Repeat offenders possessed firearms with switches and other enhancements
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with law enforcement collaborators, announced the recent arrests of several convicted felons in possession of firearms, including some allegedly involved in recent violent crimes.
The seven defendants facing new charges were on parole, probation, or bail conditions, or were carrying firearms without a license.
In the most recent arrest, 20-year-old Askia Tisdale fled to a building rooftop as officials served a search warrant Friday in the 1600 block of North 6th Street. Agents tracked him and ultimately took him into custody.
GALLERY: Look at photos of the seized firearms, Tisdale fleeing police
Six other individuals are charged regarding searches in July that uncovered firearms. Investigations regarding prior violent crimes are ongoing.
”These are dangerous offenders who think they live in a state of lawlessness, putting Philadelphia neighborhoods at risk with their violent conduct,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “Switch devices, as evidenced by the tragic mass shooting in Grays Ferry, are designed to maximize damage and destruction. The law enforcement partners on this Task Force are fully committed to ridding communities of such deadly devices and the individuals who choose to possess them.”
“These arrests are the result of strong collaboration between our local, state, and federal partners — working together to get dangerous individuals and illegal guns off our streets,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “People who repeatedly carry firearms that they know they’re not allowed to have — especially guns modified with switches — show a clear disregard for human life and the safety of our communities. I want to thank Attorney General Sunday and all of our partners for their ongoing support and commitment to making Philadelphia safer.”
Along with the Philadelphia Police Department, the Office of Attorney General was assisted by Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and Philadelphia juvenile probation.
– Askia Tisdale is wanted in connection with a February shooting of individuals filming a music video on North 12th Street. When Office of Attorney General agents and Philadelphia police officers executed a search warrant Friday at a home on North 6th Street, Tisdale fled onto the home’s roof. He was arrested nearby.
In the home, officials found a loaded Polymar handgun with an extended magazine. Tisdale, 20, is charged with felony firearms without a license. Bail is set at $500,000.
– On July 10, Nyfesse Saunders was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a loaded Glock handgun with an obliterated serial number, as well as oxycodone pills. Saunders, who is on parole, is prohibited from possessing firearms due to parole conditions and a conviction for shooting and critically injuring an off-duty corrections officer in 2010.
Saunders, 30, was arraigned and bail is set at $750,000.
– On July 9, Juan Sierra and Yenpaur Sanchez were arrested and charged regarding ongoing investigations of drug-trafficking and illegal possession of firearms.
Sierra was seen on social media, in multiple video and photo postings, with a handgun with an illegal, fully automatic switch device. In one video, he is shooting out of a moving vehicle’s window. Police recovered the firearm during a July 9 search of a vehicle. Switches are also known as machine gun conversion devices.
Sierra is charged with illegal firearms possession and possession with intent to deliver. His bail is set at $275,000. Sanchez is charged with possession with intent to deliver. His bail is set at $100,000. Both defendants have criminal histories.
– A 16-year-old boy on juvenile supervision was charged with illegal possession of two firearms, following a search warrant on West Jefferson Street on July 9. Both handguns were loaded, and were visible in the defendant’s previous social media posts.
– On July 2, 20-year-old Quadir Abdul-Raheem, 20, was charged with illegal possession of a loaded .40-caliber handgun with a switch that converted the firearm into a fully automatic weapon. Raheem was on bail conditions and had prior convictions for robbery and related offenses. Bail is set at $750,000.
– On July 1, police executed a search warrant on East Birch Street and found a loaded .40-caliber Beretta. Darrell Cherry is charged with illegal possession of that firearm and possession with intent to deliver after a drug-trafficking operation — including more than 700 packets of heroin, crystal meth, crack cocaine and marijuana — were found at the home.
Cherry’s bail is $750,000. He is also wanted by New Jersey authorities.
Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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