Prosecuting Drivers of Violence

We’re holding people accountable for carrying guns. Gun violence spiked across the country during the pandemic, including here in Manhattan, and we’re meeting the moment by zeroing in on drivers of violence with our gun prosecutions. We also meet daily with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies through the Gun Violence Strategic Partnership to share information and focus resources on the most prolific drivers of violence.

Notable cases:

March 2025: Anthony Lopez was sentenced to 28 ½ years-to-life in state prison for a murder-for-hire conspiracy which resulted in the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander.
March 2025: Shaun McClam was sentenced to 20 years-to-life and Luis Roman was sentenced to 13 years for their roles in a fatal shooting over a drug sale dispute. “Working together, these defendants carefully plotted their attack, coordinating to acquire an illegal firearm and staking out Mr. Parker before shooting him,” said D.A. Bragg.
March 2025: Osvaldo Marrero was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for shooting and killing 44-year-old Anthony Holley at NYCHA’s Fulton Houses in Chelsea.
January 2025: Zymir Humphrey was sentenced to 15 years-to-life in state prison for fatally shooting 21-year-old Brandon Atkinson on the Lower East Side. “Senseless cycles of retribution continue to fuel gun violence that destabilizes our communities and, far too often, results in the deaths of young New Yorkers,” said D.A. Bragg.
January 2025: We also announced the guilty plea of Waldemar Alverio for committing two broad-daylight shootings in Tompkins Square Park and seriously injuring two people.
December 2024: Luigi Mangione was indicted for the first-degree murder of 50-year-old United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of the Hilton Hotel in Midtown. “This type of premeditated, targeted gun violence cannot and will not be tolerated, and my office has been working day in and day out to bring the defendant to justice,” said D.A. Bragg.
December 2024: Jiniye Hooks was sentenced to 20 years-to-life in prison for fatally shooting 14-year-old Justin Streeter and injuring a 15-year-old boy in East Harlem. “A 14-year-old child lost his life due to this horrific act of gun violence. Mr. Streeter was beloved not only by his family, but his entire community,” said D.A. Bragg.
November 2024: We announced the indictments of 30 gang members for six years of retaliatory violence allegedly committed by members of the “200/8 Block,” “6 Block”, and “Own Every Dollar” (O.E.D.) crew following a joint investigation with the NYPD. Since 2018, we allege these groups engaged in an escalating pattern of violence and are responsible for approximately 50 percent of shootings in Washington Heights and Inwood in 2024. “I want to be very clear: if you traffic illegal firearms into Manhattan, or use guns to commit violence against fellow Manhattanites, you will be held accountable,” said D.A. Bragg.
October 2024: Rafael Negron was sentenced to 18 years-to-life in state prison for the 2020 point-blank murder of 26-year-old Joseph Bernard Nunez-Perez. “I am thankful to our team of prosecutors who worked to achieve a strong measure of accountability in this matter, sending a clear message that gun violence will never be tolerated in Manhattan,” said D.A. Bragg.
September 2024: Mohamed Sawaneh was indicted for allegedly killing 37-year-old Jeremy Cummings in a drive-by shooting, after which he crashed into a car and committed a gunpoint robbery while he attempted to flee the scene.
September 2024: We announced the indictment of two individuals for shooting and killing 74-year-old Fermin Brito and shooting a 44-year-old man in Tompkins Square Park.
August 2024: Tomas Dunn was sentenced to 18 years in state prison for fatally shooting 41-year-old Saladeen Cochrane, his mother’s ex-partner. “To Mr. Cochrane’s loved ones, he represented a beloved family man, including a caring husband and father, and my thoughts remain with his heartbroken family as they continue to mourn their devastating loss,” said D.A. Bragg.
August 2024: We announced the indictment of Chad Irish for allegedly fatally shooting 31-year-old Yazmeen Williams and concealing her body on the street in a sleeping bag.
August 2024: We announced the indictment of Darlin Martinez for allegedly shooting three people, killing Christopher Allen and injuring two others.
June 2024: We announced the indictment of three men for the shooting of 35-year-old Tobias Savice during an alleged gunpoint robbery, which led to his death weeks later.
June 2024: We announced the indictment of a man for allegedly shooting at a 47-year-old man in a crowded Harlem subway station. “Although nobody was hit, several individuals had to jump out of the way for safety,” said D.A. Bragg.
April 2024: Our parks should be a place where New Yorkers and tourists can relax without fearing for their safety. We announced the indictment of Waldemar Alverio for allegedly committing two shootings in Tomkins Square Park and seriously injuring two people. “Combatting gun violence remains my top priority, and my Office will hold those who commit these serious acts of violence accountable,” said D.A. Bragg.
February 2024: Jesus Rivas-Figueroa was indicted for shooting a tourist in a Times Square clothing store and firing his weapon at an NYPD officer who attempted to arrest him. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure full accountability for gun violence,” said D.A. Bragg.
October 2023: Hector Rivera was sentenced to 17 years in state prison for shooting a 23-year-old man multiple times in Harlem in 2021. “This prison sentence is commensurate with the devastating injuries Hector Rivera inflicted on a Harlemite,” said D.A. Bragg.
September 2023: Five individuals were indicted for conspiring to kill others and committing multiple shootings and robberies. “The tragedy of gun violence is manifold when young New Yorkers are accused of shooting at and killing other New Yorkers – in this case, their own friend,” said D.A. Bragg.
August 2023: We indicted three men for selling a total of nine firearms to an undercover officer in Harlem. “These weapons included ghost guns, assault rifles and semi-automatic pistols – all of which could have inflicted significant violence and harm on our neighborhoods,” said D.A. Bragg.
July 2023: We indicted three individuals for the drive-by shooting and murder of 66-year-old Reda Girgis, an innocent bystander visiting from Egypt, in front of a deli in Washington Heights.
April 2023: Douglas Young was sentenced to 41 years-to-life in state prison for the 2021 murder of 29-year-old Francisco Villalva, a deliverista.
October 2022: We later indicted an additional seven OED associates for orchestrating a string of gunpoint robberies in Upper Manhattan. In a parallel investigation, the Southern District of New York also unsealed federal RICO charges.
August 2022: We charged ten members of the Own Every Dollar (“OED”) criminal enterprise connected to a murder, attempted murder, and a string of violent armed robberies and shootings from Spring 2021 to Spring 2022 in Washington Heights, Midtown, the Lower East Side, and the Bronx.
May 2022: We indicted a man for fatally shooting 48-year-old Daniel Enriquez inside a Manhattan-bound Q train in an unprovoked flash of violence that shocked our city.

