Philadelphia man sentenced to 10-20 years in state prison for straw purchases
A 30-year-old man was sentenced today to 10 to 20 years in state prison for charges related to the straw purchase of firearms in Bucks County and Philadelphia.
Steven Lee Smith, of Philadelphia, was convicted in April on four counts each of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, penalties for the sale of firearms, sales to ineligible transferees, providing materially false written statements for firearm purchases, and statement under penalty.
He appeared before President Judge Raymond F. McHugh for sentencing on Tuesday.
An investigation by detectives in Bucks County and Montgomery County revealed that Smith engaged in a series of transactions where he acted as an intermediary to illegally purchase firearms on behalf of individuals prohibited from owning them. “Straw purchases” are illegal firearms transactions where a person with a clean criminal background buys firearms for someone who is legally prohibited from doing so.
Smith is alleged to have purchased nine handguns between July 6, 2022, and January 25, 2023. Six of the guns were purchased at a gun store in Croydon, Bristol Township.
