Gun And Drug Trafficking Ring Broken Up, 7 Charged: Montco DA's Office

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County and state authorities said they have broken up a gun and drug trafficking ring that involved Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigative Division Captain James S. Cuttitta said a gun and drug trafficking organization that illegally bought and sold 19 firearms and sold multiple illegal substances including methamphetamine, was busted recently

Six Philadelphia residents — Scott Grondin, 42, Bella Kenna, 21; Anthony Figueroa-Marko, 34; Emanuel Torres, 32; Asad Sayed, 27; and Felicia McKinnell, 28 — and Christopher McNelly, 26, of Norristown, have been arrested and charged in connection with the group, authorities said.

According to authorities, the group mainly operated on the 2300 block of North 9th Street in Philadelphia, where Grondin, Kenna and Figueroa-Marko lived.

The Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Pennsylvania State Police led the investigation and were supported by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The investigation began in December 2023 at the Oaks Gun Show, where members of the group bought multiple firearms and exhibited suspicious behavior, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Investigators determined the group illegally purchased/transferred 19 firearms between Jan. 19, 2023 and Feb. 26, 2024.

The guns were bought in Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties by Figueroa- Marko (eight firearms), Sayad (five firearms), Kenna (four firearms) and McNelly (two firearms), the DA's office said.

Additionally, authorities said the group was obliterating serial numbers from the firearms.

The gun were purchased on behalf of Grondin, who was not allowed to legally purchase or possess a firearm, according to authorities.

Grondin, Kenna and others then sold the firearms to other people who were not able to legally purchase their own firearm, the DA's office said. This is commonly known as a "straw purchase."

During the investigating, authorities learned about a separate drug trafficking investigation that began in May 2023. The investigation found that Grondin, Kenna, and others were involved in the sale and distribution of numerous types of illegal drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, prescription pills and marijuana in Montgomery County and surrounding counties, the DA's office said.

In June 2023, Montgomery County detectives executed several controlled buys of significant quantities of methamphetamine from Kenna and Grondin using recorded buy money, authorities said.

The charges for each person vary, but include corrupt organizations, conspiracy, making materially false statements, other firearms charges, possession with intent to deliver and other charges.

Grondin, as the leader of the organization, is facing 216 charges, mostly felonies, authorities said

On April 25, Kenna, Sayed and McNelly were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Jodi Griffiths, who set bail at $150,000 cash, Sayed $99,000 cash and McNelly $50,000 cash.

Then on April 26, Kenna’s and Sayed’s bail remained unchanged. McNelly’s was reduced to $25,000, 10 percent, and he was released after posting bail.

The same day, Grondin, Figueroa-Marko and Torres were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Edward V. Levine, who set bail for Grondin at $2 million cash, Figueroa-Marko at $250,000 cash and Torres at $99,000 cash.

On April 29, bail for Grondin and Figueroa-Marko was reduced to $99,000 cash and Torres remained the same.

On May 1, McKinnell was arrested and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Dara Nasatir, who set bail at $75,000. On May 2, McKinnell’s bail was increased to $99,000.

A preliminary hearing for Grondin, Kenna, Sayed, Figueroa-Marko and Torres is scheduled for noon, May 7. McKinnell’s preliminary hearing is schedule for 10 a.m., May 14 and McNelly’s preliminary hearing has been continued by the defense and is in the process of being rescheduled.