Members of the “3Staccs” Crew Sold Firearms and Narcotics Laced with Fentanyl from NYCHA’s Grant Houses
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today announced the indictment of JAVON CARTER, 26, BRYANT DIAZ, 20, YADIELLS GUZMAN, 25, JAVON PETERSON, 26, and MALIK PHILLIPS, 22, for selling semi-automatic weapons and counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl out of the New York City Housing Authority’s Grant Houses. All defendants are associates of the crew “3Staccs,” which operates out of the Grant Houses.
CARTER, GUZMAN and DIAZ are all charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. CARTER and GUZMAN are charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree. All the defendants are charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. CARTER is additionally charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree and Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree.[1]
“As alleged, these defendants helped fuel the fentanyl crisis engulfing our city and brought dangerous firearms into our communities,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Furthermore, all of the conduct in this indictment was occurring right where thousands of Manhattanites call home. Public housing residents deserve the same safety and security as everyone else, and we will crackdown on anyone who uses these complexes as a base for dangerous criminal activity.”
“Today, New York City is safer because of the exceptional effort and steadfast dedication of everyone involved in this investigation,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “Illegal guns and illicit drugs are a lethal combination, and the criminals who deal in them must be held accountable for putting New Yorkers at risk. The NYPD and our law enforcement partners work together every day to protect our city’s neighborhoods, and to that end, I want to thank the Manhattan DA’s Office and everyone else on this case for their unwavering commitment to public safety.”
The District Attorney’s investigation began in response to local complaints about narcotics trafficking and violent crime in the community. According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, between June 7, 2022, and January 30, 2023, the defendants sold four firearms, including semi-automatic pistols and rifles, on three occasions and counterfeit Oxycodone pills a dozen times to undercover detectives.
Typically, CARTER would communicate with undercover officers to arrange the sale of firearms and narcotics and then communicate with the other defendants to coordinate purchases.
The defendants called the narcotic pills “blues” throughout their conversations. In one instance, on October 26, 2022, CARTER told GUZMAN over the phone that he needed “blues.” GUZMAN responded saying “I got to pick some s*** up from my other sons anyway so let me know I’ll pick your s**** up too.”
Immediately after, CARTER told the undercover officer over the phone, “they here so I got to pick them up right now.”
In total, the defendants sold more than 900 counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.
PETERSON was found to be in possession of two firearms, one of which was loaded, pursuant to a search warrant today. PHILLIPS was also found to be in possession of a firearm when arrested. They will both be arraigned separately on those charges.
Assistant D.A. and Attorney in Charge of Drug Strategies Kaitrin Roberts and Assistant D.A. Lauren DiGiovanni are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Christopher Prevost (Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Investigative Analyst Molly McElligott assisted with the case.
D.A. Bragg thanked the New York City Police Department’s Narcotics Borough Manhattan North, Violent Crime Squad, particularly Detective James Burpoe and the undercover detectives.
Defendant Information:
JAVON CARTER
New York, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a class A-II felony, three counts
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, nine counts
- 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, four counts
- Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count
BRYANT DIAZ
New York, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, one count
- Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count
YADIELLS GUZMAN
New York, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a class A-II felony, one count
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, two counts
- Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count
JAVON PETERSON
New York, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, one count
MALIK PHILLIPS
New York, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, one count
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
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