May 3, 2008 -- A gun-running ring that put dozens of illegal firearms on the streets of New York City has been completely dismantled after a group of out-of-state buyers was indicted, federal authorities said yesterday.
The group of "straw purchasers" bought guns legally at shops in two Alabama counties and sold them to dealers who dumped them on the streets of Brooklyn from late 2006 through April 2007, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent William McMahon.
Jacson White, 30, Peggy Kratz, 27, Ginny Brown, 29 and Melinda Bennett, 28, each face 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for buying 21 guns - including 9mm's and .380s - and selling them to city gun dealers, authorities said.
McMahon called the operation a "significant gun-running ring which we were able to close down quickly."
The enterprise was headed by James Brady, 31, of Brooklyn who pleaded guilty to gun trafficking in February.
In late 2006, he began using the Alabama group to help make the buys, authorities said.
May 3, 2008 -- A gun-running ring that put dozens of illegal firearms on the streets of New York City has been completely dismantled after a group of out-of-state buyers was indicted, federal authorities said yesterday.
The group of "straw purchasers" bought guns legally at shops in two Alabama counties and sold them to dealers who dumped them on the streets of Brooklyn from late 2006 through April 2007, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent William McMahon.
Jacson White, 30, Peggy Kratz, 27, Ginny Brown, 29 and Melinda Bennett, 28, each face 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for buying 21 guns - including 9mm's and .380s - and selling them to city gun dealers, authorities said.
McMahon called the operation a "significant gun-running ring which we were able to close down quickly."
The enterprise was headed by James Brady, 31, of Brooklyn who pleaded guilty to gun trafficking in February.
In late 2006, he began using the Alabama group to help make the buys, authorities said.