NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced Wednesday they had dismantled a gun trafficking organization that bought firearms across Pennsylvania and illegally sold them throughout the Southeastern region of the state.
The guns were bought in Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Chester, Columbia, Philadelphia and York counties, authorities said in a news release from the state attorney general's office.
- Authorities say they have dismantled a gun trafficking organization that bought firearms in Lehigh, Northampton and other area counties
- Eight people were charged with buying 94 guns and trying to buy 23 more
- Many of the guns were used in violent crimes, officials said
The organization, headed by Larry Williams, bought 94 firearms and tried to buy 23 more, Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub and local, state and federal law enforcement officials said.
The eight defendants, all from Philadelphia, were arrested on dozens of felony charges related to straw purchases of firearms, illegally transferring firearms and operating a corrupt organization.
Arrested were Larry Williams, 40, who police say was responsible for directing the purchases, selling the majority of the illegal firearms and also was involved in trafficking illegal drugs; Robert Cooper III, 23, who allegedly bought 41 firearms and tried to buy eight others in less than two months; Ziair Stenson, 26; who allegedly bought 36 firearms and tried to buy seven more; Malik Rowell-Jernigan, 24, who police say bought eight firearms and tried to buy three more; Kevin Lester Logan, 24, Daynell Jones, 40, and Zakayla S. Deshields, 22, who allegedly bought three firearms each; and Shadiid Smalley, 23, who police say tried to buy five firearms.
Starting an investigation
The purchases all were “straw purchases,” meaning a person with a clean background bought them on behalf of another person to conceal the true ownership of the firearm. The true owner of the firearm is often prohibited from legally purchasing a firearm including convicted felons, domestic violence offenders, juveniles and individuals with mental illness.
"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."Acting Pennsylvania Attorney General Henry
Officials said that in June, 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 Electronic Record of Sale 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 and interconnectedness of the widespread operation, officials said.
Guns recovered at crime scenes
Of the 94 total straw purchased and illegally sold firearms, 29 were recovered by law enforcement through search warrants related to other criminal activity, car stops, or after the firearms were used in violent crimes.
"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," Acting Attorney General 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.”
District Attorney Steele said many of the guns were recovered by law enforcement after being used in violent crimes — "not only locally but traveling out of state, which is a threat to public safety and every law-abiding citizen.”
The defendants were charged with crimes including felony counts of corrupt organizations, conspiracy and firearms charges related to illegal purchase and sales. Other charges include dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal use of communications facilities, materially false statements and multiple related offenses.
