New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the dismantling of a multistate gun and drug trafficking network that sold assault weapons, ghost guns, and cocaine in New York City. The operation recovered 74 firearms, including nine assault-style rifles, eight assault-style pistols, four ghost guns, over 2,100 rounds of ammunition, and 500 grams of cocaine valued at $15,700. Thirteen individuals were arrested and charged with 358 crimes related to the trafficking activities from New Jersey and Florida into New York City.
"Assault weapons and ghost guns pose some of the greatest threats to our communities," said Attorney General James. "As a result of our investigation, we took dozens of dangerous and illegal guns and narcotics out of our communities."
The takedown followed a ten-month joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the United States Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) New York Strike Force Group Z-13. The probe included physical surveillance, wiretapping cellphones, analyzing electronic evidence, and other investigative methods.
The investigation began in August 2023 focusing on Anthony Ortiz Vasquez who sold illegal firearms and rapid-fire modification devices. Evidence revealed a coordinated network around Ortiz Vasquez buying, storing, transporting, and selling these items.
Ortiz Vasquez purchased firearms from Nelphy Reyes-Peralta; Nestor Vasquez Vargas; Derek Vargas; Harry Laureano; Jeffry Deschamps; Carlos Torres; Juan Torres; Iris Molina; Tiffany Diaz Fermin; Kiara Rodriguez; Yadira Vasquez; Hector Vasquez. They used codewords like “toys,” “sneakers,” or “panties” for guns during transactions.
Carlos Torres regularly assisted Ortiz Vasquez in transporting firearms from Paterson to Washington Heights where they were sold. The defendants disguised weapons using blankets or grocery bags during transportation.
Ortiz Vasquez also sold cocaine sourced from his brother Hector Vasquez in Washington Heights.
Recovered items included 74 firearms: nine assault-style rifles, eight assault-style pistols, four ghost guns along with 2,175 rounds of ammunition. Those arrested face various charges including Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree carrying up to 25 years imprisonment.
DEA New York Division Special Agent Frank Tarentino highlighted the partnership between federal and local law enforcement as crucial for targeting such threats. HSI Special Agent Ivan J. Arvelo emphasized ongoing efforts against illegal firearm trafficking while NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban praised interagency coordination for preventing potential bloodshed.
Attorney General James’ recent efforts have led to multiple indictments against gun traffickers across New York State this year alone including cases involving fentanyl pills in Western New York and ghost guns in Central New York among others.
This case was prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Brandi S. Kligman under Downstate OCTF Deputy Chief Lauren Abinanti's supervision with support from various legal analysts within OAG’s Investigations Division led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.