AG Shapiro: Kensington Initiative Arrests Eight, Seizes Ghost Guns, Heroin, and $30k In Latest Operation – Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General

HARRISBURGAttorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that the Office of Attorney General (OAG) has shut down another large drug trafficking operation in Kensington, the OAGs sixth since launching the Kensington Initiative. The months-long investigation, conducted by the Kensington Initiative, resulted in the arrests of eight individuals, including the organizations ringleader and two high-level dealers. Agents also seized seven firearms, including a ghost gun and a semi-automatic shotgun, more than 8,000 doses of heroin/fentanyl, and $30,000 in cash.

Launched in 2018, the Kensington Initiative is a unique partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement to target major criminal drug organizations in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia.

As part of our ongoing Kensington Initiative, we are committed to doing our part to protect communities and families that call Philadelphia home. That means holding accountable the individuals directly responsible for pumping poison and committing violence in our neighborhoods, said Attorney General Shapiro. My office is committed to this goal, and we are not leaving any block behind. Were also grateful to our partners in law enforcement for their support in this difficult and often dangerous work, and to the citys managing directors office for beginning to restore and recover these communities that have been ravaged by violence. This work is important it saves lives, it saves families and it protects neighborhoods.

On Thursday, June 3, 2021, agents from the Office of Attorney Generals Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, Gun Violence Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, officers from the Philadelphia Police Department, FBI, Warrington Police Department, Hatboro Borough Police Department and the Philadelphia Sheriffs Department executed 8 search warrants in Kensington. During the execution of the search warrants, agents seized 259 grams, or 8,633 doses, of heroin/fentanyl, 560 grams of crack cocaine, 1,533 grams of cocaine, seven guns, and $30,139 in cash.

The City of Philadelphias Opioid Response Unit initiated its immediate community response, which involves targeted community engagement and survey of the enforcement area, in order to determine the urgent needs of the residents in this area and offer connection to immediate city services such as housing assistance, employment, food access and treatment and vacant lot remediation.

Eight individuals were arrested on June 3, including the operations ringleader Chris Beauford, along with Joseph Stanton Sr., Joseph Stanton Jr., Rasun Owens, Christina Calhoun, Erik Severino, Coraliz Bizaldi, and Kareem Briggs. They have each received charges, including: Corrupt Organizations, Dealing in Illegal Proceeds, Possession with Intent to Deliver, Conspiracy, Knowing and Intentional Possession of Narcotics, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility, and Possessing Instruments of Crime.

Beauford and Stanton Sr. have been charged with Felon Not To Possess A Firearm and Possessing A Gun With An Obliterated Serial Number. Stanton Jr., Severino, and Bizaldi have each been charged with Possessing A Gun With An Obliterated Serial Number. Briggs was also charged with Felon Not To Possess A Firearm. 14 individuals are still at large and warrants have been issued for their arrest.

In March, the Office of Attorney General increased their partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department to address the growing violence and drug trafficking. Since the increased efforts began, 29 firearms have been seized, including four ghost guns, 2,525 grams of cocaine, 417.4 grams of crack cocaine, 22 grams of methamphetamine, 1,030 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 600 fentanyl pills, and more than $16,500 in cash.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Melissa Francis. All charges are accusations. The defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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AG Shapiro: Kensington Initiative Arrests Eight, Seizes Ghost Guns, Heroin, and $30k In Latest Operation - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General