Three accused in gun trafficking ring dismantled by Montgomery County detectives and attorney general

NORRISTOWN — Three men are accused of conspiring in a straw purchase scheme to illegally purchase and sell 14 firearms, and attempting to purchase 14 others, in Montgomery County while using the stolen identification of an active-duty U.S. soldier.

Taalibudeen Anderson, 22, and Tariq Anderson, 23, both of the 5600 block of Boyer Street, Philadelphia, and Daijon Griffin, 21, of Wilmington, Del., face charges of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, sales of firearms to ineligible transferee, dealing in proceeds of illegal activities, person not to possess a firearm, forgery, identity theft and criminal use of a communications facility in connection with alleged incidents that occurred between June and July 2023.

Taalibudeen Anderson and Tariq Anderson were arraigned on the charges on Thursday before District Court Judge Katherine McGill, who set bail at $500,000 cash for each defendant and they were unable to post bail and remanded to the county jail to await preliminary hearings on the charges.

Griffin was arrested in Wilmington by the U.S. Marshals Service and will be extradited to Montgomery County to be arraigned on the charges, officials said.

The charges were announced on Thursday by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle A. Henry.

“These defendants were arming criminals, plain and simple. And the actions of these criminals are made even worse by their taking advantage of a loss by a soldier serving our country,” Steele said. “The recovery by law enforcement of three of the 14 straw-purchased firearms within days of their purchase show how fast these illegal guns show up at crime scenes. This flow of illegal firearms onto the streets makes all of our communities less safe.”

Three of the 14 firearms allegedly purchased by Taalibudeen Anderson were recovered by Philadelphia police in connection with other investigations between July 16 and July 25, according to authorities.

“Gun trafficking defeats a key tool to prevent serious crime and puts our communities, and the people who live there, at risk. Not only did the defendants’ alleged crimes endanger the physical safety of Pennsylvanians, but they exploited the identity of a soldier serving our country,” Henry said.

“All Pennsylvanians have the right to feel safe in their home, and the neighborhoods where they live and work. I am grateful for our partnership with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, which has resulted in the arrests of these dangerous men. Together we will continue to work hard to stop the sale of illegal guns and hold gun traffickers accountable for the damage they cause,” Henry added.

The alleged gun trafficking organization was dismantled by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Violent Crime Unit and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Gun Violence Task Force.

The investigation began in July when numerous straw purchase indicators were noted by detectives related to 14 firearms purchased between June 17 and July 6, according to a criminal complaint filed by county Detective Daphne Smith and Special Agent Joseph Press, of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

“This organization not only used one person to make the illegal purchases, but also employed another identity to purchase the firearms,” Smith and Press alleged.

Investigators alleged Taalibudeen Anderson made the firearm purchases using the stolen Pennsylvania driver’s license of a man who was in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Indiantown Gap and who had lost his wallet and military identification in April 2023 while visiting his mother in Philadelphia, according to court papers.

The investigation found that not long after the soldier lost his wallet and reported it stolen, Taalibudeen Anderson began buying firearms, falsely identifying himself as the Army soldier on firearms purchase forms, according to the arrest affidavit.

For the 14 firearms purchased, Taalibudeen Anderson ordered the firearms online through Whittaker Guns in Kentucky under the name of the Army soldier but with his own street address, email and phone number on the account, authorities alleged.

As required by law, firearms must be shipped to a licensed firearms dealer for pickup and to conduct required background checks through the Pennsylvania State Police. Taalibudeen Anderson had the online-purchased firearms shipped to TriTac Firearms in Wyndmoor, where he also provided the name and identification of the Army soldier.

Detectives said of importance was that the real Army soldier was legally allowed to purchase firearms, while Taalibudeen Anderson and Tariq Anderson were persons not allowed to possess a weapon and therefore unable to legally buy firearms, according to court papers.

In addition to the successful acquisition of 14 firearms, Taalibudeen Anderson attempted to purchase an additional 14 firearms online from Whittaker Guns. Seven of the firearms were ready to pick up at TriTac Firearms in Wyndmoor on July 12, authorities alleged.

Taalibudeen Anderson and Tariq Anderson arrived at 2:05 p.m. at TriTac Firearms to complete the required paperwork. In the store, which was under surveillance by law enforcement, Taalibudeen Anderson again presented identification and filled out paperwork using the false name of the Army soldier, according to the arrest affidavit.

The background check was delayed by law enforcement, and Taalibudeen Anderson left the gun store without the firearms via a ride share. That vehicle was subsequently stopped by law enforcement, and Taalibudeen Anderson presented to detectives a Delaware identification card with his correct name. However, a wallet containing the stolen identification of the Army soldier was found in the back seat where Taalibudeen Anderson was seated, detectives alleged.

Tariq Anderson, who also was in the ride share vehicle, fled on foot and was later apprehended by law enforcement, according to court papers.

In addition to those seven seized firearms, detectives found that Taalibudeen Anderson had purchased seven more firearms online from Whittaker Guns on the morning of July 12, 2023, just hours before his arrest.

All 14 of the firearms that were charged as attempted purchases by Taalibudeen Anderson were seized by law enforcement.

Authorities alleged Griffin also was actively involved in the criminal enterprise.

“Their actions jeopardize public safety, contributing to the proliferation of illegal firearms within our communities,” Smith and Press wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Assisting during the investigation were Springfield Township Police, Cheltenham Township Police and the Philadelphia Police Department SWAT.

Assistant District Attorney Samantha Arena will prosecute the case.