An Emmaus man and an Allentown man were arrested by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro for their alleged roles in illegal purchases of 29 firearms, including pistols, revolvers and rifles, according to a media release dated May 7.

James Gleason, 38, of the 200 block of Powder Mill Lane, Emmaus and Reynold James Lewis, 37, of the 800 block of North Sixth Street, Allentown, are held in Lehigh County Jail, according to court documents available May 9.

In an investigation conducted by Shapiro’s office, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Task Force and Emmaus Police Department, Lewis was found to have allegedly instructed Gleason and one other person to make straw purchases of firearms to pay back debt related to Gleason’s drug use.

In an illegal straw purchase, items such as firearms for those individuals prohibited from owning guns or alcohol or tobacco for underage minors are bought.

According to affidavits of probable cause released by authorities, straw purchases were made from retailers located in Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery and Wayne counties between December 2020 and April.

On May 3, Gleason allegedly arranged to meet Lewis at a location in the 1200 block of Airport Road where he allegedly walked to a vehicle known to be driven by Lewis and returned with $1,410 cash and what appeared to be methamphetamine wrapped in a towel.

Gleason allegedly was to receive money to purchase firearms in Easton.

Lewis was taken into custody by ATF task force officers, according to the affidavit of probable cause in his case. Lewis allegedly refused to speak with investigators.

Drug debts allegedly brought about the arrangement, according to court documents.

According to the media release from the state attorney general, Gleason faces 29 counts of illegal transfer of firearms.

Lewis allegedly would pay $75 to $100 per firearm or the equivalent in methamphetamine, according to a police criminal complaint released by authorities.

Lewis faces 29 counts of alleged illegal transfers of firearms as well as the same number of counts of unsworn falsifications to authorities, tampering with public records, person not to possess firearms, dealing in unlawful proceeds, 30 counts of firearms possessed by a prohibited person and 29 counts of corrupt organizations.

He also is charged with one count each of a person not to possess firearms and possession with intent to deliver.

According to the media release dated May 7, authorities “executed a search warrant” of a hotel room used by Lewis as well as of his vehicle and recovered a handgun, ammunition, firearm parts including a kit to assemble a ghost gun and various narcotics including suspected “methamphetamine, crack cocaine and oxycodone pills.”

A ghost gun is an untraceable fully operational weapon assembled from parts.

According to the affidavit of probable cause in his case, Gleason and another person allegedly would be picked up by Lewis at Gleason’s residence in Emmaus. Lewis allegedly would drive them to retailers to purchase guns. They allegedly would give the guns to Lewis and he would drive back to the residence, drop off Gleason and the other person and leave, allegedly taking the purchased guns with him.

An informal count of the guns listed as purchased totaled 23 pistols, four revolvers and two rifles by manufacturers such as Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Glock and KelTec.

The case will be prosecuted by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, according to the media release dated May 7.