Photo: Stock Unsplash @danielcgold
Nov. 3, 2020 By Christian Murray
Three Queens residents have been indicted for trafficking illegal firearms across state lines.
The alleged gun-runners purchased firearms in the Virginia, where the laws are less strict, and then hauled them to New York City to sell.
The crew, led by Jessica “Cess Milla” Heyliger of Jamaica, purchased pistols, revolvers and other weapons between September 2019 and July 2020, according to the charges. She worked in concert with two other crew members–Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Myree of Jamaica and Sharod ‘Yahyo’ King of Woodside– to peddle the weapons.
The trio were arraigned following a grand jury handing up a 182-count indictment. They have been variously charged with the criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree, criminal possession on a weapon in the second degree and other crimes
“Getting guns off our streets is one of my top priorities,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement. “Accomplishing that means investigating and prosecuting those responsible for allegedly bringing deadly guns into our region.”
According to the charges, Heyliger was the crew leader and the principal dealer of the weapons. Meanwhile, Myree is accused of being the backup supplier and King allegedly was Heyliger’s salesman.
The investigation into the crew began in September 2019 when King allegedly sold a handgun and two large capacity ammunition feeding devices to an undercover cop.
In December 2019, police got a court order to tap King’s mobile phone.
The crew then allegedly began supplying an undercover police office, and sold the officer 23 guns in 13 separate transactions.
As part of the conspiracy, King allegedly communicated directly with the undercover police officer – and delivered firearms, large capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Most of the illegal sales occurred in Astoria.
Heyliger is accused of providing all the weapons and ammo to King.
“These kinds of firearms do not belong in our communities. Each weapon seized during this investigation is a potential life saved,” Katz said. “We will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to put gun runners out of business.”
The defendants were ordered to return to court on Jan. 28, 2021.
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