HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that 11 western Pennsylvania-based individuals are charged with illegal possession and transfers of firearms — including a convicted felon on parole who was arrested after a pursuit.
The investigations were led by the Office of Attorney General’s Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force, a collaborative force of agencies targeting straw purchasers and other illegal transfers of firearms. Assisting with these investigations were the FBI (Pittsburgh Field Division), Pennsylvania State Parole, Allegheny County Police Department, Swissvale Police Department, and Pittsburgh Police Department. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute.
Stanford A. Russell Jr., 33, was arrested Thursday at his home on Jonathan Court in Pittsburgh after he fled a vehicle stop and ran from officers. Police recovered a revolver, firearms accessories, and drugs during the arrest. Russell is being held without bail, as he is on parole for prior felony convictions.
Ten other individuals were recently charged with various offenses, including felony violations of Uniform Firearms Act and conspiracy. The investigation is ongoing into connections between the individuals. Some defendants are considered co-conspirators; Russell is believed to have operated separately.
”Straw purchases and other illegal transfers of firearms are direct safety threats to our communities, and this task force is devoted to tracking offenders and the firearms which so often end up at violent crime scenes,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I commend the agencies involved in this case who worked together to stop an illegal flow of firearms.”
In addition to Russell, charged are: Daniel Crow, of Pittsburgh; Taylor Murphy, Pittsburgh; Juliona Upsher, Trafford; Vance Arrington, Pittsburgh; Aiyanna Crosby, Pittsburgh; Danielle Pinkston, Pittsburgh; Tejuan Davis, McKeesport; Daemon Davis, McKeesport; Jaidon Berry, Verona; and Sarah Woodruff, Verona.
All were arrested in recent days.
Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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