One Northeast man bought and transferred 11 guns to a convicted felon, also from the Northeast.
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Monday announced felony charges against two Northeast men for the straw purchase and illegal transfer of 11 handguns.
Jeffrey Brett, 37, of the 9700 block of Lochwood Road in Bustleton, was charged with buying 11 semi-automatic handguns at three different gun stores in Philadelphia.
According to Shapiro, Brett then illegally transferred the guns to Jerome Bogerty, 33, of the 6300 block of Farnsworth St. in Lower Mayfair. Bogerty is a convicted felon and not legally permitted to possess a gun.
During the execution of a search warrant on Bogerty’s residence, investigators recovered cocaine, heroin, two ballistic vests, more than $2,000 in cash and a 12th gun — a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun containing 30 live rounds.
Brett and Bogerty were charged with violations of the Uniform Firearms Act, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with official records. The investigation was opened following a tip from Lock’s Philadelphia Gun Exchange, 6700 Rowland Ave.
Employees at the gun shop observed Brett buying three handguns at the store, exiting the shop, and turning the guns over in a nearby parking lot to a man later identified by investigators as Bogerty. Attorney general agents then tracked eight more straw purchases between Brett and Bogerty at two other Philadelphia gun shops close in time to the first illegal transfers.
Brett and Bogerty are being held on $1 million bail each. The cases will be prosecuted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. ••
