Eric Gonzalez, the acting DA of Brooklyn in collaboration with James P O’Neil, the Commissioner of NYC Police made a public statement about 24 individuals who are involved in different offences related to conspiracy for guns trafficking. 22 of these 24 individuals reside in Virginia and they are accused of selling guns on Brooklyn streets.
Gonzalez said that the case is pretty unique as it involved the charging of several defendants and recovery of more firearms than there ever were in any other case in the history of Brooklyn. He also stated that his office will do whatever it takes to continue the fight against the trafficking of firearms.
O’Neil stated that the firearms involved in the investigation are sufficient enough to make an entire arsenal. The nation is under serious threat of illegal weaponry as 24 individuals were found indulged in trafficking 217 weapons of different kinds across other states. The firearms then landed ultimately in NYC. He also added that the prosecutors and investigators working at his office will make sure to put in all their efforts in pursuing the case so that the involved individuals get what they deserve.
Gonzalez said that most of the associated individuals were associated with notorious street gangs of Brooklyn and Virginia and used the earning of illegal weapon trading in pursuing a lavish lifestyle that involved the purchase of sneakers, clothing, jewelry and drugs. In addition to this, they were also found involved in sending money to their associates in prison.
The leaders of this entire conspiracy were identified by the acting DA as Damian King aka Havoc, Levar Shelborne aka Wavy Boy and Jacquan Spencer aka Mad Cat. All of them are being charged with criminal firearm sale (first, second & third degrees), criminal weapon possession (second degree), conspiracy (fourth degree) and several other similar charges. Majority of the defendants were in Virginia when they were arrested last week. They are now being arraigned before William Harrington, Supreme Court Justice of Brooklyn.
The acting DA elaborated that the ongoing indictment is being pursued as a result of an ongoing investigation that was co conducted by Brooklyn’s DA office and NYCPD’s firearms investigation unit. The defendants allegedly carried out the trade of illegal weaponry. They purchased the guns from Virginia and sold them in Brooklyn. The entire process of investigation made use of different kinds of surveillances and electronic communication interceptions. Several different kinds of weapons were recovered as a result of this operation. These included AK47s, MAC10s, Mossberg 715Ts and AR15s. Similarly, the hand guns included .45 desert eagle 1911, 50 round ammunition drums, glocks, .40 caliber, 9mm and .380 caliber.
The criminal organization is alleged to comprise of two arms. One of them operated in Richmond and Henrico counties while the other one operated in Newport and Hampton cities. All the individuals belonging to both the arms used to receive directions from different high rankers of the organization. They organized and coordinated the entire trafficking operation in between bot the areas.
10 defendants were charged as a result of the indictment. These included Shelborne, Spencer and King as well. They are being charged with bringing numerous firearms from Virginia to Manhattan or Brooklyn and are known to allegedly travel through automobiles or using different bus services. The other 14 defendants are being charged as straw purchasers that may be referred to as individuals with legal entitlement of purchasing different firearms under Virginian laws.
According to investigations carried out by the authorities, the trading took place at different locations present in Brooklyn including Boerum Hill, Sunset Park, Fort Greene and Bedford Stuyvesant. The ammunition was sold with a sufficient amount of money on account of profits. Buyers paid an amount ranging in between 800 to 1200 USD for a hand gun while a price between 18,00 to 2,200 USD for a rifle.
The investigations also revealed that Aaron Perry, a resident of Bedford Stuyvesant allegedly aided Spencer by serving as the lookout guy for the trafficking and different transactions as well. According to the acting DA of Brooklyn, different prosecutors that were assigned to the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau have worked in collaboration with detectives belonging to the NYC PD’s firearm investigations unit. They have managed to take more than 1000 guns off the streets of Brooklyn since the creation of VCE in 2014.
