BRIDGEPORT, CT – Stephfan Sanderson, 25, of Covington, Georgia, is headed to federal prison for over seven years after supplying a steady stream of firearms to some of Bridgeport’s most violent street gangs. Sanderson, also known as “Birdy” and “Beans”, received a 92-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden on Wednesday, followed by three years of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors detailed how Sanderson, a former Bridgeport resident, operated a cross-state gun pipeline from Georgia and Alabama beginning in 2017. He allegedly procured at least 25 firearms and knowingly distributed them to members of the “Greene Homes Boyz” (“GHB/Hotz”) and Original North End (“O.N.E.”) gangs – groups deeply involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other violent acts. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and Bridgeport Police, reveals a deliberate effort to arm individuals with a history of violent crime.
The consequences of Sanderson’s actions were chillingly clear. One of the firearms he trafficked was a converted machine gun used by Undrea Kirkland, also known as “Spooda,” in a brazen 32-shot barrage at rival gang members near the Greene Homes Housing Complex in October 2018. While the intended targets suffered only minor injuries, a stray bullet penetrated a nearby residence, striking an unsuspecting man in the back. The weapon’s destructive potential was fully realized, even if the outcome wasn’t entirely as planned.
The ripple effects of Sanderson’s illegal trade continued to surface. Another of his guns surfaced in May 2022 and has since been linked to two separate shootings *and* a homicide – a stark reminder of the long-lasting damage caused by the illegal firearms market. Sanderson, who has been detained since his November 2020 arrest, pleaded guilty to one count of crossing state lines with the intent to engage in the unlicensed dealing of firearms on November 15, 2022.
This sentencing isn’t an isolated incident. Kirkland, who admitted to his involvement in numerous gang-related shootings, already received a 210-month sentence for conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity on April 22, 2022. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity, and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) – initiatives aimed at curbing violent crime through targeted enforcement and community-based prevention programs.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick and Karen L. Peck prosecuted the case, highlighting the federal government’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and stemming the flow of illegal weapons into communities like Bridgeport. While Sanderson’s conviction offers a temporary reprieve, the underlying issues of gang violence and illegal gun trafficking remain a persistent threat, demanding continued vigilance from law enforcement and a sustained focus on preventative measures.
Related Federal Cases
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- Bridgeport Man Caught with Gun After Fleeing Cops · Alabama
- David Nikolashvili, Immigration Fraud Scheme, New York 2024 · New York
- Purvis, Gun and Drug Trafficking, Connecticut 2023 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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