In a major win for law enforcement, three gunrunners have been arrested in New York City for their involvement in the illegal sale of firearms. Shaqoya Hall, Zachary “J” Hampton, and Christen Chen, who were described as “directly contributing to the flow of illegal guns” into the city, were apprehended by authorities.
According to court documents filed on February 12th, Hall and Hampton were arrested in Manhattan, while Chen was taken into custody in her hometown of Staten Island. The trio allegedly transported at least 13 weapons to New York, using cars or buses to bring them into the five boroughs. Once there, they resold the guns for profit.
The arsenal seized by authorities included semi-automatic handguns, handguns with extended magazines, at least one assault-style handgun, and at least one rifle, according to the criminal complaint filed in Manhattan Federal Court. This wide range of weapons only serves to highlight the dangerous nature of their operation.
During the investigation, it was revealed that one firearm had been sold to a confidential informant. Authorities also alleged that the group had discussed selling a total of 40 firearms, indicating the scale of their illicit activities. The trio’s disregard for public safety is evident, as they were willing to endanger communities for financial gain.
The criminal complaint further detailed specific incidents involving the gunrunners. On October 16th, Chen and Hall sold a weapon to an informant on Staten Island for $1,000. Just six days later, they sold an additional four firearms to the same informant for a sum of $5,000. Hampton and Hall were eventually arrested at an unnamed Manhattan hotel while attempting to sell eight firearms to the informant for a total of $13,500.
The seriousness of their crimes is not lost on authorities. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that the trio’s actions had put communities in danger for nothing more than financial gain. Hall, Hampton, and Chen have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit gun trafficking and unlicensed gun trafficking, each carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Additionally, Chen and Hall are facing an additional charge of interstate travel with intent to engage in gun trafficking, which could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars.
Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, confirmed that all three defendants had been arraigned and are currently in federal custody. The successful arrest and indictment of these gunrunners serve as a reminder of law enforcement’s commitment to keeping illegal firearms off the streets and ensuring the safety of communities.
