Prosecutors to seek 2 decades in prison for leader of gun trafficking network

NORRISTOWN — Arguing a Philadelphia man showed “a complete disregard for the safety of his community,” prosecutors plan to seek a prison term of no less than two decades for the leader of the multi-county gun and drug trafficking organization.

Scott Michael Grondin’s corrupt organization was responsible for moving or attempting to move 16 firearms into the stream of illegal criminal activity and only six of the firearms have been recovered, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Robert Joseph Waeltz Jr. wrote in a sentencing memorandum where he outlined his intention to seek no less than 20 years in prison for Grondin, who will be sentenced next week by Judge Wendy G. Rothstein.

“There is little doubt illegal firearms trafficking contributes to the commission of crimes of violence ranging from assault to murder. The defendant’s organization contributed to that pattern by distributing firearms to those who are unable, or unwilling, to purchase firearms through legal channels,” Waeltz wrote.

“The sad, unfortunate reality is that we will not know the true destruction and damage of the defendant’s actions and the actions of this firearm trafficking organization, until all of his organization’s firearms are recovered,” added Waeltz, who is handling the case with co-prosecutor Blair Rohlfing.

Grondin, 43, of the 2300 block of North 9th Street, Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, illegal sale or transfer of firearms to ineligible persons, unsworn falsification to authorities, altering or obliterating serial numbers of firearms, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, person not to possess firearms, possession of firearms with altered serial numbers, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and conspiracy in connection with incidents that occurred between January 2023 and April 2024.

The gun and drug trafficking organization had tentacles in Montgomery, Delaware, Chester and Philadelphia counties and relied on straw purchase schemes to carry out the illegal gun activities.

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.

“By trafficking in various forms of violence and harm, the defendant has evidenced a complete disregard for the safety of his community, caring only about his internalized measure of success. He sought money and success without regard for those he used along the way,” Waeltz argued.

“The defendant’s illicit storefront offered more than firearms. Defendant made available for purchase fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, psilocybin and other controlled substances, making his apartment in Philadelphia a one-stop shop for a variety of illegal goods,” Waeltz added.

With the charges, prosecutors alleged Grondin, whose criminal history included a burglary conviction that prohibited him from possessing firearms since 1999, solicited others to buy 16 guns for the corrupt organization. Grondin then offered the firearms to his gun and drug trafficking customers, detectives alleged.

“Despite the lifetime ban, the defendant established and controlled a corrupt gun trafficking organization, illegally diverting 16 firearms and making felons of his codefendants in the process,” Waeltz alleged.

Grondin’s girlfriend, Bella Skylar Kenna, 22, also of Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the organization, specifically to purchasing or soliciting others to buy guns for the organization led by Grondin. Kenna, who also faces up to 40 years in prison on the charges, remains in jail while awaiting sentencing.

Prosecutors alleged Grondin and Kenna also obliterated the serial numbers of seven of the firearms they illegally obtained, essentially making those firearms untraceable.

Defense lawyer Matthew Quigg represents Grondin.

Grondin and Kenna were among seven people arrested last year and accused of participating in the corrupt organization.

“The speed with which firearms made their way into the defendant’s hands from straw purchasers demonstrated that the organization reacted to his desires,” Waeltz argued.

Asad Sayed, 28, of the 1300 block of South 6th Street, Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations and related offenses and is awaiting sentencing. Testimony revealed Kenna and Grondin solicited Sayed to purchase four guns for the organization at gun shops in West Chester and Philadelphia.

Christopher Michael McNelly, 28, of the 700 block of Kohn Street, Norristown, previously pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, making materially false statements on federal gun purchase forms, illegal sale or transfer of firearms to ineligible people and conspiracy and is awaiting a sentencing hearing. According to testimony, Grondin and Kenna solicited McNelly to purchase two guns for the organization at stores in the Norristown area.

Kenna was accused of personally purchasing three firearms over 35 days, including at a gun show in Oaks.

McNelly, Kenna and Sayed could legally purchase firearms, according to court papers.

“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 wrote 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 and Kenna 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 gun purchasing behavior of several conspirators that uncovered “numerous indicators of straw purchases.” The investigation involved physical surveillance and firearms purchase paperwork.

“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 that members of the straw purchasing organization purchased or transferred the 16 firearms between Jan. 19, 2023, and Feb. 26, 2024.

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 the gun shows in Oaks.

As the investigation progressed, authorities learned some members of the organization were also 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.

Testimony revealed authorities confiscated about 900 grams of methamphetamine during the investigation.

“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.

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.