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NEWS RELEASE |
Contact: Alicia Maxey Greene |
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Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau today announced a 106-count indictment against seven individuals for running an Inwood gun trafficking ring that sold firearms, and wholesale quantities of cocaine and Ecstasy, to an undercover detective during a 10-month investigation. The defendants are MARCEL NAVARRO, a/k/a “JD MARCEL,” JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, a/k/a “JD CHOCOLATY,” KENNY GRULLON, a/k/a “JD DODGERS,” JUAN PICHARDO, a/k/a “JD PIMPLES,” MICHAEL BERRIOS, a/k/a “JD PONYTAIL,” EMMANUEL FELIX, a/k/a “JD MANNY,” and CHRISTOPHER NAVARRO, a/k/a “JD SHORTY.” They were each indicted on various charges including criminal sale of a firearm, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon and other felony charges. The investigation leading to today’s indictment revealed that the defendants, in a loose association based on neighborhood familiarity, actively engaged in the distribution of guns, and wholesale quantities of cocaine and Ecstasy, to street customers, and to other narcotics dealers from around the city. They operated primarily from West 212th to West 215th Streets between Broadway and 10th Avenue, often utilizing the interior of 509 West 212th Street and the street in front of 4020 10th Avenue to consummate their sales. 509 West 212th Street is a residential apartment building located across the street from P.S. 98, an elementary school. 4020 10th Avenue is a commercial building containing a taxi service, among other businesses. Most of the firearms sales also involved ammunition, for a total of approximately 400 rounds, including full metal jacket and hollow point bullets. All of the assault weapons had magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds. In the course of the investigation and takedown, an additional 11 guns and five large capacity feeding devices were taken off the streets. In addition, the undercover purchased over 20 ounces of cocaine and 99 doses of Ecstasy worth a total of $16,480. Beginning yesterday morning, members of the New York City Police Department have been making arrests in connection with the indictment and investigation. A total of 4 defendants are in custody, while 3 are still being sought for arrest and prosecution. Mr. Morgenthau said, “While crime in Manhattan is at a historic low, illegal guns – which typically proliferate in symbiotic relation with drug trafficking, as in this case – continue to pose a serious threat to the safety of New York City residents and the police. This case is an example of the continuing efforts of the District Attorney’s Office, working with the Police Department, to rid Manhattan of illegal guns and reduce gun violence. Cutting off sources of supply, by seeing that illegal traffickers are arrested, prosecuted and sent to prison is a critical part of those efforts.” Defendants MARCEL NAVARRO and JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ are charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B violent felony carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, arising from their sale of over 10 firearms during the course of the investigation. They are also charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-1 felony carrying a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. In addition, they are charged with multiple other felony counts relating to the sale of firearms, assault weapons, and controlled substances. Charges against the other defendants - KENNY GRULLON, JUAN PICHARDO, MICHAEL BERRIOS, EMMANUEL FELIX, and CHRISTOPHER NAVARRO - include multiple counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and multiple other felony counts relating to the sale of firearms and controlled substances. Defendants MARCEL NAVARRO, JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, KENNY GRULLON, and CHRISTOPHER NAVARRO are scheduled to be arraigned today in State Supreme Court, Part 1. Assistant District Attorney Jason Berland conducted the investigation, presented the case to the Grand Jury and will handle the prosecution, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Dan M. Rather, Firearms Trafficking Unit Chief, and Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Ryan and Daniel Bayles, Deputy Unit Chiefs. The Firearms Trafficking Unit was formally created in May of 1993 to investigate and prosecute the sources of illegal firearms in New York City. The unit targets gun traffickers, including unlicensed street sellers, and corrupt licensed dealers who provide significant numbers of firearms to street gangs, narcotics crews, and organized crime. Mr. Morgenthau thanked New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Organized Crime Control Bureau Chief Anthony J. Izzo, Inspector Thomas F. DiRusso, Captain Robert VanHouten, Captain Joseph Kenny, Lieutenant Thomas McPartland, Sergeant Patrick Mulcahy, case Detective Douglas Lansing and the detectives of the Manhattan Firearms Investigation Unit, and Lieutenant Salvatore Bertocci and detectives of the Firearms Analysis Section MARCEL NAVARRO, a/k/a “JD MARCEL,” 1/5/1988* JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, a/k/a “JD CHOCOLATY,” 7/29/1989* KENNY GRULLON, a/k/a “JD DODGERS,” 9/24/1989* JUAN PICHARDO, a/k/a “JD PIMPLES,” 9/11/1987 MICHAEL BERRIOS, a/k/a “JD PONYTAIL,” 5/31/1988 EMMANUEL FELIX, a/k/a “JD MANNY,” 11/18/1985 CHRISTOPHER NAVARRO, a/k/a “JD SHORTY,” 3/28/1985*
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