HARRISBURG, Pa. — Four individuals have been charged in a multi-count federal indictment for an alleged conspiracy to engage in international firearms trafficking.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Durante King-Mclean, 25, Prasath Paramalingam, 34, and Archit Grover, 36, all from Brampton, Ontario, Canada and Jalisa Edwards, 25, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, were charged in the conspiracy.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that King-Mclean was stopped by Pennsylvania State Police on Sept. 2, 2023, in Franklin County after several vehicle violations were observed by troopers.
It is further alleged that King-Mclean, who was illegally in the United States from Canada, fled on foot when troopers discovered firearms in the rental car. A court-authorized search warrant for the car led to the recovery of 65 firearms that were allegedly destined to be illegally smuggled into Canada.
Two of the firearms were reportedly fully automatic and considered machine guns under federal law. Eleven of the firearms were reportedly stolen and one had an obliterated serial number.
The indictment further alleged that Paramalingam was involved in a conspiracy since April 2023 to arrange for King-Mclean's illegal entry into the United States.
While King-Mclean was in the United States, Paramalingam allegedly arranged funding for King-Mclean to purchase the various firearms that he obtained in Florida, Georgia and elsewhere as King-Mclean traveled back toward Canada and through Franklin County.
Grover and Edwards were charged by the grand jury as accessories for their alleged assistance to King-Mclean after his arrest to conceal evidence concerning his attempted gun smuggling and provide co-conspirators with information regarding the scope of the investigation, among other things.
“This indictment is the result of outstanding pro-active enforcement by our Patrol Troopers, which led to a larger successful inter-agency investigation,” said Major Serell Ulrich, Director, Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation. “Illegal firearm trafficking has no boundaries, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners both federally and internationally to mitigate this worldwide problem. Anytime illegal firearm trafficking affects our Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania State Police will strive to identify, investigate, and arrest those responsible.”
