Kenneth Eugene Cherry, Jr., Firearms Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2024

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a firearms trafficking operation that spanned several months. Kenneth Eugene Cherry, Jr., 33, was found guilty of 27 counts of firearms trafficking offenses, including dealing in firearms without a license, possession and transfer of a machine gun, and possession of an unregistered firearm.

In August 2019, a jury trial convicted Cherry of the various firearms trafficking offenses. The government’s case relied heavily on evidence obtained through a confidential source, who provided federal agents with information about Cherry’s activities. Over the course of a year-long investigation, agents conducted controlled purchases of 45 firearms, including 24 from Cherry and 21 from his co-defendant.

The firearms purchased from Cherry included two Glock ‘Auto Sear’ conversion devices, which are classified as machineguns, an unregistered short-barreled rifle, and six additional assault-style rifles. Cherry also provided a large amount of ammunition with the firearms he sold, which were trafficked from Virginia up to Philadelphia to be sold on the street for profit.

‘The defendant put large-capacity, semiautomatic weapons on the streets of Philadelphia, significantly contributing to the violent crime problem in our city,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. ‘Less than one week ago, I stood with our partners at ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department to discuss how the ATF’s NIBIN Van will be a critical resource to expedite ballistics testing of crime guns like the ones this defendant was trafficking.’

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The PSN program was reinvigorated by the Department in 2017 as part of a renewed focus on targeting violent criminals.

In sentencing Cherry to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III emphasized the seriousness of the defendant’s crimes. ‘Knowingly selling firearms without a license is a violation of federal law, and by doing so, Cherry circumvented the very laws which are designed to protect communities,’ the judge said.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark S. Miller.

The defendant’s crimes had a significant impact on public safety in Philadelphia, where he trafficked firearms in violation of federal law. The sentence imposed by the court reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions and the need to hold individuals accountable for their crimes.

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