HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against two men regarding illegal possession and transfer of firearms in Philadelphia — much of the conduct depicted in social media postings.
As the result of an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 24-year-old Kobe Artis and 34-year-old Dennis Brown were both charged with multiple felonies.
During the investigation, agents found social media postings on each defendant’s account showing possession and illegal transfers of firearms.
Brown, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, is depicted in multiple online postings with firearms (obtained from Artis).
In another video post, Artis made threats of physical violence towards others while in possession of firearms. Artis also posted while open-carrying in Kensington claiming to “hand out ARs to every 18-year-old with an ID.” In other postings, Artis is depicted providing firearms to individuals on the street for handling.
“These cases involve numerous social media postings with the defendants blatantly breaking the law — in some postings, taunting law enforcement and encouraging murder,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Great collaboration with the Philadelphia Police Department and FBI assured that this type of lawlessness will not be tolerated.”
Artis was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, when he was stopped by Philadelphia Police Department assisted by the Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force Agents in a grocery store parking lot in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. At the time of his arrest, agents recovered an assault style rifle as well as a 9mm handgun. Various packets of marijuana and multiple rounds of ammunition were also recovered from Artis.
Artis was arraigned and bail was set at 10 percent of $1 million. Brown is not in custody.
The cases will be prosecuted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Task Force. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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