DA SINI, SCPD & ATF ANNOUNCE 127-COUNT INDICTMENT AGAINST 14 BLOODS GANG MEMBERS & ASSOCIATES 3 FROM HUNTINGTON STATION

Investigation Resulted in Seizure of More Than 70 Firearms Trafficked into Suffolk County

Defendants Allegedly Conspired to Sell Firearms from States along the ‘Iron Pipeline’

 

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) today announced the indictment of 14 Bloods gang members and associates on 127 criminal charges relating to an alleged illegal gun trafficking operation. The year-long investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 70 illegal firearms that were trafficked into Suffolk County from states along the “iron pipeline,” including Virginia and Georgia.

“This was a large operation of gang members and associates who were retrieving guns from the iron pipeline through straw purchasers and smuggling weapons from other states into the State of New York,” District Attorney Sini said. “Once in New York, Leroy Jones – an identified gang member – would illegally sell those guns to people here in Suffolk County, which could have been other gang members using these weapons to commit crimes. Because of the hard work of the Suffolk County Police detectives on the DA Squad and other officers, the ATF and the prosecutors on this case, we were able to not only recover all of these dangerous weapons, but we were able to take out this very dangerous criminal enterprise.”

“When these weapons find their way into the wrong hands, there can be deadly consequences,” Police Commissioner Hart said. “I am proud of the work of this law enforcement team in bringing down this major gun trafficking organization. I believe that we prevented crimes from being committed using these weapons. This investigation sends a strong message to our communities of our continued commitment to keep these illegal weapons off our streets.”

“The individuals named in the indictment are alleged to have participated in a trafficking scheme that had dozens of illegal firearms destined for communities in Suffolk County,” said Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s New York Field Division John B. DeVito. “Combatting firearms trafficking lies at the heart of ATF’s strategy to eliminate violent crime. Coupling our core competencies in firearms tracing, and NIBIN with great partnerships with our law enforcement partners will allow us to disrupt, dismantle and destroy these organizations. I would like to thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their diligent work on this case. I would also like to thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office for prosecuting this case. Our continued partnerships will reduce violent crime and keep the streets safer for all.”

In September 2018, the District Attorney’s Office, Police Department and ATF began an investigation into the illegal sale of firearms in Suffolk County by Leroy Jones, 31, of Deer Park, who is an identified Bloods gang member.

The investigation revealed that Damar Parler, 35, of Virginia, would allegedly purchase firearms through a network of straw buyers in Virginia to illegally sell the firearms in New York. Parler allegedly coordinated the illegal sales with a family member, Jasmine Sexton, 37, of Huntington Station, who would in turn coordinate with Curtis Bostic, 28, of Hempstead, to sell the firearms. Sexton and Bostic allegedly used Jones as a runner to pick up the firearms and deliver them to the buyer to complete the sales.

The investigation revealed evidence that Parler was allegedly planning to travel to Suffolk County to sell additional firearms with his girlfriend Tameeka Stevens, 35, of Virginia. On Sept. 14, law enforcement officers initiated a traffic stop of Stevens and Parler in Stevens’ 2014 Ford Explorer in Nassau County and recovered two firearms from the vehicle, one of which was loaded.

In addition, Jones is also alleged to have coordinated illegal weapons sales with Matthew Edwards, 52, of Huntington Station; Ed Lariviere, 24, of Bellport; Scott Brown, 25, of Selden and Tavon Pascal, 22, of Huntington Station.

Since September 2018, Jones and his co-conspirators are alleged to have conducted illegal firearms sales on more than 50 separate occasions, resulting in the recovery of 73 firearms by Suffolk County law enforcement.

“That is 73 weapons that never made it onto the streets of Suffolk County,” District Attorney Sini said.

Of the 73 weapons recovered, 62 were handguns and 11 were rifles and shotguns; 13 of the weapons were assault weapons, including AR-15s, AK-47s, and AK-47 style pistols; 48 of the weapons were loaded at the time of the sale and 36 of the weapons were sold along with high-capacity magazines; 22 of the weapons were previously reported stolen; and six of the weapons had their serial numbers defaced.

The points of origin for the recovered weapons were traced by the ATF and found to have originated in 15 different states, with the majority originating in Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Bostic, Brown, Jones, Lariviere, Parler, Pascal and Sexton are all identified by law enforcement as being members of the Bloods street gang.

The investigation involved the use of an undercover officer, physical surveillance, electronic surveillance, and court-authorized eavesdropping. It was conducted by detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Squad, the Suffolk County Police Department’s Firearm Suppression Team (“FAST”) and Emergency Service Section, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The codefendants charged in the indictment are as follows:

Curtis Bostic, 28, of Hempstead, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 12 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 13 counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. Bostic was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Bostic faces a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

 

Scott Brown, 25, of Middle Island, is charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony. Brown was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Brown faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

 

Matthew Edwards, 52, of Huntington Station, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; nine counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. Edwards was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. Jones was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Edwards faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if found to be a persistent felony offender.

 

Leroy Jones, 31, of Deer Park, is charged with three counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; three counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; three counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 30 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 39 counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; 22 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; and five counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. If convicted of the top count, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if found to be a persistent felony offender.

 

Ed Lariviere, 24, of Bellport, is charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony. Lariviere was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Lariviere faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.

 

Shannon McKeever, 31, of Patchogue, is charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. McKeever was arraigned on Oct. 10 and bail was set at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, McKeever faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

 

Damar Parler, 35, of Lynchburg, Virginia, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; six counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, an A misdemeanor. Parler was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Parler faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

 

Tavon Pascal, 22, of Huntington Station, is charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; and four counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, an E felony. Pascal was arraigned on Oct. 7 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Pascal faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.

 

Jasmine Sexton, 37, of Huntington Station, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a B violent felony; Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 10 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; 11 counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a D violent felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, as a D violent felony; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a D felony; and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony. Sexton was arraigned on Oct. 8 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Sexton faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if found to be a persistent felony offender.

 

Tameeka Stevens, 35, of Lynchburg, Virginia, is charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, an E felony; Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a C violent felony; Criminal Purchase or Disposal of a Weapon, a D felony; Criminal Possession of a Firearm, an E felony; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, an A misdemeanor. Stevens was arraigned on Oct. 9 and bail was set at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond. If convicted of the top count, Stevens faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Warrants have been issued for four additional suspects.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Peter Giattino, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.