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Pair arrested in straw purchasing scheme

A 41-year-old Philadelphia woman is facing charges of weapons violations and tampering with public records - among four other criminal offenses - after allegedly buying six handguns for a convicted felon, the District Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Lakeisha Taylor bought two .40 caliber handguns at a local gun shop and the salesman, who became suspicious of her, called the Gun Violence Task Force - which is a partnership between the District Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the Philadelphia Police Department, said Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office.

Authorities checked Taylor's purchase history and found that she also bought a .357 glock, two .45-caliber handguns and a .40-caliber handgun.

Taylor told police she bought the guns for Michael Gardiner, 31, a convicted felon who was arrested Thursday at his home on Yocum Street near 72nd in West Philadelphia with two of the guns in his possession.

Taylor is being held on $250,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 24. Gardiner had yet to be arraigned Friday night.