DA picks former candidate for gun task force

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams has tapped a former congressional candidate to head his gun violence task force. Last year, Brian Lentz was a Democratic State Representative in Delaware County, running for Congress. He came up short against Republican Pat Meehan.

Lentz said he’s happy to come back to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, where he spent six years as a prosecutor. “We’re going to prosecute straw purchasers, those that traffic in illegal firearms, those that possess them illegally, and all aspects of gun violence in Philadelphia and the region,” he said. The task force is a joint project of the district attorney’s office and the state attorney general’s office. As unit chief, Lentz said he will personally prosecute some cases.