Former corrections officer from Bensalem charged with gun trafficking in Montgomery County
A former Philadelphia corrections officer from Bensalem is accused of trafficking guns on social media, including to people who could not legally possess them, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said Friday.
Amanda Barr, 37, is charged with unlawful sale or transfer of a firearm and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, which are felonies, as well as misdemeanors of making false statements to authorities.
As of Friday afternoon, Barr remained in Montgomery County Prison on $500,000 bail.
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County Detectives said an investigation began after two firearms registered to Barr were found at crime scenes in Philadelphia.
Barr had purchased seven firearms between December 2018 and March 2019, charging documents state. Most of the weapons were purchased at a convention center in Montgomery County, and one was purchased in Philadelphia, police said.
One of the weapons registered to Barr was recovered after a shooting in Philadelphia in December 2020, according to police. A man was charged in the shooting, and police said he was not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
Another weapon was found during a traffic stop in February 2021, court documents state. The weapon was found concealed in the pants of the driver, who also was not legally allowed to have the weapon, according to police allegations.
Barr had reported two of her weapons stolen, however neither of those handguns had been used in either incident, police said. In addition, the other five weapons were no longer in her possession, charging documents state.
Investigators spoke to Barr about the weapons in February 2021, and she claimed she legally sold the weapons; however, she had no paperwork to show that, according to authorities.
Investigators determined she used social media to illegally sell the weapons for $500 to $600 each, court documents allege. She would meet the buyers after coordinating the sale online, police said.
Barr resigned from her position as a corrections officer shortly after speaking to detectives in February 2021, the DA's office said.
She did not have an attorney listed for her Friday. Her preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 29.
County Detectives and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Bensalem police, Philadelphia Police and the FBI assisted as well.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem woman, former Philly corrections officer, charged with gun trafficking
