Youth Mentor with Philadelphia Anti-Gun Violence Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Participating in Interstate Gun Trafficking Conspiracy

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Kyle McLemore, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III to 120 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment for selling illegal firearms from South Carolina on the streets of Philadelphia.

McLemore was one of seven defendants convicted for participating in a scheme to straw purchase nearly 60 firearms in South Carolina and traffic them up the “Iron Pipeline” to Philadelphia. Between approximately November 2020 and February 2021, McLemore worked closely with co-conspirator Terrance Darby in Philadelphia to place orders for firearms with co-conspirator Ontavious Plumer, who was incarcerated in a South Carolina prison. Plumer would then direct other co-conspirators to straw purchase firearms at gun stores in South Carolina and transport them to Philadelphia, where Darby, McLemore, and co-conspirator Cory Brookins would resell them.

McLemore started trafficking firearms with Darby just a few months after he was released on parole from a Pennsylvania state prison after serving 21 years for a 1999 murder conviction. While he was reselling illegal guns in Philadelphia, McLemore worked as a “youth advocate” at the NoMo (New Options More Opportunities) Foundation, an organization that provides children and teens with education, tutoring, mentoring, career readiness training, behavioral health counseling, and other services to reduce the factors that lead to gun violence.

McLemore was charged in a superseding indictment on March 6 of this year with conspiracy, dealing in firearms without a license, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He pleaded guilty to all three counts on May 8. Darby, Plumer, Brookins, and three other co-conspirators have also been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy.

“Kyle McLemore sold dozens of guns from South Carolina on the streets of Philadelphia, while pretending to work to reduce gun violence on those same streets,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “My office and the ATF will continue to target gun traffickers for federal prosecution – and federal prison time. Every illegal gun and unlawful seller we put out of commission makes our city that much safer.”

“McLemore knew all too well from his criminal history and community work that illegally trafficked firearms fuel the deadly violence in his community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. “Stopping gun trafficking, which puts firearms in the hands of violent criminals and other prohibited people, is a top priority at ATF. We work tirelessly with our local, state and federal partners to dismantle trafficking operations and federally prosecute the criminals that endanger our communities.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Jeanette Kang and Matthew T. Newcomer and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Bowerman.