Joint HSI New York Investigation Leads to Takedown of Gun, Drug Trafficking Ring

NEW YORK — A joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, in coordination with the Office of the New York Attorney General, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), operating under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force, announced the takedown of a multistate gun and drug trafficking network that sold weapons, including ghost guns, and cocaine throughout the New York City greater metropolitan area.

Through the investigation, 74 firearms were recovered, including nine assault-style rifles, eight assault-style pistols and four ghost guns; over 2,100 rounds of ammunition; and 500 grams of cocaine with a street value of $15,700. Thirteen individuals were arrested and charged with 358 crimes for their roles in trafficking these firearms and narcotics into New York City from New Jersey and Florida.

“These 13 defendants have been linked to an alleged gun trafficking scheme involving over 70 firearms, including high powered, black market weaponry,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. “HSI New York continues to work in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to eradicate illegal firearms from our communities. While today’s actions are a step in the right direction to protect the public safety, there is more work to be done. HSI New York is proud to stand side-by-side with the New York Attorney General’s Office, the NYPD, the DEA, the New York State Police and all agencies involved in confronting the gun violence epidemic directly and forcefully.”

The following people were arrested as part of the takedown:

• Anthony Ortiz Vasquez, 24, of Paterson.
• Nelphy Reyes-Peralta, 47, of Wayne.
• Nestor Vasquez Vargas, 20, of Kissimmee, Florida.
• Hector Vasquez, 36, of Passaic.
• Derek Vargas, 21, of Paterson.
• Jeffry Deschamps, 31, of Paterson.
• Carlos Torres, 22, of Paterson.
• Juan Torres, 21, of Paterson.
• Harry Laureano, 31, of Paterson.
• Iris Molina, 39, of Paterson.
• Tiffany Diaz Fermin, 28, of Paterson.
• Yadira Vasquez, 42, of Hackensack.
• Kiara Rodriguez, 23, of Hackensack.

With respect to the firearms trafficking charges, Ortiz Vasquez, Reyes-Peralta, Carlos Torres, Juan Torres, Deschamps, Hector Vasquez, Yadira Vasquez and Rodriguez are all charged with criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree, which is a Class B violent felony and carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years, as well as various other firearms sale and possession-related charges.

All the defendants are charged with conspiracy in the fourth degree, which is a Class E felony and carries a maximum prison sentence of one year and four months to four years.

Arvelo expressed gratitude to the partners within the joint OCDETF Strike Force, which includes members of HSI New York, the NYPD, the DEA, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division and the New York State Police, as well as the Passaic City Police Department, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Justice Weapons Trafficking Unit, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the New Jersey State Police Weapons Trafficking North Unit, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their valuable assistance and participation in this investigation.

“Assault weapons and ghost guns pose some of the greatest threats to our communities, and we will do everything possible to keep them out of New York,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “As a result of our investigation, we took dozens of dangerous and illegal guns and narcotics out of our communities and stopped this multistate crime operation from continuing to profit off violence. Protecting New Yorkers from gun violence is a joint effort, and I thank our partners in law enforcement for their commitment to public safety.”

“The arrest of these individuals and the seizure of dozens of firearms and cocaine reflects the partnership the DEA has with our federal and local law enforcement partners, including the New York Attorney General’s Office, when working together to target those individuals that pose a threat to our communities,” said DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Whenever illegal rapid-fire modification devices, ghost guns and high-capacity magazines of this size are recovered, it is a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officials face when targeting these individuals and organizations. Today, the community is safer with these individuals off our street.”

“This important investigation shows how seamless interagency coordination is effectively combating large scale illegal gun and drug trafficking in New York City,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “Disassembling these dangerous operations has prevented bloodshed on our streets and averted untold tragedies in our communities. I commend our NYPD investigators, our partners at the New York Attorney General’s office, and our many other local, state and federal colleagues for their commitment to this shared public safety mission. We vow to not rest until every New Yorker is completely safe and feels completely safe, too.”

“The New York State Police remains committed to working with the Attorney General’s Office and our partners in local law enforcement to shut down the illegal trafficking of guns and drugs,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “Cases like this one send a strong message that anyone who endangers our communities with these criminal activities will be held accountable for their actions.”