Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the prison sentence of BIENVENIDO LIRIANO, 35, for his role as the ringleader of a Washington Heights group that sold 43 firearms, including semi-automatic weapons and ammunition, to an undercover NYPD detective posing as a firearms dealer, in exchange for cash. LIRIANO previously pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony. He was sentenced to 15 years in state prison and 5 years’ post-release supervision.

“Bienvenido Liriano sought to flood our streets with dozens of dangerous weapons,” said District Attorney Bragg. “We will not allow our neighborhoods to continue to be ravaged by the proliferation of illegal guns and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and root out this activity. I thank the brave detectives who helped prevent these firearms from hitting our streets, and our prosecution team for ensuring accountability.”

As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, beginning in October 2018 LIRIANO coordinated the sale of 43 firearms, including 33 semi-automatic pistols, 6 revolvers, and 4 assault rifles, as well as 353 rounds of corresponding ammunition, to an undercover NYPD detective posing as a firearms dealer. The sales took place in or around the undercover detective’s vehicle over 27 separate transactions, with prices ranging from $700 to $2,100 per firearm.

Typically, LIRIANO coordinated sales over the phone and then met with the undercover detective in the vicinity of West 161st Street and Broadway. The other defendants charged in the case then helped supply LIRIANO with the firearms, most of which were local “street guns,” and many joined LIRIANO when selling to the undercover.

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Di Giovanni handled the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Chris Prevost (Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprise Unit).

District Attorney Bragg thanked the undercover detectives, investigators, and supervisors of the NYPD’s Firearms Investigation Unit.

Defendant:
BIENVENIDO LIRIANO
New York, New York

Convicted:

• 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, one count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count

Sentenced:

• 15 years state in prison and 5 years’ post-release supervision.

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