Bucks Detective: Trio bought guns illegally for Trenton drug dealer

Posted: Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Three Bucks County residents are accused of illegally purchasing nine guns for an alleged Trenton drug dealer in exchange for heroin.

Brittany Lawrence, 26, of Yardley, Lauren Litten, 30, of Falls, and Steven Litten Jr., 33, of Bristol Township, were arraigned Tuesday before District Judge William Benz on multiple counts of felony material false written statement for purchase, transfer or delivery of a firearm and conspiracy. They were each released on $20,000 unsecured bail.

The three purchased guns at dealers in Bristol Township, Upper Southampton and Tullytown between February and April for Munir Gonzales, 25, who is now incarcerated in Hopewell, New Jersey, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Munir Gonzales

Gonzales, who is also known as “Mews” and “Major,” is also awaiting arraignment in Bucks County on nine counts each of felony material false written statement for purchase, transfer or delivery of a firearm and conspiracy in connection with the purchases.

Earlier this year, Bucks County Detective David Hanks was investigating an alleged straw purchase of a still-missing Glock .40-caliber handgun for Gonzales in December, and ended up talking to the Littens and Lawrence, who admitted to buying or attempting to buy the guns, according to court records.

Lawrence claimed that Gonzales threatened her, saying there would be consequences, if she didn’t report one of the guns she bought for him as stolen, the affidavit said.

“I owed him money. He said don’t make me come to your house and you are going to (buy guns for me). He said he was going to scratch off the numbers and if I wanted my daughter to be safe I should do it,” the affidavit said.

Hanks’ investigation also led to the arrest and conviction of Scott Allen Moore, 34, of Falls, on charges of felony material false written statement for purchase, transfer or delivery of a firearm and conspiracy as well as multiple counts of tampering with public records and unsworn falsification to authorities.

Moore purchased one gun — also in exchange for heroin — and attempted to buy two more for Gonzales, who was his drug dealer. He was sentenced in Bucks County Court in August to five to 23 months in jail and two years of probation after pleading guilty.

In May, a Mercer County New Jersey Prosecutor’s Office detective executed a search warrant for Munir Gonzales and his brother Ramon Gonzales, 33, at a Trenton home as part of a drug investigation. In addition to heroin, money and ammunition, officials found five guns and evidence of two missing guns — all purchased in Bucks County, according to the affidavit. The brothers were charged with multiple drug and weapons offenses in New Jersey.

Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia