Philly Man Transferred 11 Guns To Convicted Felon: AG

PHILADELPHIA – Two Northeast Philadelphia men have been charged with felony illegal gun purchases and illegal gun transfers, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Shapiro recently announced felony charges against two Northeast Philadelphia men for the straw purchase and illegal transfer of 11 handguns.

Jeffrey Brett, 37, of the 9700 block of Lochwood Road, Philadelphia, was charged with buying 11 semi-automatic handguns at three different gun stores in Philadelphia, Shapiro's office said. Brett then illegally transferred the guns to Jerome Bogerty, 33, of the 6300 block of Farnsworth Street, Philadelphia, who is a convicted felon and not legally permitted to possess a gun, according to Shapiro's office.

During the execution of a search warrant on Bogerty’s home, investigators recovered cocaine, heroin, two ballistic vests, more than $2,000 in cash and a 12th gun – a Glock 9MM semi-automatic handgun loaded with 30 live rounds.

"Pennsylvanians have the right to feel safe in their homes and their neighborhoods," Shapiro said. "I’m working to protect that right by getting guns out of the hands of criminals who don’t have the right to possess them. Through the Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force, we’re collaborating every day with our law enforcement partners to target gun traffickers like these defendants."

Brett and Bogerty were charged with violations of the Uniform Firearms Act, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with official records, the AG's office said.

The investigation was opened following a tip from Locks Gun Shop in Northeast Philadelphia.

Employees at the gun shop saw Brett buying three handguns at the store, exiting the shop, and turning the guns over in a nearby parking lot to a man later identified by investigators as Bogerty, according to Shapiro's office.

Attorney General agents then tracked eight more straw purchases between Brett and Bogerty at two other Philadelphia gun shops close in time to the first illegal transfers, according to the AG's office.

Brett and Bogerty are being held in Philadelphia County Prison on $1,000,000 bail each, the AG's office said.

Status hearings are scheduled for Bogerty on July 10 and Brett on July 17. The cases will be prosecuted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Pictured above are Brett and Bogerty

Images via Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office