A 29-year-old man was charged this week with the straw purchase of firearms from Bucks County gun stores, some which were used in violent crimes in Philadelphia.

Tahir Zahir, of Sharon Hill, Delaware County, was arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, on felony charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, making false statements on firearm purchase forms, unlawful sales of firearms, sales to an ineligible transferee, firearm ownership – duty of other persons, and criminal conspiracy.

He was also charged with statements under penalty and false reports.

Zahir was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Charles D. Jonas and was sent to Bucks County Correctional Facility under $1 million bail.

This investigation found that Zahir purchased 16 firearms between August 8, 2018, and June 23, 2023, from gun stores in Bucks, Delaware, Lancaster, Montogomery and Philadelphia counties. Six of the firearms were purchased at Auger Precision Firearms in Croydon and one was purchased from The Bunker Gun Shop II in Chalfont.

From Feb. 8, 2020, and Oct.15, 2021, Zahir purchased eight Glocks, four that were later recovered in Philadelphia. Some of the guns were linked to shootings and other criminal activity in Philadelphia. One was found in the possession of a known Philadelphia gang member.

Of the four firearms recovered, only two had been reported stolen.

The investigation concluded that Zahir exhibited numerous indicators of being a straw purchaser, including purchasing a sizeable number of firearms within a short amount of time, purchasing the same exact firearm on several occasions, and the recovery of the firearms by law enforcement from violent activities a short time after they were purchased.

The investigation, which remains ongoing, was conducted by a Middletown Township Detective who is a member of the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Task Force, with assistance from Bucks County Detectives, Montgomery County Detectives, Delaware County Narcotics and Gun violence Task Force, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Department.  Deputy District Attorney Thomas C. Gannon is assigned to prosecute.

Media Contact: Manuel Gamiz Jr., 215.348.6298, mgamiz@buckscounty.org  

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.