Man Bought Then Sold Guns To South Philly Criminal Group: DA

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man has been charged with felon firearm crimes after authorities said he bought three guns and gave them to a gang to have them later be used in crimes, authorities said.

Tyrone Patterson, 22, has been charged with three counts each of tampering with public records/information, delivery of firearm after 48 hours elapsed, giving false identity to purchase a firearm, unsworn falsification to authorities, and related crimes, District Attorney Larry Krasner said. Patterson has also been charged with child welfare endangerment in an unrelated incident.

Patterson is accused of buying and selling three guns that investigators believe were later used in crimes by a violent street group operating in South Philadelphia, authorities said.

The charges stem from the arrest of one of that group's members in April.

Investigators found a gun in the member's possession and later traced it back to Patterson, according to authorities.

Further investigation led agents to learn Patterson made two other straw purchases, authorities said.

Patterson was taken into custody at his workplace Dec. 1.

At his job, Patterson went on camera and told authorities he bought the guns and sold them, and said he was aware of the group's activities when he purchased and trafficked the firearms.

While taking Patterson into custody, authorities learned Patterson left his 3-year-old child home alone with an electric stove on for heat and that a smoke detector was covered up to prevent the alarm from ringing.

Patterson was arraigned and at the request of the District Attorney's Office held on $1 million bail.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13.