Man Guilty Of Gun Possession During 2020 Looting In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man who is a convicted felon was found guilty of firearm possession during civil unrest in 2020.

Federal authorities said Steven Pennycooke, 36, of Philadelphia, was convicted after trial of a single count of possession of a firearm by a felon arising from a looting incident during the period of civil unrest and mandatory curfew in Philadelphia back in June 2020.

Pennycooke was convicted on felony charges back in 2011, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm, authorities said.

In June 2020, police got a call of two men pushing a looted ATM down a street in West Philadelphia.

When officers came up to the block referenced in the call, they saw two men standing in the street less than a half a block away from a looted ATM that as loaded onto a cart.

When the officers got closer to the men, they saw Pennycooke throw something into a vehicle.

One of the officers looked into the vehicle and saw a firearm in the backseat.

As a previously convicted felon in the Pennsylvania in 2011, Pennycooke was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.

"The crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm is a serious offense, particularly in Philadelphia where gun violence has reached record-breaking proportions," United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said. "As the evidence presented at trial showed, the defendant illegally possessed a loaded firearm that fortunately was secured by experienced Philadelphia Police officers who took the defendant into custody without incident. Our office is determined to continue doing everything we can to reduce gun violence in Philadelphia by being 'All Hands On Deck' to support Philadelphia police and get criminals like this defendant off the streets for a long time."