A straw purchaser used a Northeast Philadelphia gun shop to buy a rifle and three handguns illegally for a convicted felon and is now facing federal charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The prosecutor identified the buyer as Philadelphia resident Robert Alton Stukes, 22. On Jan. 15, Jan. 17 and March 7, Stukes allegedly went to Delaware Valley Sports Center at 101 Geiger Road, picked out four firearms and falsified documents to buy the weapons for Anthony Andrews, a convicted felon who has been charged separately in connection with the new case.
The weapons included a .40-caliber rifle, a 7.62×25-caliber pistol, a .40-caliber pistol and a .45-caliber pistol. Delaware Valley is licensed by the federal government to sell firearms.
A grand jury charged Stukes with three counts of making false statements to a federal firearms licensee, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and aiding and abetting. If convicted, Stukes could face up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. ••
