In a major crackdown on gun violence, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the arrests of four Philadelphia men in two separate cases following surveillance operations at the Morgantown Gun Show in Morgantown, PA.
The arrests led to the seizure of five fully assembled ghost guns, four 80% receiver kits, one 80% receiver, one Smith and Wesson revolver, extended magazines, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Ghost guns, which can be easily assembled from kits without background checks, have been linked to a surge in gun violence in Pennsylvania.
Najaye Davis, 19, was one of the men arrested in the operation. He purchased multiple 80% receiver ready-made gun kits with large amounts of cash at the Morgantown Gun Show on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. Davis and a co-conspirator were then seen leaving the venue driving eastbound towards Philadelphia. According to investigators, Davis was illegally making and selling ghost guns in Philadelphia, despite being prohibited from purchasing or possessing a handgun.
A search warrant was executed at Davis’ residence in Philadelphia on Friday, March 5, 2021, resulting in the seizure of three fully functioning unserialized ghost guns, one 80% receiver, $8,600 in cash, additional firearm parts, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The investigation revealed that Davis was part of a criminal enterprise that made and sold unserialized ghost guns on the streets of Philadelphia, making $500 on each sale.
In a separate case, Malachi Matthews and Kenneth Manni purchased four 80% receiver kits at the same gun show and left. The car was surveilled until the men arrived at a residence on 21st Street in Philadelphia, where agents suspected an illegal gun manufacturing and trafficking operation was taking place. On Tuesday, March 2, agents executed a search warrant and recovered four 80% receiver ready-made gun kits, two fully assembled unserialized ghost guns, one Smith and Wesson revolver, and other firearm-related items.
Matthews, Manni, and Montague Coker were arrested on Tuesday, March 2. Matthews and Coker, both previously convicted felons, are being charged with three counts each of Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act. Manni is being charged with possession of a controlled substance, suspected to be fentanyl, and other Violations of the Uniform Firearms Act. Davis was arrested on Friday, March 5, and is being charged with six counts of Illegal Transfer of a Firearm, one count of Dealing in Unlawful Proceeds, one count of Corrupt Organizations, and one count of Conspiracy.
The cases are being prosecuted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Task Force. Attorney General Shapiro emphasized the importance of targeting ghost gun traffickers, stating that ghost guns are fueling the gun violence epidemic in Pennsylvania. The Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force and Organized Crime Section, along with federal and local law enforcement partners, are working to get illegal guns off the streets and hold accountable those who seek to profit from gun violence.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: Pennsylvania AG
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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