HARRISBURG, PA — A Philadelphia man was sentenced Thursday to 9 to 18 years in state prison after pleading guilty to soliciting a murder and illegally purchasing and trafficking dozens of firearms, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Richard Taylor, 39, pleaded guilty to solicitation of murder, straw purchasing 31 firearms, and related offenses stemming from an investigation conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force.
Prosecutors said the case expanded beyond firearms trafficking after investigators learned Taylor had attempted to hire another person to kill a man while arranging the illegal sale of a firearm.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Taylor offered the individual $200 and a Glock handgun in exchange for carrying out the killing and provided information about the intended target.
The firearms investigation determined that Taylor purchased or otherwise obtained at least 31 firearms that were subsequently transferred illegally.
Investigators found that at least 12 of those weapons were later recovered by Philadelphia police. Nine were recovered from individuals during arrests, authorities said.
The Attorney General’s Office said 14 firearms connected to Taylor remain unaccounted for.
Investigators alleged that Taylor purchased firearms from gun dealers and online sources before reselling them to customers. According to prosecutors, Taylor told buyers he could obtain as many firearms as they wanted because he did not have a criminal record.
Attorney General Dave Sunday said illegal firearm purchases contribute to gun violence by placing weapons into the hands of prohibited or dangerous individuals.
“Buying firearms illegally for others enables weapons to fall into the hands of people who will use them to harm others,” Sunday said. “Not only did he illegally purchase weapons, this man tried to hire someone to kill another.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General William Sandman and investigated by the Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force.
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