Couple arrested after firearms investigation in Dover

DOVER, Delaware – Dover police arrested two people Thursday as part of an investigation into illegal gun purchases.

The investigation began when police learned that one of the suspects, 32-year-old Brittney Wharton, had purchased several firearms, high-capacity magazines and ammunition for a second suspect, 42-year-old Nathaniel Cooper. Police say Cooper is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

On Thursday, detectives executed a search warrant on a residence in the Fair Wind Place apartment complex associated with Wharton and Cooper. During the search, police found high-capacity firearm magazines, ammunition, psilocybin mushrooms and drug paraphernalia. Both suspects were subsequently taken into custody.

Wharton was charged with five counts of giving a firearm to a person who was prohibited from having access to it, seven counts of engaging in a firearms transaction on behalf of another person, six counts of knowingly making false oral or written statements intended to deceive a firearms dealer or likely to make a false statement to police, and other counts of second-degree conspiracy. She was released on unsecured bail.

Cooper was charged with possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person with prohibited possession, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held at SCI on $26,200 bail.