Trafficker Who Bought 17 Guns In Multi-County PA Ring Gets Prison

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, PA — A local man has been handed a sentence of 11 to 25 years in a state correctional institution after admitting to his role in a multi-county gun running operation.

Quinn O'Donnell Whisted, 24, of Plymouth Meeting, was sentenced in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday by Judge Henry S. Hilles, III.

Court records in the case show that Hilles sentenced Whisted to an aggregate sentence of between 11 to 25 years behind bars, with some of the sentences on the charges bring ordered carried out consecutively given the nature of the crimes.

Whisted was among more than a dozen individuals charged in early 2021 in connection with the gun trafficking scheme, which was said to touch five different counties in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Patch previously reported on the case.

Related: 5-County Gun Trafficking Ring Busted, 14 Charged: Montco DA

Authorities said the 14 people charged with the operation illegally obtained and resold 31 firearms in Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Lancaster and Philadelphia Counties, also dealing in the sale of so-called "ghost guns," which are guns assembled from kits.

Prosecutors previously said that Whisted bought the greatest number of guns in the operation — 17 of them in total.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele previously stated that the traffickers would make straw purchases of firearms and then turn around and sell the guns to individuals who were prohibited by law from possessing them.

Some of the guns that were bought by Whisted are reportedly still unaccounted for, according to media reports.

The Mercury newspaper reported that Hilles handed down such a hefty prison sentence to Whisted because of the severity of his crimes.

"The straw purchase of firearms is very troubling," Hilles said at sentencing, according to the Mercury. "These guns can kill people and 17 is a significant number. They may have already killed people."

Whisted reportedly had no prior criminal record, and thus was legally able to purchase firearms from licensed gun dealers.

The Mercury also reported that Whisted had once defaced a memorial dedicated to slain Plymouth Township Police Officer Brad Fox, who was actually fatally gunned down by someone who had illegally possessed a handgun obtained through a straw purchase.

The paper said that investigators had uncovered a selfie video showing Whisted spitting on Fox's memorial site; Whisted reportedly apologized for that act during his sentencing in Norristown this week.

Whisted pleaded guilty to numerous felony charges including corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, making false statements, criminal use of a communications facility and the illegal sale or transfer of firearms in connection with the gun trafficking operation.

In addition to the prison term, Hilles also recommended that Whisted be placed in a drug treatment program for substance use disorder, according to court records in the case.

Hilles suggested possible placement at the State Correctional Institution, Chester, since that facility has such a treatment program.