Federal and county authorities have announced the arrest of 11 West Philadelphia juveniles, a Philadelphia 18-year-old and a 40-year-old Philadelphia woman on charges — all alleged members of the “54th Street” juvenile street gang — related to the theft of 93 firearms from burglarized businesses in Montgomery and Bucks counties over a two-month period last year.
Angel Mason, 40, of Poplar Street and Donte Purnell, 22, of Olympus Place, were the two adults arrested in the case, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Wednesday, alongside Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub, Special Agent-in-Charge Michael DeGree of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division, and Springfield Township Police Chief Michael Pitkow.
Mason, Purnell, and the juveniles face a litany of felony charges, including running a corrupt organization. Both Mason and Purnell are currently free on bail.
Nine of the 11 juveniles ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old were charged in juvenile court and cannot be named in the press, Steele said. Two juveniles charged as adults were also announced by authorities: Elijah Terrell, 16, of Poplar Street, and Liv Hall, 18, of Parish Street, police said.
Of the 93 firearms stolen, only 33 have been recovered, police said, leaving 60 unaccounted for on the streets, police said.
All in all, the 13 suspects allegedly committed three overnight burglaries and one attempted burglary between Sept. 24 and Nov. 20, 2022. The burglaries, Steele alleged, occurred between 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.
Steele said the successful burglaries involved smashing glass display cases and fleeing with numerous firearms.
The following is information on each burglary:
• Nov. 12, 2022, 4:20 a.m., Target World Gun Shop, New Britain Township, Bucks County: 32 pistols, eight rifles and one suppressor stolen, 10 firearms recovered to date by law enforcement through search warrants.
• Sept. 24, 2022, 4:22 a.m., Founding Fathers Outfitters, Lafayette Hill section of Springfield Township, Montgomery County: 26 firearms stolen, six recovered to date by law enforcement, including one used in a shooting incident in Philadelphia and one found on a suspect involved in a Sept. 29, 2022 homicide in Philadelphia; also of note regarding this burglary, the burglars allegedly drove a 2020 Kia Forte that had been stolen in Philadelphia just prior to the burglary.
• Nov. 20, 2022, 2:15 a.m.: Attempted Burglary of Continental Armory in Hatboro in Montgomery County; burglary was interrupted when an individual heard breaking glass and called 911.
• Nov. 20, 2022, 2:41 a.m.: Tanners Sports Center in Warwick Township in Bucks County; 27 firearms stolen, 16 recovered by law enforcement, including one used in an armed robbery in Pennsauken, N.J. on Dec. 14, 2022; the vehicle fled at speeds over 100 mph.
Through the use of numerous investigative techniques including interviews, physical surveillance, video surveillance, social media analysis and cellphone data and records, the investigation found that several members of a known, neighborhood-based juvenile street gang in Philadelphia — called “54th Street” — were responsible for the three completed gun store burglaries and one attempted gun store burglary in Montgomery and Bucks counties, Steele said.
Police said the group was also allegedly planning two more gun store burglaries.
Criminal activity commonly associated with “54th Street” includes, but is not limited to, car-jackings, robberies, burglaries and gun violence, especially directed at rival groups, Steele said.
Authorities said detectives found that the stolen firearms were rapidly distributed and illegally transferred between members of the corrupt organization and to others, which led to the use of these stolen guns to commit crimes.
Of the 33 recovered stolen firearms, several have been recovered by law enforcement during the commission of crimes:
• Sept. 26, 2022: a Glock 17 firearm stolen two days earlier was allegedly recovered by Philadelphia Police in the possession of Ellijah Terrell on scene of an armed robbery at 5500 Poplar Street in Philadelphia.
• Oct. 5, 2022: an HK 9mm firearm stolen during the Sept. 24, 2022, burglary was allegedly recovered by Philadelphia Police when they executed a search warrant related to a Sept. 29, 2022, shooting at 54th Street and Willows Avenue where a 16-year-old died of a gunshot wound to the head and a 14-year-old was also shot but survived.
• Dec. 14, 2022: a firearm stolen from the Tanner Sports Center burglary was allegedly recovered by Pennsauken, NJ Police after it was used by juvenile in an armed robbery.
“These defendants brazenly broke into gun stores and stole nearly 100 firearms, then sold and transferred them widely throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. With 60 firearms unaccounted for, we still don’t know the extent of the damage by this corrupt organization’s criminal activities, including shootings and murders,” said Steele. “ These arrests have made our communities safer and came about because of the excellent joint investigation with our numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.”
Weintraub described the alleged organized criminal rampage as “brazen.”
“Together, we fight hard every day against lawless criminals that steal and use crime guns to terrorize our communities, regardless of whose borders they cross. And we will not rest. More to come.”
DeGree said burglaries of federal firearms licensees are a top priority for ATF.
Mason, who is free on bail, was arrested on felony charges of Corrupt Organizations, Possession of Firearms Prohibited, Firearms Not to be Carried Without License, Conspiracy, Criminal Use of Communication Facility and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, police said.
She was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Jay S. Friedenberg, who set bail at 10%of $5,000. Following a bail review hearing, bail remained unchanged. Mason posted bail and was released, police said.
Purnell was arrested on charges of Corrupt Organizations, Receiving Stolen Property, Sales to Ineligible Transferee, Criminal Use of Communication Facility and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, police said.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Jodi Lukens Griffis, who set bail at $150,000 unsecured, and Purnell was released, police said.
Terrell was arrested on charges of Corrupt Organizations, Receiving Stolen Property, Sales to Ineligible Transferee, Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License, Simple Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, Theft by Unlawful Taking, Possession of an Instrument of Crime, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Aggravated Assault, Robbery and Criminal Use of Communication Facility, police said.
Terrell was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard, who set bail at $100,000. Terrell was remanded to the Montgomery County Youth Center, police said.
Hall is awaiting arraignment in Montgomery County on charges of Corrupt Organizations, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Conspiracy, Criminal Trespass/Breaking into a Structure, Sales to Ineligible Transferee, Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License and related charges. She is incarcerated in Philadelphia on unrelated charges, police said.
A preliminary hearing for defendants Mason, Purnell and Terrell is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 13 before Magisterial District Judge Catherine E. McGill. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Samantha Arena, who is a member of the Firearms Unit.
The joint investigation into these gun store burglaries was led by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, Bucks County Detective Bureau, the ATF—Philadelphia Field Division and Springfield Township Police, with critical participation by Philadelphia Police, Hatboro Police, New Britain Township Police, Warwick Township Police. The investigation also received assistance from the FBI, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Delaware State Police.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause. This story was updated to reflect the child's current custody status.
See also:
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