PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office deputy has been arrested and charged with trafficking and selling weapons, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Samir Ahmad, 29, of Philadelphia, was arrested Oct. 19 by federal agents.
Court documents indicate that two of the firearms sold by Ahmad on October 13 were identified by law enforcement as having been used in a deadly ambush after a football scrum at Roxborough High School two weeks earlier.
The September 27 shooting killed Nicolas Elizalde, 14, of Havertown, Pennsylvania, and injured four other teenagers.
SEE ALSO: Suspect wanted in deadly shooting near Roxborough High School turns himself in
Officials said Ahmad was employed with the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office as of February 2018. He was fired Oct. 19 and is in custody.
The FBI said the case began on April 27.
One of their informants was able to buy a gun from Ahmad. The transaction was reportedly recorded on an audio device.
According to court documents, the same informant met Ahmad again on October 13. The FBI said Ahmad sold him the two semi-automatic pistols used in the Roxborough shooting and ammunition.
SEE ALSO: School officials react after deadly ambush near Roxborough High School
During the exchange, the informant said he was “illegal” and would be “evicted” if caught in possession of a BB gun.
Officials said Ahmad replied, “You don’t have to worry about any of that.”
The footage was provided from a video recording device planted on the informant.
We also see Ahmad receiving payment for the transaction as well. Ahmad earned $3,000 from the sale of the guns, according to investigators.
Then five days later, on October 18, court documents say the two met for a third time.
Officials said Ahmad was recorded selling another gun and also two ounces of crystal meth.
If convicted, Ahmad could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Action News spoke to former FBI agent Brad Garrett to set up a case like this.
“It’s very hard to come out of a charge where you’re on video with a gun, with drugs, and a conversation about selling,” Garrett said.
Garrett said putting these cases together was not easy and he now wanted to know what Ahmad might admit.
“Through plea bargaining, he can say, ‘I’m going to give you people A, B, and C. I’m going to give you a pipeline where I get guns from,'” Garrett said.
Garrett said the methods used to trace the two weapons back to the Roxborough shooting are difficult to dispute.
“That kind of forensic evidence is really pretty strong. I guess it will probably hold up in court,” Garrett said.
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