Related Federal Cases
Kyler Booker, Gun Trafficking, New York NY, 2022
Brooklyn Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment today against Kyler Booker, alleging the Arkansas man was a key player in a sprawling gun trafficking operation that flooded New York City with illegal firearms. Booker, operating as a straw buyer, allegedly purchased at least 137 guns from Arkansas dealers between December 2019 and September 2021, then funneled them north to the five boroughs.
The scope of the operation is chilling. Law enforcement has already recovered 13 of Booker’s illegally sourced firearms in New York City – one in each borough, including eight in Brooklyn. These weren’t just lost or misplaced weapons; they were turning up in the hands of criminals, and according to officials, potentially even minors and convicted felons. The feds are bracing for the possibility that many more of Booker’s guns are still circulating on the streets.
“Today’s arrest stops one bad actor who illegally purchased at least 137 guns, funneling many into our community including putting firearms in the hands of minors and a convicted criminal,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. The indictment charges Booker with conspiring to deal in firearms and making false statements to acquire them. He was arrested this morning in Arkansas and is expected to be extradited to Brooklyn to face the charges.
The operation wasn’t a solo act, according to investigators. Booker allegedly targeted numerous federally licensed firearms retailers in Arkansas, making 26 separate purchases, often of 9-millimeter pistols. He then falsely certified that he was the true buyer, while in reality, he was buying the guns on behalf of others, communicating with customers via phone and Facebook. ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito emphasized the collaborative effort to dismantle this pipeline: “This case is yet another example of fully exploiting crime gun intelligence…to identify and stop these individuals.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell didn’t mince words, stating, “The surge of gun violence in New York City is being fueled by individuals who circumvent the law and supply firearms to trigger-pullers.” The recovered weapons, she added, were “headed to only one place, our neighborhoods, in the hands of criminals fully prepared to commit acts of wanton violence.” Twelve of the recovered firearms were loaded.
The investigation, a joint effort between the ATF, NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of New York and Arkansas, highlights the interstate nature of the illegal gun trade. While Booker is now in custody, authorities acknowledge that this is just one battle in an ongoing war against gun violence and the individuals who profit from it. The search continues for any remaining firearms linked to Booker’s operation, and the promise of further arrests looms.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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