Kevin Jamelle Archie, 37, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was found guilty at trial Monday on one count of felon in possession of a firearm—a charge carrying stiff federal penalties and marking the latest blow in a citywide crackdown on illegal guns.
The conviction stems from a September 10, 2016, incident when Philadelphia Police responded to a 911 call near Frankford Avenue and East Pacific Street in the Harrowgate section of lower Northeast Philadelphia. Officers arrived to find Archie in physical possession of a loaded firearm with ten live rounds chambered and ready.
Archie is a previously convicted felon, having served time for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances—a conviction that legally bars him from owning or carrying any firearm under federal law. Despite that prohibition, he was found armed in a high-traffic urban area, posing a direct threat to public safety.
“Reducing violent crime is a top priority of my Office and of the Department of Justice, and successful prosecutions of cases like this remain a key part of our deterrence strategy,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. “My Office is committed to working with the Philadelphia Police Department to clear the city streets of firearms in the hands of convicted felons, which undeniably pose a serious threat to the safety of all residents.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation. “Public safety is the core responsibility of all who work in the field of law enforcement,” Ross said. “The investigation, arrest, and successful prosecution of Mr. Archie serves as evidence of the effectiveness of strong and consistent collaboration between stakeholder agencies.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Zaleski as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The DOJ re-launched PSN in 2017 to marshal federal, state, and local resources toward dismantling violent crime networks and removing illegal firearms from streets across the country.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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