Eight people were busted in a gun-dealing sting operation this week, and prosecutors allege they were selling firearms to undercover officers in Brooklyn. Five of the accused individuals are teenagers; the youngest is only 16.
According to a press release from the Brooklyn D.A.'s office, the eight defendants—all of whom reside in Brooklyn—were dealing weapons to the officers in Lafayette Gardens in Clinton Hill. The undercover operation began in September 2013, and 30 operable guns, including a .38 caliber revolver and a 9mm handgun, were purchased. The guns allegedly ranged from $600 to $1,000 in price.
Prosecutors say Aneudy Cruz, 19, was responsible for the majority of the gun sales. They charge that he enlisted the other young men and women to deliver the weapons. The defendants have been charged with a number of varying crimes, including multiple degrees of a criminal sale of a firearm and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Cruz himself faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Three of the defendants are 17 years old; one is only 16 years old.
The D.A.'s office says cops are continuing to investigate the operation, and they expect more arrests in the future.