Targeting Gun Traffickers

Almost every gun used in violent crime in Manhattan was trafficked here illegally from a state with weak gun laws. D.A. Bragg increased resources for gun trafficking enforcement, working closely with the NYPD and our federal partners. We’ll continue to target those who flood our neighborhoods with deadly weapons.

Notable cases:

January 2025: Along with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, we announced the indictment of four individuals, including an alleged high-ranking member of the Tren de Aragua gang, for a conspiracy to sell and traffic illegal firearms. “Selling illegal weapons in Manhattan is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The scourge of gun violence takes a devastating toll on our communities, and I have met with far too many heartbroken families who have lost a loved one because of illegal firearms,” said D.A. Bragg.

June 2022: In just one week, we indicted two separate, unrelated gun traffickers for trafficking guns from North Carolina to New York City. Combined, the men trafficked 52 guns into Manhattan and sold them to undercover NYPD officers.

Tackling the Proliferation of Ghost Guns

D.A. Bragg is leading the fight against the new plague of “ghost guns,” firearms that are assembled from untraceable parts that can be ordered online. In partnership with the NYPD, we are increasing enforcement efforts, using wiretaps and undercover operations to make our city safe.

At a time when gun control measures are being eroded around the country, New York must remain a leader in enacting the most comprehensive anti-gun legislation possible. Together with New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and New York State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, we announced new legislation to make the manufacture of 3D-printed guns and gun parts illegal. “Technology has made it possible for anyone to create 3D guns in the comfort of their own home. The ease at which people can create guns and gun parts poses a direct threat to the safety of our communities, which is why we are taking action to close these loopholes and strengthen the penalties on the books,” said D.A. Bragg.

In April 2024, D.A. Bragg called on YouTube to take additional steps to stop the proliferation of videos on its platform that show how to make and manufacture ghost guns and in response they announced new policies around content related to firearms and ammunition. “We applaud YouTube for implementing these important commonsense fixes to their community guidelines, which will further limit dangerous videos and minimize firearm content for minors,” said D.A. Bragg.

