HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Philadelphia-based man will serve 9 to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to solicitation of murder, the straw-purchasing of 31 firearms and related charges.
Richard Taylor, 39, was sentenced in a hearing on Thursday. His arrest stemmed from a case investigated by the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force.
“Buying firearms illegally for others enables weapons to fall into the hands of people who will use them to harm others. Not only did he illegally purchase weapons, this man tried to hire someone to kill another,” Attorney General Sunday said. “We will not stand for this kind of conduct in the Commonwealth, and I applaud the collaboration with our local law enforcement partners that helped bring this individual to justice.”
During an investigation into the illegal straw purchasing, investigators learned that Taylor engaged with a person for the purpose of illegally selling a firearm that he had purchased, while also soliciting the person to kill a man.
Taylor offered $200 and a Glock handgun to the person, and sent his target’s information to the intended hitman.
In the straw purchasing investigation, agents learned that at least 12 of the guns purchased by Taylor were recovered by Philadelphia police officers throughout the city. Nine of those guns were recovered from individuals during arrests.
In all, investigators allege Taylor purchased or obtained at least 31 firearms that he then transferred illegally. Fourteen firearms purchased by Taylor remain unaccounted for.
Investigators believe that Taylor purchased firearms at gun shops online, and told his customers that he could get them as many as he wanted because he did not have a criminal record.
The Office of Attorney General Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force works collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to track straw purchases and other illegal transfers and possession of firearms, and incidents of violence that result from those transactions.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General William Sandman and investigated by OAG’s Gun Violence Task Force.
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