5-County Gun Trafficking Ring Busted, 14 Charged: Montco DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — More than a dozen people have been charged with gun-trafficking-related crimes after authorities in Montgomery County said they were involved in a five-county trafficking ring.

Montgomery County officials said the gun trafficking organization illegally obtained and resold 31 firearms in Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. The organization also allegedly dealt in the sale of "ghost guns."

In total, 14 people were arrested on charges related to straw purchases of firearms and illegally transferring firearms.

According to authorities, the gun trafficking organization was fueled by firearm purchases by Quinn Whisted, 22, of Plymouth Meeting. Whisted purchased 17 firearms, officials said. Also charged are: Maliqa Jack, 25, of Pottstown, who officials said purchased seven firearms; Makayla Prince, 22, of Reading, who allegedly purchased four firearms; and Deborah Chappell, 61, of Pottstown, who allegedly purchased one firearm.

Authorities said those firearms were purchased on behalf of the gun trafficking organization led by Alexander Smith, 20, of Plymouth Meeting. Also involved in the ring's operation were 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, Delaware, according to police.

Two more illegal firearms were seized during the arrest of the Wynder brothers, and one had an obliterated serial number and one is being traced, officials said.

This investigation began when Montgomery County Detectives were investigating another gun trafficking organization charged in September 2020. Detectives performed a network analysis of those defendants in order to identify other illegal firearms and their gun trafficking networks, which led to identifying the organization.

From there, law enforcement began following the multiple purchases of firearms by Whisted through the Electronic Record of Sale system and through hard copies of ATF and Pennsylvania State Police forms at gun stores, according to information from the Montgomery County District Attorney.

The investigation led them to identify three other straw purchasers, in addition to Whisted, as well as 10 others allegedly involved in the illegal gun trafficking organization. One of those 10 defendants — Alexander Smith — was also purchasing ghost gun materials from websites, assembling the guns, then offering them for sale, the District Attorney said.

Ghost guns, or "ghosts," are 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.

A number of states have made ghost guns illegal, including New Jersey, although they are still legal in Pennsylvania.

The defendants were arrested on various criminal charges, but all include felony counts of corrupt organizations and conspiracy.

Twelve of the 14 defendants will be arraigned Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the case should call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau's Crime Tips Line at 610-278-3648.