for some of the straw purchases or attempted straw purchases.
Anthony “Tek” Walker, 29, of the 200 block of North Gross Street, Philadelphia, identified in court papers as “a close associate of Michael Hill’s,” also is standing trial with Hill on corrupt organizations and various weapons-and conspiracy-related charges. Walker, who is represented by defense lawyer Robert Craig Keller, allegedly took part in an attempted straw purchase and knew the workings of the organization, according to the criminal complaint.
Several other people allegedly involved in the organization previously pleaded guilty to weapons- or conspiracy-related charges and are awaiting sentencing.
The joint investigation was conducted by the district attorney’s Violent Crime Unit, officers from the Pottstown, West Pottsgrove and Lower Pottsgrove police departments and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The investigation began after authorities seized two firearms from persons who were found to be in illegal possession of them, during two separate criminal investigations in West Pottsgrove and Philadelphia.
Detectives used old-fashioned surveillance, cellphone records and search warrants to link Hill to the gun trafficking organization.
Hill, detectives alleged, frequented various gun shows held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Upper Providence and undercover detectives placed him under surveillance and observed Hill “walking from vendor to vendor and looking at various firearms and firearm accessories for sale,” court documents indicate.
On Dec. 19, 2016, detectives, armed with a warrant approved by a judge, searched Hill’s Lower Pottsgrove residence. During the search, detectives seized three firearms and several empty gun boxes and 396 live rounds of ammunition, according to the arrest affidavit.
During the investigation, detectives reviewed text messages contained on Hill’s cellphone, which was seized.
“These text messages provided a glimpse of Hill’s gun trafficking organization, confirming that Hill not only oversaw the organization, but was known as a source of illegal firearms,” detectives alleged.
Hill, authorities alleged, even engaged in a text message conversation with a 14-year-old juvenile during which he provided the juvenile a price for an illegal firearm.
During another conversation an alleged buyer texted Hill, “I was trying to get like 2 gats,” according to court papers. “Gats,” detectives said, is street slang for handguns.
Hill, according to court documents, told the buyer, “Yo if you come tomorrow I got a 45 for the 700.” Detectives alleged Hill was referring to a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun he had at his residence.
Detectives alleged the text message conversations showed how Hill’s gun trafficking network operated. Authorities also uncovered photos of guns on Hill’s cellphone.
“Hill is not only advertising illegal firearms for sale, but is known as a supplier of firearms and received an order for more firearms,” alleged detectives, referring to the conversation.