Pa. man bought guns for people who went on to commit crimes, officials say

The Berks County District Attorney’s Office says that one man is connected to several crimes after buying guns for multiple people as a “straw purchaser.”

An investigation was launched by the Berks County Gun Violence Reduction Task Force in April of 2025 after Elvis Hernandez-Gonzalez, 18, was arrested for an attempted homicide in Reading, officials said.

Detectives traced the weapon that Hernandez-Gonzalez used back to Wilson Rivera, 24, who is accused of buying the weapon for him and acting as a “straw purchaser,” officials reported.

When questioned about the weapon, Rivera wrongly reported it as stolen in order to hide his connection to the weapon, the DA said.

During the investigation into Rivera, investigators said they also found he worked with Joanna Vazquez, 41, to buy a Glock .40 caliber handgun for her 16-year-old son.

Rivera is accused of filing false background check forms in order to buy the gun before handing the weapon to Vazquez and her son, officials explained.

Then, on Dec. 4, 2025, Vazquez’s son, identified as Jonathan Vazquez, worked with Jateek Santiago, 31, and one other person to violently break into an apartment on Franklin Street in Reading, according to the DA.

Santiago held a gun to the homeowner’s head during the break in and fired one round from his weapon into the wall before leaving, officials said.

Investigators said they found that Joanna Vazquez and Jateek Santiago planned the break in together and that Vazquez gave the group her car to commit the crime.

In another incident that detectives were able to link back to Rivera’s straw purchasing scheme, officers with the Reading Police Department arrested Javon Richardson, 18, after chasing him.

Richardson was carrying a Glock handgun that had been altered to be a fully automatic machine gun which officials said he bought from Rivera.

So far, five people are facing several charges, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.

• Wilson Rivera is facing materially false written statement, penalities for sales to ineligible transferee, possession of a firearm by a minor, corruption of minors, false reports to law enforecement and other related charges
• Jateek Santiago is facing robbery, burglar, criminal trespass, simple assault and other related charges
• Joanna Vazquez is facing possession of a firearm prohibited, corruption of minors and other related charges
• Javon Richardson is facing firearms not to be carried without a license, prohibited offensive weapons and resisting arrest
• Jonathan Vazquez is being charged as an adult and is facing robbery, burglary and other related charges.

“Straw purchasing is a significant driver of gun violence in our communities. We will not tolerate individuals who exploit the legal firearm purchasing systems to arm criminals and fuel violence,” Berks County DA John Adams wrote in a statement. “The goal is to stop the practice of legal purchasers diverting handguns to the ineligible. This sends a clear message: Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue those who threaten public safety through gun trafficking and drug smuggling.”

Officials said that Joanna Vazquez and her son Jonathan were arrested on April 23. They two are being held in custody as they wait for their arraignment.

Jateek Santiago is considered a fugitive and officials are searching for him.

The investigation into this case is ongoing.

If you have any information that could help investigators, please call the Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171.

You can also submit a tip anonymously by calling 877-373-9913, downloading the ALERTBERKS app or by text message by typing ALERTBERKS along with your tip to 847411.