8 Alleged Gang Members Accused Of Selling Guns, Drugs To Undercover Cops In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Eight alleged gang members have been charged with selling more than a dozen illegal guns and drugs to undercover operatives, the Queens District Attorney's office announced Tuesday.
The defendants were identified by Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown as members of the Trinitarios, a violent New York-based Dominican street gang, and the eighth as a member of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a violent street gang composed primarily of Central Americans.
They were charged with criminal sale of firearms, and other weapons and drug charges.
Prosecutors alleged that the defendants sold undercover agents from the NYPD 14 guns – in some cases with ammunition – along with cocaine, marijuana and the stimulant MDPV – also known as bath salts. The buys allegedly took place between November 2012 and June 2014.
"The District Attorney's Office is committed to ridding our communities of illegal guns and narcotics. Illegal firearms that flood our streets pose a serious and deadly threat to public safety and the distribution of illegal drugs is a plague on our society," Brown said in a news conference. "For those arrested, the message could not be clearer: law enforcement has no tolerance for those involved in the weapons and drug trade."
Those charged include:
• Eddie Cruz, 28, of Glendale Queens, who is accused of selling an undercover agent a .25-caliber Lorcin pistol with ammunition and a .357 Magnum Ruger revolver ammunition between June 2013 and March 2014. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said.
• Marcello Esquival, 26, of Jackson Heights, Queens, who allegedly sold an undercover operative a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver on Nov. 1, 2012, and two twists of cocaine that same month. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
• Francisco Gil, 25, of Jamaica, Queens, who allegedly sold an undercover agent a 9mm semiautomatic Luger pistol on Feb. 27, 2013. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
• Carlos Rosario-Mejia, 30, of Jamaica, Queens, who is accused of selling an undercover agent a defaced .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol that could not be fired, a .380 semiautomatic pistol, and a .22 short-caliber revolver between October and November 2013. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
• Reginald Rosa, 25, of Jamaica, Queens, who is accused of selling an undercover operative a .38 special caliber Smith and Wesson revolver on April 18, 2014. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
• Angel Sanchez, 33, of Woodhaven, Queens, who is charged with selling an undercover operative a .22 long rifle caliber semi-automatic pistol with ammunition on April 18, 2013, and selling marijuana and bath salts to an undercover operative between Dec. 11, 2012, and May 20, 2013. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
• Lucas Singh, 30, of College Point, Queens, who is accused of selling two undercover agents a defaced cut-down, Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle with ammunition, a defaced .357 magnum revolver with ammunition, a .32 caliber semi-automatic Kel-Tec pistol, a .38 special caliber Smith and Wesson revolver and a .380 semi-automatic Kel-Tec pistol with ammunition between July 2013 and June 2014. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
• Clase Wellington, 26, of Glendale, Queens, who allegedly sold an undercover operative a 9mm semi-automatic Luger caliber pistol on May 10, 2013. If convicted, he too faces up to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said.
The investigation was conducted by the NYPD Gang Squad.