Prison Guard From Bucks Co Sold Guns On Social Media: Authorities

GREATER PHILADELPHIA, PA — A former Philadelphia correctional officer from Bucks County is facing gun trafficking charges in neighboring Montgomery County after prosecutors say she made straw purchases of firearms at local gun shows and then sold the guns on social media to buyers who were not allowed by law to possess firearms.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office and federal investigators jointly announced the arrest of Amanda Barr, 37, of Trevose, Pa., on Friday, on multiple felony charges relating to Barr's alleged straw purchasing and trafficking of firearms.

Authorities say the Montgomery County Detective Bureau's Violent Crimes Unit, the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies, began investigating Barr after two guns that she had purchased were found to be in the possession of individuals who were barred by law from purchasing and carrying firearms due to felony convictions.

Those guns were recovered by Philadelphia Police during two separate incidents — one in December 2020 and the other in February 2021.

Investigators say they ultimately discovered that Bar had bought a total of seven firearms during a period of time between mid-December 2018 and late March 2019, with six of those guns purchased at gun shows that took place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., a section of Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County.

The other purchase was made from a Philadelphia gun dealer, Locks Philadelphia Gun Exchange, according to a criminal complaint written by Montgomery County Detective Michael Crescitelli, who is assigned to the Violent Crime Unit.

Barr reported to police in Bensalem Township, Bucks County that two of the guns she had bought were stolen two weeks after she purchased them in February 2018, but the other five firearms were no longer in her possession, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Federal ATF agents interviewed Barr late last November about the purchases, and the fact that two of the guns were found to be in the possession of prohibited persons, according to the D.A.'s Office.

Barr ended up resigning from her position as a Philadelphia prison guard soon after she was interviewed by investigators, according to prosecutors.

Authorities said that it was later determined that Barr had illegally sold the guns through a social media platform, after which she met up in person with the sellers to complete the transactions.

"Buying and trafficking firearms to criminals is always a threat to public safety and is an egregious crime," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement. "We have firearms laws for a reason — and one of the biggest is to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and keep our communities safe. Law enforcement at all levels is committed to working together to fight the arming of criminals through these illegal straw purchases and gun trafficking."

Barr is being charged with unlawful sale and transfer of a firearm, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, materially false statements to authorities and related charges, according to the Montgomery County D.A.'s Office.

Barr was sent to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post $500,000 cash bail following her arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Patricia Zaffarano.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 29 before Magisterial District Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar.

Story by Jon Campisi