Aurora man charged with armed violence, attempted gunrunning
A statewide grand jury has indicted a 25-year-old Aurora man on a variety of charges, including armed violence and attempted gunrunning.
Tommy Murphy, of the 1000 block of Serendipity, was indicted March 12 on two counts of armed violence, two counts of unlawful sale or delivery of a firearm, and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance in Kane County. He also was indicted on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit unlawful purchase of a firearm, and unlawful distribution of a look-alike substance (Xanax) in DuPage County.
In addition, he was indicted on a charge of attempted gunrunning in DuPage and Kane counties and forgery in Kane and Kendall counties.
Murphy was first indicted on five of the gun and drug charges by a DuPage grand jury in November. He was arrested in February in Maricopa County, Arizona.
The state attorney general's office alleges that in May 2019, Murphy and 23-year-old Kimani Mobley of Chicago met with undercover agents in the parking lot of a DuPage gun store to arrange a straw purchase of a gun, according to a news release. Authorities allege Murphy collected payment from the agent that covered the cost of the gun, plus profit, then passed the money along to Mobley, who had a Firearm Owners Identification card.
Murphy told Mobley to use the extra money to buy a gun for Murphy. Mobley then tried to buy two guns.
Prosecutors allege Mobley later contacted the gun store and asked for a refund after there was a delay in processing a background check on him. He was told state police had refused to approve the purchase, due to a pending court case.
Prosecutors also alleged that later in May, Murphy met with an undercover agent in Kane County and sold the agent a .45-caliber pistol and 21 Xanax bars.
Murphy also is accused of possession with intent to distribute counterfeit $100 bills.
He is being held in the DuPage County jail on $100,000 bail. He would need to post $10,000 to be released.
Mobley was indicted by a DuPage grand jury in November on three counts of unlawful purchase of a firearm, and one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful purchase of a firearm. He turned himself in to authorities in November and is free on bail. Mobley used to live on the 1600 block of Plum Tree Lane in Aurora.
Both cases are being heard in DuPage County circuit court.
The case was investigated by the attorney general, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Aurora Police Department.