In a significant crackdown on illegal firearms trafficking in Brooklyn, federal authorities have arrested six individuals across two separate cases. These indictments, unveiled in federal court, implicate the defendants in a variety of charges from unlicensed firearms dealings to possession by a felon. According to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, the operations were conducted close to community-sensitive areas, including an elementary school.
As per a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, among the accused, James Strong was allegedly involved with the trafficking of “ghost guns” and other firearms around Queens Village, with the transactions occurring in the light of day. Strong, previously convicted for manslaughter, was paroled in October 2023 and engaged in these illegal activities while on supervised release. A disturbing detail to note is that some of the sales took place merely blocks away from a school, posing heightened risks to the surrounding communities.
The second case involves Karsem Allen, Carolyn Hicks-Torres, Henry McCummings, Rohnique Posey, and Dominic Smith, who are charged with selling at least 29 firearms, including some that were defaced and semi-automatic. There was also the sale of machine gun conversion devices, which can ominously transform semi-automatic pistols into more lethal machine guns. This group allegedly operated within apartment complexes in the Rockaways, where firearms and crack cocaine were exchanged for profit.
In comments, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella highlighted the danger posed by these operations, "The public should know that my Office and brave members of federal and local enforcement are working tirelessly to reduce gun violence by disrupting the flow of illegal guns to and within New York City and keeping them out of the hands of criminals," as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Both cases are being handled by the General Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Petraeus is leading the case against Strong, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Marcus is handling the case against Allen, Hicks-Torres, McCummings, Posey, and Smith. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Authorities are taking gun trafficking seriously and showing they will act firmly against it.
