Florida to New York Firearm Trafficking Ring Disarmed: Brooklyn DA Announces Arrest and 105 Count Indictment

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has announced that along with the 105 count indictment against Watson Joachin and Ryan Woodard for Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Criminal Sale of a Firearm, the NYPD has taken 56 guns off the streets of New York.

According to to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office:

“The indictment includes charges for the sale or possession of 46 guns – including 28 semiautomatic pistols, six revolvers, three assault rifles, four sawed-off shotguns, and five rifles – to undercover detectives. On four occasions, detectives purchased a total of 40 guns. A fifth sale was arranged, but instead of carrying it out, officers raided the defendant’s Brooklyn safe house and 2 confiscated six additional guns. Through the investigation, ten additional guns were taken off the streets.”

“Investigators believe the guns, worth more than $40,000, were primarily purchased in Florida. Some were brand new, with safety stickers and barrel plugs affixed. Others had been defaced, meaning their serial numbers had been removed.”

The defendants are charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon on the Second.

Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, pursuant to NY Penal Law 265.04, and Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, pursuant to NY Penal Law 265.13, are both “B” felonies punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second and Degree, pursuant to NY Penal Law 265.12, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, pursuant to NY Penal Law 265.03, are both “C” felonies punishable by up to 15 years in state prison. Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, pursuant to NY Penal Law 265.11, is a class “D” felony punishable by up to 7 years in state prison.

While I can only speculate as to the scope of the evidence, investigations such as this are often accompanied with “wires,” video surveillance, search warrants and other recording devices. These defendants, innocent until proven otherwise, have a long road ahead of them and are charged with crimes that the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office will like vigorously pursue for significant sentences. Saland Law PC is a criminal defense firm located in New York, NY. Founded by two former Manhattan prosecutors, Saland Law PC represents clients in criminal matters throughout the metropolitan area.