NORRISTOWN — A Philadelphia man who purchased 41 firearms for the ringleader of a multi-county gun trafficking network who illegally obtained and put nearly 100 guns on the streets is headed to prison for more than a dozen years.
Robert Otis Cooper III, 26, of the 1300 block of Colwyn Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 15 to 30 years in a state correctional facility on charges of corrupt organizations, making false statements on federal firearms purchase forms, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and conspiracy in connection with incidents that occurred between 2022 and 2023.
“It is the coveting of guns that is driving this. Guns are an epidemic and they are killing people. We are losing younger and younger members of our society,” Judge Steven T. O’Neill said as he imposed Cooper’s sentence, which included several mandatory five-year prison terms allowable under state law for an illegal gun transfer.
Cooper was among eight people charged in 2023 with participating in the gun trafficking network led by Larry B. Williams of Philadelphia. Prosecutors said participants used straw purchase schemes to arm the organization…