Reading man accused in ‘straw purchases’ of multiple handguns | Reading Area

READING, Pa. – Authorities in Berks County are accusing a Reading man of making multiple straw purchases of handguns.

Joel Mendoza-Diaz, 26, is charged with multiple counts of sale or transfer of firearms-materially false written statement ( a felony) and unsworn falsification to authorities (a misdemeanor), according to a news release from the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.

A straw purchase happens when a person purchases a firearm on behalf of another person while falsely claiming to be the actual purchaser, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said.

The investigation began in February 2026 after law enforcement recovered several firearms during unrelated criminal investigations that had been purchased by Mendoza-Diaz, the DA’s office said.

The DA’s office said detectives then identified a pattern of firearm purchases that led to the investigation.

During an interview with detectives on March 25, Mendoza-Diaz admitted to purchasing multiple firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers in Berks County on behalf of another person, according to the news release.

According to the DA’s office, Mendoza-Diaz falsely represented on federally required firearm purchase forms that he was the actual buyer of the firearms when he allegedly intended to transfer them to another person.

The investigation determined that between April and July 2025, Mendoza-Diaz allegedly purchased five Glock handguns during three separate transactions at licensed firearm dealers in Berks, the DA’s office said.

The DA’s office said detectives learned that he later supplied them to another person, constituting illegal straw purchases under Pennsylvania law.

Mendoza-Diaz was processed by the Berks County Sheriff’s Department, and bail was set at $50,000, the DA’s office said. He was later released after posting bond.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Alert Berks County by calling 877-373-9913, using the ALERTBERKS mobile app, or by texting ALERTBERKS and your tip to 847411.