NEW HAVEN, CT — United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Vanessa Roberts Avery, together with James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter, announced the indictment of six individuals on gun trafficking charges. The indictment was returned on December 12, 2023, and the arrests were made on December 18.
The individuals charged include:
- Stefan Bagley, Jr., 22, of Stratford
- Tremayne Ferguson, 23, of West Haven
- Jamaine Adkins, Jr., 21, of Stratford
- Jeffrey Charleston, 20, of Bridgeport
- Eskavail Gordon, 20, of Stratford
- Chase Dralle, 23, of Trumbull
According to the indictment, court documents, and statements in court, Stefan Bagley, Jr. was involved in a shooting on July 26, 2023, in Bridgeport. An investigation uncovered that from October 2022 to October 2023, Bagley purchased around 20 9mm handguns, subsequently trafficking them to individuals including Ferguson, Charleston, Gordon, and Dralle. Bagley typically removed the serial numbers from the firearms before distribution.
The charges against the defendants include engaging in unlicensed firearms dealing, making false statements during firearm purchases, firearms trafficking offenses, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. These offenses carry maximum imprisonment terms ranging from five to fifteen years.
U.S. Attorney Avery highlighted the significance of this case being prosecuted under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a federal statute targeting unlawful firearms trafficking and straw purchasing, enacted in June 2022. This act represents a concerted effort to combat the illegal arms trade.