By Craig Anderson

GEORGETOWN — Five defendants are facing a total of 91 felony charges after illegally buying more than 60 firearms and transferring them to others, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday.

Some of the guns were found at a homicide in Dover and a suicide in New Castle, according to Ms. Jennings.

“This is a close-up, tragic look at the damage that straw purchases do and the support that law enforcement needs in order to keep guns out of criminals’ hands,” she said.

“These indictments are the result of a lengthy, collaborative investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement. And while today represents a major step forward for accountability, the fact remains that the guns these defendants illegally purchased have already taken at least two lives.

“Dozens more are currently unaccounted for and can still do untold harm. We owe law enforcement a debt of gratitude for their work in these cases. We will pursue full justice for the victims of these crimes. And we will continue to fight to enact policies that can prevent these illegal purchases from happening in the first place.”

A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives task force led the investigation, supported by Delaware State Police, Dover and Laurel police as well as law enforcement in Maryland, DOJ said.

According to ATF Baltimore Assistant Special Agent in Charge Andre Miller, “Even one gun in the hands of someone prohibited from having it or someone with criminal intentions is too many. In these cases, we see it happened not just once, but numerous times.

“The threat that poses to public safety is unacceptable and, as evidenced by the fatal shooting of two people, very real. ATF will continue to work tirelessly alongside our local, state and federal law enforcement partners and prosecutors here in Delaware, using Crime Gun Intelligence and our strong partnerships to identify, prevent and arrest straw purchasers.”

DOJ detailed the alleged actions of the defendants, including:

• Keyon Eley, 24, of Laurel, allegedly purchased 38 firearms from five different dealers in Sussex County between July 28, 2020, and March 16, 2021. DOJ said Mr. Eley, described as a Piru 700 gang member, turned over two weapons. Police from Dover, Baltimore and West Chester County, Pennsylvania, located three others, and 33 guns remain unaccounted for.

Mr. Eley was charged with 36 counts of engaging in a firearms transaction on behalf of another (each carrying a potential sentence of zero to five years) and 29 counts of false statement (each carrying a potential sentence of zero to two years). Mr. Eley was being held at Sussex Correctional Institution and no future court date had been established, the DOJ said.

• Karen Morris, 33, of Georgetown, allegedly purchased eight firearms between Aug. 7 and Oct. 26, 2021, including six in a two-day period. The guns were transferred to a man who paid Ms. Morris, DOJ said. Investigators searched her phone and found several messages referencing types of firearms and prices, along with evidence that the man was supplying her with heroin, authorities said.

Additionally, Ms. Morris and alleged accomplice Shane Willey, 32, of Georgetown, were seen texting at a federal firearms licensee location and purchasing weapons as referenced on her phone, DOJ said. One of the firearms was found with a convicted felon, and seven remain unaccounted for. Ms. Morris was charged with nine counts of engaging in a firearms transaction on behalf of another and five counts of false statement. The DOJ described Mr. Willey as a co-defendant who was charged with three counts of engaging in a firearms transaction on behalf of another., each carrying a potential sentence of zero to five years, plus one count of second-degree conspiracy, a felony carrying a potential sentence of zero to two years.

Ms. Morris was given a $30,000 unsecured bond, Mr. Willey received a $10,000 unsecured bond. No future court date was set.

• Malik Jarvis, 28, of Laurel, allegedly purchased 15 firearms between Jan. 23 and Feb. 20, 2021, making false statements at a federal firearms licensee location during the process. One of the guns was used in a New Castle County suicide in 2021, and two more were found in New York, including one seized during the execution of a warrant against a street gang, DOJ said. The remaining 12 firearms are unaccounted for. Mr. Jarvis faces four counts of false statement.

Mr. Jarvis was given a $4,000 unsecured bond with a case review scheduled on March 7.

• Paige Morris, 31, of Ellendale, allegedly bought three firearms April 3, 2021, including one that was found at the scene of a Dover homicide April 12, 2021. She told authorities that she purchased a firearm for her boyfriend, Riley Braswell, who was charged with first-degree murder and extradited from New York, along with a friend of his, in connection with the incident. She also told police she purchased a gun for herself, DOJ said.

Paige Morris was charged with two counts of engaging in a firearms transaction on behalf of another, one count of providing a firearm to a person prohibited (carrying a potential sentence of zero to three years) and one count of false statement.

Ms. Morris was given an $8,000 unsecured bond. A case review was scheduled for March 21.

Deputy Attorney General Lindsay Taylor secured these charges following an investigation led by special agents from the ATF’s Wilmington field office, Detective Tim Stock of the Delaware State Police and Master Cpl. Josh Boesenberg of the Dover Police Department.