Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Hatfield Township Police Chief William Tierney and Whitpain Township Police Chief Ken Lawson announce the arrests of three individuals for operating a corrupt organization that was trafficking illegal firearms as well as trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine.
The gun trafficking organization was led by Gaime Hailemichael, 25, of North Wales, who conspired with his co-defendants Philip Jensen, 31, and Monica Kumpf, 31, both of Blue Bell, to illegally buy firearms with the intent to sell them to another person, which is called “straw purchases.” This criminal organization purchased 11 firearms and attempted to purchase six additional firearms within an 11-day time span beginning on April 23, 2019 and ending on May 3, 2019. Evidence shows members of this corrupt organization planned the purchases of firearms by supplying funds, transportation and makes/models of firearms for Kumpf to purchase, as Kumpf was the only member of the organization who was legally able to buy and possess firearms.
Kumpf was also being coached by her co-defendants on how to act and what to say while purchasing firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. The investigation revealed that once Kumpf turned over the firearms to her co-defendants, she was compensated with quantities of methamphetamine, which she sold, and with temporary lodging. In addition to trafficking guns, Hailemichael and Jensen were both also involved in trafficking cocaine. When Hailemichael was arrested, a half kilo of cocaine was found in his residence, which has a street value of approximately $75,000 to $100,000.
“This type of organization’s sole purpose is to make money by putting firearms in the hands of people who cannot lawfully buy and possess guns on their own. That should concern every law-abiding citizen, especially since this group was focused on obtaining Mini Draco AK-47 pistols, a smaller version of an AK-47 that is manufactured in Romania. It’s a small, easily concealed, semi-automatic weapon,” said Steele. “The investigation into this group began when law enforcement was tipped off to these multiple potential straw purchases by a gun store employee, but not before they were able to purchase 10 firearms of various types at four different gun shops in Montgomery County. We have only recovered two firearms, one was purchased and returned, leaving eight weapons that we are actively working with the FBI and other law enforcement to find.”
The defendants were charged with multiple felony counts of Corrupt Organizations, Conspiracy, Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Receiving Stolen Property, Unlawful Transfer of a Firearm, Possession with Intent to Deliver, Criminal Use of Communications Facilities and multiple related offenses.
“Gun trafficking is a very serious crime and the potential sentences for these defendants under the Brad Fox Law are five years for each straw purchase after the first. That’s a mandatory minimum,” said Steele. “In October 2017, defendant Michael Hill was convicted by our office of running a similar corrupt organization to purchase and sell illegal firearms. Hill was sentenced to 27½ to 55 years in state prison, a sentence that was just upheld in a May 22, 2019 ruling by the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Gun traffickers beware. You provide criminals with guns and you will be on the hook for a very long prison sentence.”
The defendants were arraigned today before Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy, who set bail at $1 million for each defendant and required that they turn over their passports. The defendants failed to make bail and were remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., June 11, 2019 before Judge Duffy.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Laura J. Bradbury, who is the Captain of the Firearms Unit.