Courtesy the New York Attorney General’s Office
Firearms and ammunition recovered by the investigation.
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
The New York Attorney General’s Office has announced the indictment of three individuals from Queens for their alleged involvement in a significant gun trafficking operation that illegally transported 184 firearms from North Carolina to New York City.
The defendants—Deundre Wright, 22, Abner Sparkes, 31, and Ethan Charles, 22 are facing a wide array of charges, including Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree.
The indictment, which consists of 579 counts, was unsealed in Queens County Supreme Court and underscores the serious nature of the offenses. Among the firearms recovered were numerous assault weapons, semiautomatic pistols, high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The operation reportedly spanned several months, from March to July 2024, and involved a network that facilitated the illegal sale of these weapons in New York City.
“The majority of guns used in crimes in New York City are illegally trafficked from other states with lax gun laws along the Iron Pipeline and are fueling deadly gun violence in our communities,” said Attorney General James. “This investigation shut down a major gun trafficking operation that brought a flood of dangerous weapons, including assault weapons, from North Carolina into New York City in the span of just a few months. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to keep New Yorkers safe and get illegal guns off our streets. I thank our partners in this investigation for their work to stop gun violence.”
According to the investigation, Wright was the key figure responsible for sourcing firearms in North Carolina, where gun laws are comparatively lax. He allegedly transported the firearms back to New York by traveling on buses, hiding the weapons in luggage. Once in Queens, Wright stored the firearms at various locations, including friends’ homes and parked cars in Jamaica, Queens. Reports indicate that he set prices for the weapons, which ranged from $1,000 to $2,500 each.
Courtesy the New York Attorney General’s Office
The rocket-propelled grenade launcher and one of the assault weapons seized by the investigation
“Often times we see drug and gun violence go hand in hand. The indictments of these three individuals are thanks to the hard work of our DEA Strikeforce, New York’s Attorney General, and our law enforcement partners, when targeting those who pose a threat to our communities through the sale of illegal firearms,” said DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “The removal of over 150 firearms, which includes numerous assault weapons and semiautomatic pistols, just made the streets of New York City and our neighborhoods safer. The DEA remains committed to protecting our communities, reducing gun violence, and enhancing public safety.”
Sparkes played a crucial role in facilitating the sales. He reportedly met with customers at designated locations, conducting transactions discreetly from his vehicle. After each sale, he would return the cash to Wright, who monitored the transactions from a nearby location.
The investigation, a collaborative effort led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), also involved the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Law enforcement officials employed a combination of controlled purchases, physical surveillance, and covert video monitoring to gather evidence over several months.
“Today’s charges are a stark reminder that high-powered, illegal firearms continue to proliferate and circulate in our communities, and that NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners are doing the dangerous work of preventing them from getting into criminals’ hands on the streets,” said NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon. “Disrupting and dismantling gun trafficking networks is a top priority for our city. I thank everyone at Office of the Attorney General and all of our local, state, and federal partners for their hard work on this important case and for their ongoing commitment to our shared public safety mission.”
On August 8, 2024, authorities made a significant breakthrough when they detained Wright and Charles in Manhattan as they were disembarking from a bus carrying multiple suitcases. In the course of this operation, investigators seized 41 firearms, including four shotguns and an inoperable rocket-propelled grenade launcher, which were hidden in their luggage. This seizure highlights the alarming nature of the operation and the types of weapons that were being trafficked into New York City.
Each of the defendants faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by illegal firearms in urban areas and the interconnectedness of gun and drug violence.
The Attorney General’s Office expressed gratitude to its law enforcement partners, including the DEA and NYPD, for their collaborative efforts in addressing this pressing issue. The investigation illustrates a commitment to dismantling illegal gun trafficking networks, which are believed to contribute significantly to the rise in gun violence in the city.
The investigation was led by DEA New York Strikeforce’s Task Force Officer, NYPD Detective Ryan Foy, with oversight from NYPD leadership. The Attorney General’s Office also highlighted the contributions of various agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement partners in North Carolina.