Notable cases:

May 2024: Roberto Guerrero was indicted for allegedly manufacturing and possessing ghost guns and gun parts, including two fully operable 3D-printed assault weapons and test firing some of the guns in Central Park.
March 2024: Cory Davis was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for manufacturing and possessing ghost guns in his Upper East Side apartment. “When someone chooses to build their own firearms, they jeopardize public safety and put their communities at risk,” said D.A. Bragg.
January 2024: Cliffie Thompson was sentenced to 5 years in state prison for manufacturing ghost guns in his East Village apartment. “Thanks to technology and low cost, these dangerous weapons are becoming easier to make, and can be deadly if they fall into the wrong hands,” said D.A. Bragg.
December 2023: We announced Eleazer Edelstein’s guilty plea for manufacturing operable ghost guns in his Washington Heights apartment and using one of the 3D-printed guns to threaten his former girlfriend.
April 2023: With NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, we announced the indictment of Christopher Fox for possessing equipment to manufacture 3D-printed ghost guns, chemicals to produce narcotics, and controlled substances in his Upper East Side apartment.
October 2022: We indicted a man who manufactured multiple ghost guns – including assault weapons – in his Lower East Side apartment. In total, he is charged with purchasing at least 55 ghost gun parts worth more than $7,000, including a fully automated machine that can manufacture ghost guns with the touch of a button.
May 2022: Francisco Martinez was sentenced to 5 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for manufacturing eight operable, untraceable ghost guns in his Hamilton Heights apartment using component parts ordered online.
May 2022: Alongside the Brooklyn D.A.’s Office, we indicted a man who illegally purchased and possessed a $20,000 arsenal of ghost gun parts, including more than 30 frames and receivers, nearly 300 high-capacity magazines, and related gear from online retailers.

Investing in Prevention

Our ultimate goal is to prevent gun violence from happening in the first place by supporting and investing in community-based organizations doing the boots-on-the-ground work. Our Community Partnerships Unit also offers Gun Violence Prevention presentations to reduce gun violence and strengthen community bonds.

SPOTLIGHT: Discouraging young people from carrying guns is key to tackling gun violence. D.A. Bragg’s Gun Violence Prevention Community Initiative provided funding to 10 community-based organizations to incentivize youth and young adults who are at high risk of committing or falling victim to gun violence to participate in meaningful programming. In July 2024, we announced the eight community-based organizations selected to receive $20,000 each in funding to work to proactively prevent youth gun violence. “For the last three summers, our youth gun violence prevention initiative has served the future generation of young New Yorkers across the borough, all with the goal of reducing gun violence and keeping Manhattan safe,” said D.A. Bragg.

Defending Our Gun Laws

New York State received a setback in getting guns off our streets when, in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, the United States Supreme Court overturned an important aspect of our gun licensing law which had been on the books for over 100 years. In response to this decision, we worked closely with the New York State legislature to draft a new gun licensing law, which took effect September 1, 2022. D.A. Bragg has taken the lead in educating New Yorkers about what the decision and the new law means for them, and crucially, fighting to uphold our existing gun laws in our courts.

In early 2023, we filed two amicus briefs in support of essential gun violence prevention laws. The first, NSSF v James, was filed in support of Senator Zellnor Myrie’s legislation to hold members of the gun industry accountable for business practices that drive the trafficking of illegal guns. The second, Antonyuk v Nigrell – which was joined by the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens District Attorneys – was submitted in ongoing litigation over the Concealed Carry Improvement Act. “We prosecute gun cases in court every day, and litigation is another important avenue we are utilizing to protect our state’s tough gun laws,” said D.A. Bragg.

In August 2023, in partnership with Queens D.A. Melinda Katz, Staten Island D.A. Michael McMahon and Westchester D.A. Miriam E. Rocah, we filed three amicus briefs as we fight to protect New York’s red flag gun law by supporting New York Attorney General Letitia James in ongoing litigation to keep this life-saving measure intact. New York’s red flag law is an essential tool for law enforcement to effectively address and prevent gun violence. “Gutting this law would significantly undermine public safety and I will continue to do everything possible to protect our state’s strong gun laws,” said D.A. Bragg.

Along with the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association and the California District Attorneys Association, we also urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a federal law that protects survivors by keeping guns out of the hands of their abusers. If this federal law is overturned, survivors, their families and law enforcement officers will all be put at risk.

The continued prevalence of ghost guns poses a major threat to public safety in New York City. In July 2024, we filed an amicus brief with Mayor Eric Adams in support of federal ghost gun regulations issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “These federal rules are a commonsense effort to make it easier for law enforcement to trace ghost guns when they are used in crimes and prevent them from falling into the hands of those who may already have a criminal history,” said D.A. Bragg.