In a groundbreaking case for the Eastern District of New York, Ariana Charles, 28, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty today in federal court to trafficking firearms and conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base. United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II oversaw the proceeding.

Charles was charged under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a statute specifically designed to combat gun trafficking. If sentenced as per the act, she faces a maximum of 20 years for drug distribution conspiracy and 15 years for firearms trafficking.

United States Attorney Breon Peace highlighted the significance of the case, stating, ‘Gang members, felons, and violent individuals do not obtain deadly weapons without traffickers like Charles. Today’s plea is a testament to our commitment to hold such individuals accountable.’

The indictment revealed that Charles sold 18 firearms to an undercover officer in various Brooklyn locations, including public housing complexes. The guns were sourced from Virginia and Georgia, some with defaced serial numbers.

In addition to the firearms, Charles also dealt drugs to the undercover officer, including crack cocaine and fentanyl disguised as Oxycodone pills.

Four of her co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty in a related case. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir, Irisa Chen, and James R. Simmons are leading the prosecution.

Related Federal Cases

Brooklyn Gun Ring Dismantled: Louisdor et al. Indicted for Arms Smuggling · Georgia
Brooklyn Man Charged with Selling Fentanyl and Oxycodone Online · Alaska
Brooklyn Gun Kingpin Khyle Williams Faces 176 Charges · Georgia
Brooklyn Gun Kingpin Khyle Williams Busted for Illegal Arms Sales · Georgia
Murray Gets 7 Years for Credit Card Forgery Ring · Washington

Key Facts

State: New York
Agency: DOJ USAO
Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
Source: Official Source ↗

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