In just over a year, Abdul Davis illegally sold more than 80 firearms to an undercover detective, including 67 pistols, 8 revolvers, 5 assault weapons and 2 shotguns. (Photo: New York Post)
New York officials announced Monday that six people, including four gun shop owners, are facing multiple felony charges after an investigation by the NYPD revealed a gun running operation responsible for the illegal sale and subsequent resale of at least 82 firearms.
In just over a year, Abdul Davis, 52, sold the more than six dozen guns, as well as corresponding ammunition, to an undercover detective who was posing as a gun dealer out of Manhattan. Davis would purchase the guns from four different gun shops out of Virginia and Georgia with the specific intent to bring them back to New York City for resale to the undercover officer. Twenty-six separate transactions occurred between Davis and the undercover officer, with an average purchase price of $1,150 per gun, according to a press release from New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr.
“This alleged interstate trafficking conspiracy clearly illustrates how deadly firearms from ‘Iron Pipeline’ states flood New York City’s streets,” Vance said. “To stem the flow of illegal guns, we must deter traffickers from this lucrative business by prosecuting not only Manhattan-based illegal weapons dealers, but residents of Southern states who knowingly provide them with guns to be resold in our city.”
Likewise, Police Commissioner William J. Bratton said, “Illegal firearms like these fuel the very violence in our streets we seek to combat.”
Davis would allegedly arrange the transactions over the phone or via text message, wire money, then travel to the sellers’ homes for pick-up. Sometimes the sellers would hand the firearms over to Davis without payment, on the promise they would receive money once Davis returned to New York City and sold the guns.
Davis’ girlfriend, Shelita Fuderberk, 50, is also facing charges for her alleged involvement in the operation. Funderberk, who is employed by the Department of Corrections, accompanied Davis on multiple occasions when the transactions were being made, but also knowingly gave money to Davis for some of the illegal purchases.
In addition to Davis and Fuderberk, the indictment also names Trenton Pointer, Daemon Jenkins, Malik Rainey and Milton Tillery, who are all accused of knowingly supplying firearms to be sold illegally in New York City. All six defendants are charged with Conspiracy and Criminal Sale of a Firearm.
Other charges are as listed.
Abdul Davis, 52, Linden, NJ
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 28 counts
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 80 counts
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 6 counts
- Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a class E felony, one count
Shelita Funderberk, 50, Linden, NJ
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, 21 counts
- Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a class E felony, one count
Trenton Pointer, 45, Chesterfield, VA
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, eight counts
- Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a class E felony, one count
Malik Rainey, 44, Fayetteville, GA
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, five counts
- Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a class E felony, one count
Daemon Jenkins, 49, Richmond, VA
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, four counts
- Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a class E felony, one count
Milton Tillery, 37, Richmond, VA
- Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
- Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a class E felony, one count
The post NYPD busts gun ring responsible for the sale of 82 illegal firearms appeared first on Guns.com.