24 Sentenced In Massive Brooklyn Gun Trafficking Scheme, DA Says

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — The last of 24 people from Virginia that brought more than 200 guns onto the streets of Brooklyn has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, prosecutors announced.

24-year-old Jaquan Spencer, who goes by Madcat, was sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty earlier this month to first-degree criminal sale of a firearm. He had been charged in connection with what prosecutors called one of the biggest gun trafficking busts in Brooklyn history, where Spencer and 23 others had brought 217 firearms from Virginia to the borough.

The 24 defendants, 22 who were from Virginia, made a significant profit reselling the guns and ammunition throughout Brooklyn, including in Bed-Stuy, Fort Greene, Sunset Park, and Boerum Hill, prosecutors said.

“I hope today’s substantial prison sentence — and the additional sentences given to each codefendant — sends an unambiguous message: out-of-state gun runners who threaten our communities with deadly weapons will be found, will be prosecuted and will be brought to justice for their crimes," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "My Office will continue to focus resources on those responsible for driving violent crime as part of my commitment of keeping Brooklyn safe and strengthening community trust.”

The gun trafficking ring was first busted by investigators back in 2017. It had been operating for almost a year before that, prosecutors said.

Among the 217 guns investigators found were assault weapons, including AK-47s and AR-15s. They also found various handguns and Glocks with extended ammunition, prosecutors said.

The higher-ranking members of the trafficking ring would coordinate the operation between two main areas in Virginia and give orders to the other members in each area, prosecutors said. They would then drive or take a bus to New York with anywhere from two to 12 guns at a time to meet a purchaser, who gave them up to $1,200 for each handgun and up to $2,200 for the assault weapons.

Some of the people involved in the ring were "straw purchasers," who would legally buy firearms in Virginia only to give them to other people in the scheme for illegal resale in Brooklyn.

Gonzalez's office identified six other people who also were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison each for the top charges in the scheme. 29-year-old Damian King, also known as Havoc, got 15 years in prison; 31-year-old Levar Shelborne, also known as Wavy Boy, got 13 years; Antwan Walker, 24, got 15 years; Kenneth Threatts, 23, got 12; Tevin Richardson, 28, got 10 and Renardo Maye, 22, got nine years, prosecutors said.

The rest of the defendants in the bust pleaded guilty to lesser charges like third-degree criminal sale of fire arm, second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, perjury or fourth-degree conspiracy and were each given sentences ranging from five years in prison to community service.

The traffickers, many of whom are associated with the Blood gangs, prosecutors said, used their profits to live a lavish lifestyle. They would purchase drugs, jewelry, clothing, sneakers and send money to their friends in jail, prosecutors said.