Former Philadelphia Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested, Charged With Selling Guns Illegally

A police car in a file photo. Mira Oberman/AFP/Getty Images

A former Philadelphia sheriff’s deputy has been arrested and is charged with firearms trafficking and selling firearms to a person unlawfully in the United States.

Samir Ahmad, 29, was “allegedly illegally selling firearms on the street to at least one person who was not permitted to possess them,” U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said in a statement.

According to the Department of Justice, prosecutors allege in court documents that earlier in October, when he was still serving as a deputy sheriff, Ahmad allegedly sold two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition to a confidential FBI informant.

Per the documents, the informant explained to Ahmad that he was in the country unlawfully.

The informant met Ahmad at his North Philadelphia home on the day of the sale, Oct. 13, and was wearing a video and audio recording device, reported the Philadelphia Inquirer, citing court records. Ahmad retrieved the guns after a car pulled up.

He allegedly made $3,000 from selling the guns.

Feds Say Guns Used in Shooting

Federal agents traced the two guns to a recent shooting outside of Roxborough High School that killed a 14-year-old teen, Nicolas Elizalde.

“Both of the firearms the defendant sold on October 13, 2022 were traced by law enforcement as being used in a deadly shooting in Roxborough about two weeks prior,” according to a court filing against Ahmad, per NBC10 Philadelphia.

“On September 27, 2022, at least four individuals opened fire on a group of juveniles leaving a football scrimmage at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia. Five juveniles were shot, and one was fatally wounded.”

Ahmad first joined the city Sheriff’s Office in February 2018. He was arrested by federal agents on Oct. 19. He was also served by the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office with a 30-day notice of intent to dismiss, according to the office’s statement.

On the night before he was arrested, Ahmad also allegedly sold another semiautomatic pistol and over 50 grams of methamphetamine to the FBI informant, court documents say, reported the Philadelphia Inquirer.

If convicted, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison.

In a statement on Ahmad’s arrest, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the charges “are incredibly disturbing and allege outrageous conduct that stands in stark contrast with everything society expects from law enforcement officers.”

It is not immediately clear if Ahmad has or will have an attorney.