HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with the Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force and other western Pennsylvania partners, announced charges against 12 people regarding straw purchases and other illegal transfers and possession of firearms.
Among those charged is 19-year-old Kyree McCray, who in addition to firearms offenses, is charged with possession of child sexual abuse material.
Robert Crowley, a close acquaintance of McCray, is also charged with felony carrying a firearm without a license, and related offenses for illegal transfer of another firearm.
McCray and Crowley were denied bail at recent arraignments, each cited by the magisterial district judge as a “danger to the community.” As was 24-year-old Makai Kenny, who is charged with illegal transfers of at least six firearms he purchased, but were recovered by police at crime scenes or in someone else’s possession.
Nine other defendants are charged with illegal possession or transfer of firearms, conspiracy, or related offenses.
“These defendants all engaged in straw purchasing or other illegal transfers of firearms. Guns obtained in this way so often end up at violent crime scenes and in the hands of people who are prohibited from legal possession,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I commend all of the partners for meticulous investigations — that are still ongoing — to trace these firearms and identify people involved in their illegal distribution.”
Efforts are ongoing to trace and recover all the firearms, and additional charges may be filed.
Charged in addition to McCray, Crowley, and Kenney are:
- Davar Reid, 22, of Turtle Creek
- Sharon Gore, 42, (Reid’s mother-in-law), Turtle Creek
- Carley Chedwick, 25, West Mifflin
- Aaron B. Ridgely, 28, Homestead
- Shelly Bonacci, 39, Duquesne
- Shawn M. Mason, 32, Penn Hills
- Joni Atkinson, 32, Pittsburgh
- Lavandra Carpenter, 29, Pittsburgh
- Ethan Drolz, 23, Verona
McCray and Crowley, 21, were taken into custody last month at 325 Albert Street. Several handguns, magazines, ammunition, and accessories (including a muzzle break and speed loader) were recovered.
Kenney was identified as a straw purchaser following a shooting investigation on Constance Street in Pittsburgh.
The cases will be prosecuted by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
###
