NORRISTOWN — A Norristown man and six Philadelphians are accused of participating in a multi-county gun and drug trafficking organization, with tentacles in Montgomery, Delaware, Chester and Philadelphia counties, that illegally bought and sold 19 firearms and also distributed methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, prescription pills and marijuana.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Division Captain James S. Cuttitta announced the dismantling of the corrupt organization on Monday.
The charges for each of the seven defendants vary but include corrupt organizations, making materially false statements on federal gun purchase forms, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, illegal sale or transfer of firearms, unsworn falsification, persons not to possess firearms, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and conspiracy to commit those offenses.
Scott Michael Grondin, 42, of the 2300 block of North 9th Street, Philadelphia, identified in court papers as the leader of the organization, is facing 216 charges, mostly felonies.
The six others charged as co-conspirators include Bella Skylar Kenna, 21, of the 2300 block of North 9th Street, Philadelphia, who according to court papers was Grondin’s girlfriend; Anthony Michael Figueroa-Marko, 34, of the 2300 block of North 9th Street, Philadelphia; Emanuel Eduardo Torres, 32, of the 700 block of South 2nd Street, Philadelphia; Asad Sayed, 27, of the 1300 block of South 6th Street, Philadelphia; Felicia Marie McKinnell, 30, of the 2900 block of West Wishart Street, Philadelphia; and Christopher Michael McNelly, 27, of the 700 block of Kohn Street, Norristown.
“The purpose of this corrupt organization was to illegally obtain and distribute numerous firearms to others to be used for illegal activity. Once this gun trafficking organization received these firearms they obliterated the serial numbers. We know the objective of such behavior is to circumvent law enforcement investigations into violent crimes, in turn concealing the true end recipient of the firearm,” Montgomery County Detective Richard Hoffner and state police Trooper Michael Primerano alleged in a criminal complaint.
The investigation determined the center of the group’s operations was in the 2300 block of North 9th Street in Philadelphia, where Grondin, Kenna and Figueroa-Marko resided. Detectives alleged a large number of “short-term visitors consistent with drug trafficking and illegal activity” and surveillance “confirmed this residence is the center-point of this operation.”
The investigation began in December 2023 at a gun show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Upper Providence Township, where members of the group purchased multiple firearms and exhibited suspicious behavior, according to authorities.
Members of the county’s Violent Crime Unit reviewed the alleged gun-purchasing behavior of several conspirators that uncovered “numerous indicators of straw purchases.” The investigation involved physical surveillance and reviewing firearms purchase paperwork.
A straw purchase occurs when someone who is legally allowed to purchase a firearm purchases one and then illegally transfers or sells it to someone who is not permitted to purchase that firearm.
“In this investigation, we recovered photographs of firearms they illegally purchased including some showing firearms with their serial numbers obliterated,” detectives alleged in court papers. “Their captured communications detailed their agreed upon plans to illegally acquire firearms to sell on the street for profit after obliterating the serial numbers.”
Detectives alleged members of the organization purchased or transferred 19 firearms between Jan. 19, 2023, and Feb. 26, 2024.
The firearms were purchased on behalf of Grondin, who as a result of previous burglary convictions could not legally purchase or possess firearms, according to court documents. Grondin allegedly offered the firearms the group purchased to his gun and drug trafficking customers.
McNelly, Kenna, Figueroa-Marko and Sayed could legally purchase firearms, according to court papers.
According to court documents, Kenna is accused of purchasing four firearms over 35 days, including at a gun show in Oaks. Sayed is accused of purchasing five firearms at gun shops in West Chester and Philadelphia. McNelly is accused of purchasing two firearms at gun stores in the Norristown area. Figueroa-Marko is accused of purchasing eight firearms over 113 days at gun shops in Philadelphia and Yeadon, Delaware County, and at a gun show in Oaks.
The weapons purchased by the alleged co-conspirators included 9mm semiautomatic handguns, .357-caliber, .22-caliber and .40-caliber revolvers and 12-gauge shotguns, according to court papers.
The investigation included physical surveillance of some of the defendants at guns shows in Oaks.
As the investigation progressed, authorities learned some members of the organization also were participating in separate drug trafficking activities in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. During the investigation, detectives conducted several so-called “controlled buys” of significant quantities of methamphetamine from Grondin and Kenna, authorities alleged.
“This organization not only sold controlled substances on a consistent frequent basis but also supplied illegal firearms to others. Their ongoing drug trafficking in connection with the various indicators further supports our assertion that these firearms were purchased illegally with the intention of being involved in criminal activity,” Hoffner and Primerano alleged.
Grondin, Kenna, Sayed, Figueroa-Marko and Torres tentatively face May 7 preliminary hearings on the charges before District Court Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar in Lower Providence. McKinnell faces a May 14 preliminary hearing before Rebar. McNelly’s preliminary hearing is awaiting a scheduling date.
Current bail amounts for the seven defendants range from $25,000, 10% to $99,000 and $150,000 cash.
The county’s Violent Crime Unit and state police were assisted during the investigation by members of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
