Feds Charge 22 People With Illegally Selling Guns In Philadelphia
By Mike DeNardo, Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The feds say nearly two dozen people have been charged in a large illegal gun trafficking investigation in Philadelphia.
22 people are charged with illegally selling guns, including semi-automatic handguns, sawed-off shotguns and military style rifles. Many of the guns were sold from a storage facility, a Kensington Avenue clothing store, and one operation was so bold, it amounted to a drive-thru gun sales operation, according to U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger.
"On at least 15 separate occasions, one or more of the co-conspirators agreed to sell a buyer a gun," says Memeger. "And when the buyer pulled up in front of (Luis) Ramos's house, or other locations, delivered the gun to the buyer's car window."
72 guns were seized in the joint Philadelphia Police Department-ATF operation making it the largest raid in recent city history.
"Over 70 firearms that were destined for the streets of Philadelphia will not be used by violent criminals," said Sheree Mixell.
The weapons are now being analyzed in a police forensic lab to find out where they came from or what crimes, or even murders, the weapons may be linked to.
Memeger says some of the defendants face possible life sentences for being armed career criminals.
