Gun Trafficking Ring In Southeastern PA Broken Up: Authorities

SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA — A gun trafficking ring operating in the Philadelphia region was dismantled, and eight men are facing felony charges in connection.

Acting Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub, and other law enforcement entities said the ring resold guns throughout the region by way of "straw purchases."

Charged are Larry Williams, 40; Robert Cooper III, 23; Ziair Stenson, 26; Malik Rowell-Jernigan, 24; Malik Rowell-Jernigan, 24; Daynell Jones, 40; Zakayla S. Deshields, 22; and Shadiid Smalley, 23.

All are charged with crimes related to straw purchases of firearms, illegally transferring firearms, and operating a corrupt organization.

In total, authorities said the eight bought 94 guns and tried to buy 23 more at locations across the state.

Among the guns bought were handguns and AR-style rifles.

Twenty-nine of those guns were recovered by law enforcement through search warrants related to other criminal activity, car stops, or after the firearms were used in violent crimes.

Authorities allege Williams led the group.

He is accused of directing the purchases of the firearms, selling the majority of the illegal firearms and was also involved in trafficking illegal drugs.

Cooper is accused of buying 41 firearms and tried to buy eight more firearms in less than two months.

Stenson is accused of buying 36 firearms and trying to buy seven more.

Rowell-Jernigan bought eight firearms and attempted to buy an additional three firearms, authorities said.

And Logan purchased three firearms, Jones three, and Deshields three firearms, according to authorities.

Smalley is accused of trying to buy five firearms.

Authorities said all these gun buys were "straw purchases."

A straw purchase is when someone with a clean background buys firearms specifically on behalf of another person to conceal the true ownership of the firearm, authorities said.

The "straw buyer" often is getting the guns for someone who is prohibited from owning firearms legally due to previous felony convictions, domestic violence, juveniles, and individuals with mental illness.

Authorities began probing the ring in June 2022.

Investigators started following the multiple purchases of firearms by the defendants 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, 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.

Numerous agencies were involved in the investigation.

"The members of this gun trafficking organization managed to obtain and sell nearly 100 illegal firearms. 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," 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."