Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment of five individuals on charges related to the criminal sale of drugs and guns, concluding a comprehensive six-month investigation into a trafficking operation in Far Rockaway. The collaborative investigation, led by the Queens District Attorney’s office and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division, also led to the prosecution of four additional defendants on related charges.
The operation involved undercover drug purchases and the tracking of defendants’ phones, culminating in the seizure of 10 firearms, including ghost guns, and a kilogram of cocaine. The indictments and additional prosecutions are part of ongoing efforts to combat gun and drug trafficking in New York City.
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban praised the investigation’s methodical approach and stressed the NYPD’s commitment to disrupting criminal networks involved in illegal drug and gun trade. The partnership between the NYPD and the Queens District Attorney’s office was highlighted as crucial in these efforts.
Details of the investigation revealed 16 transactions involving cocaine and guns, surveillance operations, and the execution of search warrants on January 17. These efforts led to the arrests and seizures of various firearms and drugs with significant street value.
The investigation team, including Detective James Miles and others under the supervision of Assistant Chief Jason Savino, played a key role in the success of this operation. The indicted defendants were arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis, with future court dates set for further proceedings.