14 are arrested in ‘Ghost’ gun ring
Montco DA says 31 firearms illegally obtained, resold in multiple counties
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig, Plymouth Township Police Chief John C. Myrsiades and Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Joseph Altieri on Wednesday announced the dismantling of a gun trafficking organization that illegally obtained and resold 31 firearms in Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties, as well as dealt in the sale of “Ghost guns.”
Fourteen men and women were arrested on charges related to straw purchases of firearms and illegally transferring firearms.
The gun trafficking organization was fueled by firearm purchases by Quinn Whisted, 22, of Plymouth Meeting, who purchased 17 firearms; Maliqa Jack, 25, of Pottstown, who purchased seven firearms; Makayla Prince, 22, of Reading, who purchased four firearms; and Deborah Chappell, 61, of Pottstown, who purchased one firearm. Those firearms were purchased on behalf of the gun trafficking organization led by Alexander Smith, 20, of Plymouth Meeting; Daveese Smith, 22, and Tony Pearson, 40, both of Norristown; Taye Wynder, 20, Daeshaun Wynder, 22, and Jerome Wynder, 24, all of Pottstown; Tymir Allen, 22, of Philadelphia; Joseph Zummo, 26, of Bridgeport; Kristen Owens, 24, of Plymouth Meeting, and Talani Ewell, 20, of Newcastle, Dela. Two additional illegal firearms were seized during the arrest of the three Wynder brothers — one had
an obliterated serial number and one is being traced.
This investigation began when Montgomery County Detectives were investigating another gun trafficking organization charged in September 2020. In the course of that investigation, detectives performed a network analysis of those defendants in order to identify other illegal firearms and their gun trafficking networks. That analysis led to identifying this gun trafficking organization, its many operatives and its illegally purchased and transferred firearms, which was not connected to the other organization.
From there, law enforcement began following the multiple purchases of firearms by Whisted through the 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, inspection of forms used in purchasing firearms and other methods of investigation. The investigation led them to identify three other straw purchasers, in addition to Whisted, as well as 10 other defendants involved in the illegal gun trafficking organization. One of those 10 defendants — Alexander Smith — was also purchasing “ghost gun” materials from websites and assembling the guns, then offering them for sale.
“Ghost guns” or “Ghosts” are guns — everything from handguns to rifles — that are made from firearms assembly kits, which are available for purchase on various websites as well as at gun shows. The firearms built via assembly kits are without serial numbers, do not require the purchaser of the kit to undergo a background check and lack traceability, hence the name “Ghosts” or ghost guns. A number of states have made Ghost guns illegal, including New Jersey, although they are still legal in Pennsylvania.
A straw purchase is when a person with a clean background purchases firearms specifically on behalf of another person to conceal the true ownership of the firearm. Persons who are unable to legally purchase a firearm would include convicted felons, domestic violence misdemeanants, juveniles and mentally ill individuals.
“This group of people was acting together with the sole purchase of making money by putting firearms in the hands of people who cannot lawfully buy and possess guns, in effect arming criminals,” said Steele. “Straw purchases and the sale of those guns to people who cannot buy their own firearm legally are dangerous to the safety of all of our communities, and ‘ghost guns’ are just as dangerous if not more. Gun trafficking is a significant threat to public safety and should concern every lawabiding citizen.”
The investigation was led by the Montgomery County Detectives Bureau Violent Crime Unit (VCU), Montgomery Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police and Plymouth Township Police
Department along with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Norristown Police Department, FBI, Bucks and Montgomery County Safe Streets Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force, Pottstown Police Department, Hatfield Township Police Department and Berks County Detectives.
Of the 29 straw purchases identified through this investigation, only six have been recovered: one firearm was recovered on Jan. 7, 2021 during an arrest by the Philadelphia Police for a home invasion robbery; four firearms were recovered during traffic stops; and one firearm was seized when Alex Smith was arrested. Additionally, three were returned, leaving 20 unaccounted for.
The defendants were arrested on various criminal charges, but all include felony counts of Corrupt Organizations and Conspiracy. Other charges include Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Unlawful Transfer of a Firearm, Criminal Use of Communications Facilities, Materially False Statements and multiple related offenses.
Twelve of the 14 defendants will be arraigned and bail will be set today before Magisterial District Judge Edward C. Kropp, at which time the preliminary hearing for these defendants will be scheduled. Detectives are still in the process of locating and arresting two defendants: Allen and Zummo.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lauren Marvel, who is Captain of the Pottstown Community Justice Unit, and Assistant District Attorney Samantha Arena of the Firearms Unit.
If anyone has information about additional illegal firearms being bought and/or sold by any of these defendants or has information about any illegal firearms purchases, call the Montgomery County tipline at 610-278-DOIT (3648).
MILLERSBURG » Mid Penn Bank has launched a rebranding effort for branches and offices in its First Priority Bank Division.
The rebranding initiative was announced last week, and will impact eight banking offices in Berks, Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties.
When Mid Penn Bancorp Inc. completed its acquisition of Chester County-based First Priority Bank in July 2018, the bank’s branch and office locations continued to carry the First Priority name. They were branded as “First Priority Bank, a Division of Mid Penn Bank.” According to a spokesman for Mid Penn, the First Priority name was maintained at the time of the acquisition “to help maintain continuity and to help minimize disruption.”
Those offices will now carry just the Mid Penn Bank name.
“We are excited to complete the delivery of the Mid Penn Bank brand into the market with the changeover of the name. Our banking teams will operate in the same locations and from the same offices, providing customized solutions with fast, local decision making and best-in-class service,” Rory G. Ritrievi, Mid Penn Bank president and CEO, said in a press release.
As part of the effort, interior and exterior signage at all locations will be updated to reflect the Mid Penn Bank name. Work hasn’t yet begun, Mid Penn Bank spokesman Matthew Miller said in an emailed response to questions, but the company is working with its vendors “to make the changes as soon as scheduling allows.”
Miller said staff has been discussing the changeover with customers since the announcement was made, adding that there will be no change to operating hours and no changes to products or services available.
The acquisition of First Priority Bank was completed July 31, 2018 — an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $82 million — expanding Mid Penn’s footprint into southeastern Pennsylvania.
In September 2020, Mid Penn Bank announced plans to close three branches across its geographic footprint at the end of the year. One of those locations was the East Whiteland, Chester County branch — which had previously operated as the headquarters for First Priority Bank.
Mid Penn Bank currently operates 36 locations across 12 counties in Pennsylvania — including one location in Chester, one location in Montgomery, one location in Bucks and four locations in Berks counties.
In 2015, Mid Penn completed its acquisition of Schuylkill Countybased Miners Bank. In early 2018, Scottdale Bank & Trust was acquired, expanding Mid Penn’s footprint into western Pennsylvania, followed by the First Priority Bank acquisition.
For information about Mid Penn Bank visit https://midpennbank.com/