Queens gun-running ring busted after months-long undercover operation
Authorities busted a gun-running ring that trafficked the illegal firearms from Virginia to Queens after a months-long undercover operation, officials announced Wednesday.
“This is the result of a joint investigation with NYPD with the clear goal of getting guns off of our streets that would have otherwise been illegally sold and used to create mayhem in the city of New York,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said announcing the arrests.
Since the investigation was opened in September 2019, undercover officers bought 23 illegal firearms.
Police also purchased more than 10 large-capacity magazines from the illegal operation.
“Make no mistake about it, this was an extremely lucrative business,” Katz said.
Jessica “Cess Milla” Heyliger, 35, of Queens, is accused of heading the gun-running operation that would allegedly buy the firearms from 36-year-old Virginia resident, Laquan Benson, authorities said.
Heyliger and Sharod King, 32, also of Queens, would then sell the weapons in NYC by using online classified ads, police allege.
A fourth member, Michell Myree, 36, of Queens, was Heyliger’s back-up gun supplier, according to authorities.
The bust comes as the city deals with a surge in shootings, which Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison credited to gang violence.
“The gang-motivated shooting, unfortunately, has turned into retaliations,” he said.
Katz — countering the narrative put forward by the mayor and NYPD — said that although juries are not currently in courthouses, arraignments and gun prosecutions have never stopped.
“For all of you that want to traffic guns, and bring them from other places into the county of Queens— Queens is absolutely closed for business,” Katz said.