The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Convicted ‘straw’ gun buyer faces five years in jail
MEDIA COURTHOUSE » A Chester man convicted last week on various gun charges after buying firearms for a convicted felon at a gun show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center faces a mandatory five years in prison.
“We know that many of the illegal guns used in the streets for violence and crime are a result of straw purchases,” said Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland. “In the case of Rashan DeJarnette, he went to a gun show with the intent to illegally purchase these guns, showing a complete disregard for the law and the safety of his community.”
DeJarnette, 22, of the 100 block of Worrell Street, was convicted after a two-day jury trial before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge John Capuzzi. Deputy District Attorney George Dawson, chief of the Anti-Violence Task Force, prosecuted the case.
DeJarnette was arrested in September 2017 following a joint investigation by the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division, the Office of the state Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
He made the purchases for convicted felon Harry Jackson during a gun show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in May 2016, according to an affidavit of probable cause written by county Detective David Tyler. Jackson has not been charged at this time, said Copeland spokeswoman Emily Harris.
DeJarnette, Jackson and two other men were seen handling and examining guns at various vendor booths by undercover agents of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Gun Task Force. Jackson appeared to be in charge of selecting certain firearms for further examination as the group browsed the show, according to the affidavit. He picked out two guns at one vendor table and showed them to DeJarnette before the four men made their way to the food court.
DeJarnette later returned to the table alone and inspected the guns, then went back to the food court, where Jackson handed him some money, the affidavit says. Surveillance photos showed DeJarnette again returning to the vendor and filling out the paperwork to buy the two guns, according to the affidavit.
The four men exited the expo center and got into a 2007 Dodge Charger registered to Jackson at an address on the 1500 block of Shaw Terrace, according to the affidavit. Jackson has prior convictions including simple assault, burglary, delivery of a controlled substance, intimidation of a witness and terroristic threats, the affidavit says.
Tyler and Sergeant William Gordon met with Task Force Officer Martin Dietz in June and determined DeJarnette had purchased the two firearms for Jackson in exchange for money. Records of sale indicated he bought two .380 Bryco Davis semi-automatic
“We know that many of the illegal guns used in the streets for violence and crime are a result of straw purchases. In the case of Rashan DeJarnette, he went to a gun show with the intent to illegally purchase these guns, showing a complete disregard for the law and the safety of his community.” Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland
handguns at the show and purchase forms represented that he was the actual buyer.
DeJarnette admitted to purchasing the two firearms listed on the forms during an interview with investigators last year and said Jackson had given him the money to make the buy.
After leaving the expo, DeJarnette said Jackson dropped him off at his house and left with the firearms still in his car. DeJarnette told investigators that he knew it was illegal to purchase firearms for someone else and said he did not get paid for purchasing the guns, according to the affidavit.
He also said that he reported the guns stolen to the Chester Police Department in September 2016 because he got scared when he heard that agents were looking for him.
DeJarnette, represented by defense attorney Clinton Johnson, was found guilty of multiple counts of conspiracy, providing false information, tampering with public records, making false statements and false reports to law enforcement.
He is the seventh person arrested on straw purchasing charges in Delaware County since the Brad Fox Law went into effect in January 2013. The law provides for a mandatory minimum five-year sentence for two or more convictions of illegally transferring handguns to individuals who cannot legally obtain one themselves. Bail was revoked after the verdict was delivered. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31 pending a presentence investigation.