Eight defendants have been charged in a major firearms trafficking ring based in Brooklyn. The ring is accused of conspiring to make false statements in the acquisition of firearms and related offenses, including straw purchasing and illegal transport of weapons across state lines.
The alleged leader of the ring, Curtis Clark, faces additional charges as a felon in possession of a firearm. Four of the defendants were arrested in South Carolina and are expected to appear before a federal magistrate later today.
United States Attorney Robert L. Capers emphasized the commitment to stopping illegal firearms along the ‘Iron Pipeline,’ which runs through New York. The investigation, led by the ATF Joint Firearms Task Force, has resulted in charges against those who trafficked and facilitated the sale of guns.
Curtis Clark is accused of using straw buyers to purchase firearms from dealers in South Carolina, falsifying federal forms to make it appear as if they were the actual purchasers. This tactic was intended to hinder the tracing of firearms back to their source.
The ring’s activities were uncovered during an investigation into a seizure of nine firearms, including Glock semi-automatic pistols, from Clark’s vehicle in Brooklyn on May 28, 2014. The ATF agents traced the guns back to purchases made by the co-conspirators in South Carolina.
Clark, a convicted felon, was arrested in Marion, South Carolina, in January 2016, in possession of a loaded firearm. ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Delano A. Reid thanked the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this investigation.
Related Federal Cases
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- Felony Gun Charge Lands Sanborn Man Behind Bars · South Carolina
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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