The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced Monday the arrests of five Montgomery County residents on multiple charges related to straw purchases of 15 firearms and illegally transferring firearms in a gun trafficking organization.
According to a release from the office of District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Henry Harris Jr., 33, of Norristown, a convicted felon who was not allowed legally to purchase or own a firearm, allegedly directed four others to buy guns on his behalf: Lynwood Wilford Jr., 29; Jaime Winslow, 40; Jahlesia Clark, 21, and Sara Travis, 49; all of Norristown. According to the charges, a total of 15 straw purchases were made in Montgomery County and Philadelphia between Aug. 19 and Oct. 6, 2020. Six firearms have been recovered.
The investigation was led by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Violent Crime Unit, with assistance from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force, the FBI’s Bucks and Montgomery County Safe Streets Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, Norristown Police Department, Warminster Township Police Department, Bensalem Police Department and West Norriton Township Police Department.
All the defendants were charged with felony counts of corrupt organizations and conspiracy; other charges include dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, receiving stolen property and unlawful firearm transfer. Magisterial District Judge Marc A. Alfarano set bail at $99,000 cash for both Harris and Wilford; and $50,000 unsecured for Clark, Travis and Winslow. Harris failed to make bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
See also:
