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This investigation began when Montgomery County Detectives were investigating another gun trafficking organization charged in September 2020, and performed a network analysis to identify other illegal firearms in their trafficking networks, the DA's office said.
That analysis led to identifying this gun trafficking organization.
From there, detectives began following the multiple purchases of firearms by Quinn Whisted, 22, of Plymouth Meeting, 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 and several other avenues to track the purchases.
Three other straw purchasers were subsequently identified, along with 10 other individuals involved in the illegal gun trafficking organization, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said.
Among them a man named Alexander Smith, who helmed the organization and purchased "ghost gun" materials from websites, the Da's office said. Smith assembled the pieces and then listed the guns for sale, Steele said.
The following individuals were charged:
Whisted bought 17 firearms while Maliqa Jack, 25, of Pottstown, bought seven, the DA's office said.
Makayla Prince, 22, of Reading, purchased four firearms and Deborah Chappell, 61, of Pottstown, purchased one firearm, law enforcement Steele said.
Each of those guns were bought on behalf of an organization helmed by Alexander Smith, Daveese Smith, 22, and Tony Pearson, 40, both of Norristown, the DA's office said.
Taye Wynder, 20, Daeshaun Wynder, 22, and Jerome Wynder, 24, all of Pottstown, along with Tymir Allen, 22, of Philadelphia; Joseph Zummo, 26, of Bridgeport; Kristen Owens, 24, of Plymouth Meeting, and Talani Ewell, 20, of Newcastle, Delaware, were also members, and charged as well.
“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,” Steele said.
"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 law-abiding citizen."
Of the 29 straw purchases identified through this investigation, only six have been recovered: One on Jan. 7, during an arrest by the Philadelphia Police for a home invasion robbery; four during traffic stops; and one when Smith was arrested, the DA's office said.
Three firearms 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 this morning 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.
Anyone with information about additional illegal firearms being bought and/or sold by any of these defendants or has information about any illegal firearms purchases and sales, please call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Crime Tip Line at 610-278-DOIT (3648).
The investigation was led by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s 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.
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