Investigators Recover Over 200 Firearms In Massive Brooklyn Gun Trafficking Bust

BROOKLYN, NY – Twenty-four suspects have been indicted in one of the largest gun trafficking busts in Brooklyn history, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Wednesday.

Most of the suspects lived in Virginia and were charged with trafficking hundreds of guns into Brooklyn, according to the Brooklyn DA's office. Investigators recovered more than 200 illegal firearms in the operation, called Operation Tidal Wave, according to the investigation.

"In this unique case, we charged more defendants and recovered more firearms than in any other case in Brooklyn’s history," Gonzalez said. "We will go wherever we must, including other states, to continue fighting the scourge of firearms trafficking. We will not rest until every individual allegedly importing illegal guns into our borough – and with them death and violence – has seen their names on an indictment like this one."

Ten of the suspects were charged with bringing two to 12 guns at a time via car or bus from Virginia to Brooklyn or Manhattan for illegal sale, the Brooklyn DA's office said. To keep up with the latest Brooklyn news, subscribe to the Brooklyn Patch for email newsletters and news alerts that go to your phone.

Other suspects were accused of buying firearms in Virginia legally and passing them along to members of the crew for illegal resale in Brooklyn or Manhattan, according to the Brooklyn DA's office.

Suspects allegedly sold firearms illegally in Bed-Stuy, Fort Greene, Sunset Park, Boerum Hill and other Brooklyn neighborhoods, according to the investigation. They would sell the guns for a significant profit, the Brooklyn DA's office said.

Many defendants in this case were associated with Bloods gangs in Virginia and Brooklyn, the Brooklyn DA's office said. They allegedly used their profits to "fund a lavish lifestyle, purchasing drugs, jewelry, clothing, and sneakers, in addition to sending money to jailed associates," a statement from the Brooklyn DA's office said.

In court-ordered wiretaps, cops allegedly heard some of the suspects calling themselves traffickers and mocking Virginia's weak gun laws. Here's a wiretap transcript of two suspects allegedly speaking to each other, via the Brooklyn DA's office:

A man suspected to be a leader of the operation, Jacquan Spencer (a.k.a. Madcat), is suspected to have received help from a man who lives in Bed-Stuy named Aaron Perry, according to the Brooklyn DA's office. Perry is charged with helping Spencer with at least eight transactions in Brooklyn, according to the investigation.

The weapons recovered during the course of the investigation include assault weapons including AK-47s, glocks with extended ammunition magazines and 50-round ammunition drums and handguns, the Brooklyn DA's office said.

"Over and over again, New York City finds itself the final destination for illegal firearms," NYPD commissioner James O'Neill said. "Too often our citizens become victims of the associated gun violence. Our investigators and prosecutors will continue to relentlessly pursue those responsible for trafficking in illegal guns, wherever they are."

Most of the suspects were arrested last week in Virginia, and they are being arraigned this week in Brooklyn Supreme Court.

Photo of guns recovered via Brooklyn DA's office