HARRISBURG, PA — A federal indictment has charged four individuals with participating in an international scheme to smuggle firearms from the United States into Canada, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced on Tuesday. The accused include three residents of Brampton, Ontario, Canada—Durante King-Mclean, 25; Prasath Paramalingam, 34; Archit Grover, 36—and Jalisa Edwards, 25, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam stated that the indictment outlines a series of events beginning on September 2, 2023, when Pennsylvania State Police stopped Durante King-Mclean in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, for multiple motor vehicle violations. Upon discovery of firearms in the rental vehicle, King-Mclean, who was in the U.S. illegally from Canada, allegedly fled on foot. A subsequent search warrant executed on the vehicle uncovered 65 firearms intended for illegal export to Canada, including two fully automatic weapons classified as machine guns under federal law, eleven stolen firearms, and one firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The indictment further alleges that since April 2023, Prasath Paramalingam coordinated with King-Mclean and others to facilitate King-Mclean’s illegal entry into the United States for the purpose of acquiring firearms in Florida, Georgia, and elsewhere. These arms were then purportedly transported back towards Canada, passing through Franklin County. Following King-Mclean’s arrest, Grover and Edwards are accused of acting as accessories after the fact, allegedly aiding King-Mclean in concealing evidence related to the attempted gun smuggling operation and providing co-conspirators with information about the investigation.
Eric J. DeGree, Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division, emphasized the priority of reducing violent gun crime and highlighted the significant threat posed by firearms trafficking. He commended the collaborative efforts that led to the seizure of the 65 firearms, thereby preventing potential violence and crime.
Echoing the sentiments on the dangers of international arms trafficking, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara C. Bay praised the role of HSI in combating the illegal flow of weapons and its commitment to ensuring public safety in affected communities.
The joint investigation involved the ATF – Harrisburg Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe leading the prosecution.
It is crucial to remember that the charges outlined in the indictment are merely allegations. Under the U.S. legal system, all individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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