Ronald Delaespada, Gun Trafficking, New York 2022

BROOKLYN, NY – A Brooklyn man known for flooding the streets with illegal firepower and narcotics has been sentenced to a decade behind bars. Ronald Delaespada, a convicted felon, received the 10-year sentence from U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall on Friday for his role in a brazen gun and drug trafficking operation that put assault rifles within reach of Brooklyn streets.

The operation, conducted between February and June 2022, saw Delaespada, working with co-defendants Rayon Lovett and Owen Welch, peddle at least 17 firearms – including semi-automatic assault rifles – to an undercover NYPD officer. The sales weren’t happening in some back alley either; they took place in broad daylight, from vehicles parked near Prospect Park, a church, and even an elementary school. Delaespada showed a chilling disregard for public safety, openly hawking lethal weapons in a densely populated neighborhood.

“Delaespada is a career criminal who sold illegal guns, including an assault-type rifle, near a school, a church and on bustling streets in the heart of Brooklyn, without regard for how these lethal weapons could be used,” declared U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “Today’s sentence will keep the defendant off the street for years, a punishment he deserves for his blatant disrespect for the law and his dangerous conduct.” The U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York led the prosecution.

This wasn’t a solo operation. Rayon Lovett, Delaespada’s accomplice, already pleaded guilty and is serving an 85-month sentence. Delaespada’s brother, Owen Welch, also pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking charges and awaits sentencing. The ATF’s New York Joint Firearms Task Force, led by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, worked in close coordination with the NYPD, headed by Commissioner Edward A. Caban, to dismantle the operation. “Every crime gun off the streets is a potential life saved,” DiGirolamo stated.

Commissioner Caban emphasized the importance of the sentence as a message to those who would endanger New Yorkers. “This kind of meaningful prison sentence shows our courageous police officers that New Yorkers will not tolerate such lawless behavior in our neighborhoods,” he said. The undercover officer’s bravery and the combined investigative work of the NYPD and ATF were critical to bringing Delaespada and his crew to justice. The operation highlights the continuing flow of illegal firearms into New York City and the ongoing efforts to stem the tide.

Beyond the firearms, Delaespada was also found guilty of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine, demonstrating a callous disregard for the lives destroyed by both gun violence and the opioid crisis. The investigation continues to explore the source of the firearms and narcotics, with authorities vowing to pursue anyone else involved in this dangerous criminal enterprise. The full weight of federal law has come down on Delaespada, but the fight against gun and drug trafficking in Brooklyn remains a constant battle.

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