Philadelphia man charged with straw purchasing 31 guns, soliciting a failed murder-for-hire plot

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man is facing charges after he allegedly made nearly three dozen illegal gun transactions and solicited a failed murder-for-hire plot, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said.

Richard Taylor, 31, was charged with making at least 31 straw purchases, as well as criminal solicitation of homicide, among related offenses.

Officials said at least 12 of the 31 guns were recovered by Philadelphia police officers — nine of them during different arrests. Fourteen guns purchased by Taylor remain unaccounted for.

Taylor purchased the firearms at gun shops and online, prosecutors said, and he bragged to others that he could buy them as many firearms as they wanted, as he did not have a criminal record. A straw purchase is the act of buying a gun for someone who is legally prohibited from possessing one.

Then last month, investigators said Taylor tried to hire a person to kill someone. He offered the hitman $200 and a Glock handgun. The plot was foiled, though, and the intended target was not harmed.

Taylor was arrested on April 26 after a straw purchase at Frank’s Gun Shop in Philadelphia.

His bail is set at 10% of $5 million.