19 arrested or sought on illegal gun charges

The joint city-state Gun Violence Task Force announced yesterday that 19 more people have been charged with the illegal transfer or possession of handguns.

Since the task force was launched in December 2006, 165 people have been charged with weapons offenses, and 262 firearms have been seized, District Attorney Lynne Abraham, Attorney General Tom Corbett and Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said in a news release.

The task force is composed of veteran investigators and seasoned prosecutors who work closely with the city Police Department. It was launched with state funding to combat the flow of illegal guns on city streets.

Under state law, a convicted felon cannot buy a firearm. Those arrested or who have arrest warrants out for them include convicted felons who allegedly used fraudulent means to obtain or attempt to obtain guns.

They also include alleged straw purchasers of handguns - citizens with no criminal record who buy guns on behalf of felons.

Those recently arrested were:

Randolph Henry, 26, of Ruscomb Street near Front; Kevin Mathis, 53, of Sansom Street near 45th; Marvelous Richardson, 22, of 5th Street near York; Steven Brasbey, 25, of Myrtlewood Street near York; Easton Luke Moore, 26, of Van Kirk Street near Hasbrook Avenue.

Also, Tonell Fuller, 23, of 61st Street near Vine; Hameed Williams, 21, of Irving Street near 60th; Xavier Wilson, 24, of 27th Street near Tasker; Gary Jackson, 41, of Anchor Street near Large; Ronald McBeth, 41, of Crescentville Road near Godfrey Avenue; Kevin Hogan, 37, of McCarthy Circle near Knights Road.

Also, John Lewis, 41, of Old Eagle School Road near Upper Gulph Road in Wayne, Chester County; Melissa Walsh, 25, of Bridge Street near Pennsylvania Avenue in Morrisville, Bucks County; and Kenneth Byrd, 46, of Pavonia Circle in Marlton, N.J.

Arrest warrants have been issued for:

Norman Mathis, aka Norman Fulton, 22, of Parkside Avenue near 51st Street; Shane Bess, 21, of Columbia Avenue near 51st Street; Alton Daniel, 29, of Crittenden Street near Washington Lane; Corey Scott, 23, of Seltzer Street near 26th; and Charles O'Connor, 24, of King Road in West Chester, Chester County. *