EyeQ Tech review EyeQ Tech EyeQ Tech tuyển dụng review công ty eyeq tech eyeq tech giờ ra sao EyeQ Tech review EyeQ Tech EyeQ Tech tuyển dụng crab meat crab meat crab meat importing crabs live crabs export mud crabs vietnamese crab exporter vietnamese crabs vietnamese seafood vietnamese seafood export vietnams crab vietnams crab vietnams export vietnams export
Metro

Three gunrunners arrested in NYC trying to sell illegal weapons to informants, authorities say

By
Dean Balsamini
Published Feb. 24, 2024, 8:50 a.m. ET
A photo of four handguns taken off the street by the feds.
The arrests shut down a firearms pipeline of illegal gunrunning from Georgia to New York, authorities said. SDNY

Cops busted a trio of gunrunners who “directly contributed to the flow of illegal guns” into the Big Apple, authorities announced.

Shaqoya Hall and Zachary “J” Hampton, were arrested Jan. 30 in Manhattan while Christen Chen was collared that same day in her hometown of Staten Island, according to court papers filed Feb.12 announcing their indictment.

Hall, 24, who is also known as “Q,” Hampton, 28, and Chen, 28, aka “Nauti,” brought at least 13 weapons to New York via car or bus, reselling the guns once they got to the five boroughs, prosecutors said.

An array of firearms taken off the street, including semi-automatic handguns, one assault style handgun and a rifle.
The artillery 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 Manhattan Federal Court. SDNY
An illegal handgun sold to a confidential informant
One of the firearms sold to a confidential informant, authorities said. SDNY

They discussed selling 40 firearms, authorities alleged.

The artillery 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.

The group allegedly sold one weapon to a confidential information on Staten Island on Oct. 16 for $1,000, and six days later Chen and Hall sold four more to the informant for “a stack of cash” totaling $5,000, the feds said.

Hampton and Hall were arrested at an unnamed Manhattan hotel while trying to sell the informant eight firearms for a total of $13,500, authorities said.

The trio “directly contributed to the flow of illegal guns into New York City, endangering communities in this district for little more than financial gain,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

Chen and Hall, both of Staten Island and Hampton, of Augusta, Ga., were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of unlicensed gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

A photo of a firearm purchased by a confidential informant.
Hall, 24, Hampton, 28, and Chen, 28, brought at least 13 weapons
to New York via car or bus, reselling the guns once they got to the
five boroughs, prosecutors said. SDNY
A photo of an illegal handgun seized in the operation.
The defendants discussed selling 40 firearms, authorities alleged. SDNY

Chen and Hall are also charged with one count of interstate travel with intent to engage in gun trafficking, which carries a max sentence of 10 years in prison.

“All three defendants have been arraigned and remain in federal custody,” said Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York.