The streets of Philadelphia might feel a tad safer today after a known felon on parole was busted with a stockpile of weapons, including a collection of firearms illegally obtained and modified to deadly effect. A joint law enforcement blitz led by Attorney General Michelle Henry's Gun Violence Task Force nabbed 35-year-old Nicholas Mimoso, alongside the fruits of his illicit trade: 10 firearms and a large stash of marijuana products valued at nearly $1 million.
Mimoso, already with a track record for felony drug trafficking and firearms possession, is now facing charges for corrupt organizations and related charges, such as possession of firearms offenses connected to the ten guns and two switches that convert firearms to full auto, uncovered during recent searches, the Attorney General's Office said. Agents also dismantled a large-scale marijuana grow operation, during a raid on Mimoso's residence, a business where he worked, its warehouse, and a vehicle.
This sizable apprehension unfolded after Mimoso carelessly flaunted a firearm on social media, which caught the attention of the state Department of Corrections – Parole Field Services. Acting on the lead, agents executed search warrants at various locations, including a home on the 2300 block of Borbeck Avenue and a vehicle.
Mimoso was arraigned Tuesday and hit with a $500,000 bail on top of a parole detainer. According to Attorney General Henry, “This dangerous felon had stockpiled guns while steering a massive drug production and distribution network.” Her Gun Violence Task Force, in conjunction with the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, has “once again demonstrated that a network of agencies working to remove firearms and arrest individuals who disregard the law make communities safer,” she continued.
Digging into the trove recovered, agents found a shotgun, ammunition, a ballistics vest, and a riot helmet with “POLICE” insignia. Sources suggest several of the firearms may have been procured through straw purchases conducted on behalf of Mimoso. Additionally, a partner-in-crime, Miguel Alamilla, hailing from Florida and with his own felonious past, faces charges for illegal possession of a firearm following the searches.
The Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force of the Office of Attorney General forms a bulwark against illicit arms operations, working in tandem with multiple agencies to trace straw purchases and clamp down on the violent ripples such transactions create. Last year alone, they seized over 500 firearms, participating in nearly 400 investigations within Philadelphia. The battle against gun violence endures, and the arrest of Nicholas Mimoso stands as a testament to the unyielding pursuit of justice by Attorney General Henry's squad. Deputy Attorney General Maggie Hayes-Oberst leads the prosecution in the Mimoso case, with charges floating as accusations until, or unless, a court of law proves otherwise.
