A Philadelphia man who assisted in the supply of a large gun-trafficking network is facing state prison after confessing to illegally purchasing dozens of firearms for the group’s leader, according to a report.
Robert Otis Cooper III, 26, was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison by Montgomery County Court for his role in purchasing 41 weapons that were channeled into a multi-county trafficking enterprise between 2022 and 2023.
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Cooper, who could legally purchase handguns, prosecutors claim, acted as a go-between for ringleader Larry B. Williams, allowing the organization to distribute roughly 100 guns.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill issued numerous mandatory minimum sentences, describing gun violence as an “epidemic” and highlighting that the group relied on people like Cooper to procure firearms for those who could not lawfully purchase them.
Prosecutors contended that Cooper’s activities fostered the network, adding that more than half of the guns he purchased remain unaccounted for. They claimed Cooper once purchased two dozen weapons in a single month. Cooper’s defense team argued that Williams exploited his addiction and mental health issues while begging for money.
Before his sentencing, Cooper apologized, stating that he was unemployed and had made a “terrible decision” to obtain quick cash.
Authorities say members of the trafficking ring purchased or attempted to purchase 117 firearms in different Pennsylvania counties and at gun fairs, some of which were ultimately linked to crimes in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Investigators from several local, state, and federal agencies collaborated to trace purchases, evaluate electronic records, and determine the operation’s structure.
Williams, the organization’s leader, was previously sentenced to 22½-45 years in jail for related acts.
