Norristown leader of multi-county gun trafficking network sentenced to prison
NORRISTOWN — Saying a Norristown teenager endangered the community as one of the ringleaders of a multi-county gun trafficking network that illegally obtained and sold 44 firearms using straw purchase schemes, a judge sent him to prison for more than a decade.
Rahajahi Taylor Batchelor, who was 17 when he led the gun trafficking operation, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Thursday to 12 to 24 years in a state correctional facility.
Batchelor, now 19, of the 1100 block of Green Street, previously pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, illegal sale or transfer of firearms, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of a firearm by a minor and conspiracy in connection with incidents that occurred between March and August of 2020.
“It was his brainchild, he came up with the scheme. There is no question that Mr. Batchelor’s actions endangered the community at-large,” Judge Thomas C. Branca said as he imposed the sentence, which included several consecutive prison terms sought by prosecutors.
Branca said he considered Batchelor’s young age, his immaturity, the seriousness of the crime, the impact on the community and Batchelor’s rehabilitative needs in fashioning the sentence.
When asked by a reporter for a reaction to the sentence as he was escorted from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies Batchelor said, “I’ll be home soon.”
During the sentencing hearing, the judge noted he was struck by the number of young friends of Batchelor who were in the audience and laughing as prosecutors presented testimony about the young man’s crimes and his bragging in social media posts.
“There’s nothing funny about any of this. There is nothing impressive about what Mr. Batchelor did. There is nothing to be admired,” Branca addressed the more than two dozen people who showed up to support Batchelor, adding the sentence should send a message to others that such crimes have serious consequences.
Prosecutors Kathleen McLaughlin and Samantha Arena sought a lengthy sentence that included consecutive terms.
“He’s called the goat. He’s the gun dealer. This defendant orchestrated a large gun trafficking organization. He had the playbook for this gun trafficking organization. He was the brains of this organization. He saw an opportunity and seized it. He was money hungry,” Arena argued. “He’s giving directives to the straw purchasers.”
Prosecutors argued that Batchelor got involved in gun trafficking just days after he was released from a juvenile court placement.
Before learning his fate, Batchelor apologized for his conduct.
“This is not how I was raised. I just chose to do the wrong thing. I’m taking ownership. I was just young and dumb,” Batchelor said.
Batchelor’s mother, grandmother and great aunt pleaded for mercy on his behalf, describing him as “a kind, caring, thoughtful, intelligent young man” who made a poor decision and who has strong family support. They asked the judge to consider reparative and restorative justice principles in fashioning the sentence, saying Batchelor is amenable to treatment.
Defense lawyer Robert Gamburg argued for leniency, asking the judge not to sentence Batchelor to much more than the 5-year minimum sentence a co-defendant in the case received.
Several relatives and friends were noticeably angry about the sentence and some stormed from the courtroom when it was announced.
Batchelor was 17 when he was arrested in 2020 but given his leadership role in the organization, prosecutors sought to transfer his case to adult criminal court where punishments can be more severe.
During a previous hearing, a judge ordered Batchelor to face the charges in adult court after prosecutors presented evidence of the severity and sophistication of Batchelor’s crimes and the impact of the crimes on the community of Norristown and the entire Philadelphia region.
Authorities said the gun trafficking organization operated in Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia counties.
Batchelor was one of 14 people – nine adults and five juveniles – arrested in September 2020 in connection with the gun trafficking network.
At the time of the arrests in September 2020, District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said the organization’s “sole purpose is to make money by putting firearms in the hands of people who cannot lawfully buy and possess guns.”
Authorities alleged the gun trafficking organization was led by Batchelor, Terrence Barker, 21, of Philadelphia, and Mikal Scott, 20, of the 7900 block of Rolling Green Road, Cheltenham. Barker and Scott also pleaded guilty to gun trafficking related charges and are awaiting sentencing.
Earlier this year, Anthony Jamaris McCrary, 26, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to charges he purchased 35 firearms via straw purchases at federally licensed gun dealers in the three counties between July and August 2020 on behalf of the gun trafficking network. McCrary, who prosecutors alleged acted at Batchelor’s behest, was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in state prison.
A county detective testified a straw purchase occurs when a person with a clean background purchases firearms on behalf of another person to conceal the true ownership of the firearm. Those who are unable to legally purchase firearms include convicted felons, domestic violence offenders, juveniles and mentally ill individuals.
The organization had multiple members performing a variety of roles, including purchasing and marketing or sales of the firearms, detectives alleged.
Authorities said only 12 of the 44 firearms had been recovered, including one that was linked to a shooting incident in Cheltenham and another seized during a traffic stop of a juvenile in Abington. Thirty-two of the guns remain on the streets, creating a dangerous situation, prosecutors argued.
The investigation began on Aug. 9, 2020, when county detectives were routinely reviewing paperwork related to multiple gun purchases by individuals and noticed McCrary’s purchases of a large number of guns from licensed dealers, according to court papers.
The following day, on Aug. 10, Norristown police responded to a shooting incident involving a 17-year-old male and a search of the residence where the shooting occurred uncovered two gun boxes that had been purchased on the day of the shooting by McCrary, who did not live at the residence. Neither gun had been reported stolen, indicating a possible straw purchase, authorities alleged.
Investigators subsequently learned that McCrary sometimes visited more than one gun store in a day and bought multiple firearms at the same time, according to court documents.
The investigation used surveillance, cellphone and social media analysis, search warrants and reviews of federal firearms forms to uncover the participants in the organization, according to court papers.
The Electronic Record of Sale system, part of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Track and Trace Initiative, was a key tool used by investigators to track the organization’s illegal firearms purchases.
The investigation was led by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Violent Crime Unit and the Norristown Police Department.
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