UTICA, NEW YORK – Three Syracuse men have been hit with heavy federal charges after pleading guilty in a massive firearms trafficking operation. Erik Burch, 30; Khalid Richardson, 30; and Lamar Stanford, 33, all of Syracuse, face a stern reckoning for their roles in the illegal gun trade.
Burch took the fall last week for selling a firearm to a known felon, while Richardson, who also faces two prior convictions, admitted to providing firearms on four separate occasions to a felonic client. Stanford and Burch each confessed to possessing guns during the sales, with both being barred from owning them due to earlier felony records.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller of the ATF New York Field Division were quick to make their stance clear: ‘If you sell firearms to felons, be ready to spend a long time in federal prison.’ The duo vowed to use every legal tool available to pursue these criminals to the maximum extent.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that illegal gun trafficking is a significant threat to community safety. ‘These defendants were involved in trafficking firearms, a crime that puts lives at risk,’ Miller said. ‘We remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt these schemes.’
The trio faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. Burch, Richardson, and Stanford are set to be sentenced on November 12, October 15, and August 27, respectively.
ATF investigated the case with support from the Syracuse Police Department’s Intelligence Unit, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is leading the prosecution under Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime through comprehensive community solutions.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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