A defendant allegedly sold 25 guns to undercover NYPD officers last December and eight more guns were recovered from the same defendant when police arrested him. Officials charge that the guns were mostly sold legally in North Carolina and then brought into Brooklyn by the defendant. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn DA’s Office

A 24-year-old man from North Carolina was arraigned on a 115-count indictment for allegedly trafficking 33 guns from North Carolina and selling them in Brooklyn, acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill announced on Tuesday.

“The pistols and revolvers that were recovered as part of this investigation are exactly the type of guns that are used to commit violence on our streets,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “Keeping such weapons — purchased legally in southern states but possessed illegally in Brooklyn — out of the hands of criminals undoubtedly saves lives, so I am determined to continue working with the NYPD to identify out-of-state firearms traffickers and to bring them to justice in Brooklyn.”

Marcus Gamble, of Charlotte North Carolina, was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Foley and was charged with first-, second, and third-degree criminal sale of a firearm, first-, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and related charges. He was ordered held without bail.

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Officials said that Gamble sold 25 of the firearms to an undercover police officer on two occasions in December and was arrested with eight additional guns and assault rifle parts before completing a third transaction. Officials said that the initial 25 guns sold were worth about $27,000. The transactions took place inside a car near Flatbush Avenue and Maple Street in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens.

“This one individual was able to readily bring thirty-three illegal firearms into New York City for sale within a two week period,” Commissioner O’Neill said. “This case is yet another clear example of how the lax gun laws and regulations in other areas of our country can directly impact the crime fighting efforts of New York. It is further evidence of the need for a greater level of control and accountability in connection with access to illegal firearms throughout our nation. I want to thank all those who worked so well in bringing this case to a swift and successful result.”

The defendant was arrested on Dec. 20, 2016 inside a Golden Krust restaurant in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens while waiting for undercover officers for a third sale. They recovered eight additional firearms.

The 33 guns the defendant is charged with transporting to Brooklyn were mostly pistols and revolvers, including Smith & Wessons, Colts and Rugers. Some of the weapons were purchased legally in North Carolina and others were stolen, the investigation found. The defendant grew up in New York City, has extensive family ties to Brooklyn, but has been living in North Carolina for the past couple of years, according to the investigation.

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