Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers Police Commissioner Chris Sapienza, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah, and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division announced on Tuesday, the indictment of four individuals who were arrested in June as a result of a multi-agency investigation into the trafficking of illegal firearms from Washington to Westchester between April and June 2022. In addition to the arrests, authorities seized 31 ghost guns (as well as two conventional firearms) that were allegedly assembled and purchased in Washington, D.C. before being transported to Yonkers for sale between April 28, 2022, and June 24, 2022.
“This case is just one example of my gun safety initiative in action: conducting proactive investigations to remove illegal weapons like ghost guns from our streets and prosecute gun traffickers,” Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah shared with Black Westchester. “The proliferation of illegal firearms, like ghost guns, flowing into New York from out of state is a grave threat to the safety of our communities. I’m grateful to the Yonkers Police Department and numerous state, local and federal law enforcement partners who are on the frontlines with us every day in the fight against gun violence and gun trafficking to keep Westchester safe.
The joint investigation—launched by the Yonkers Police Department’s Narcotics Unit in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Agency Group D43, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office—focused on the interstate trafficking of “ghost guns,” partially finished, untraceable and fully-functioning illegal firearms that can be easily assembled at home with parts purchased online and designed to evade certain gun laws.
“New Yorkers should feel a little safer this holiday weekend after this gun trafficking network operating from DC to NY has been shut down,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III. “DEA’s strategic and targeted enforcement is focused on removing major drug threats and associated violence stemming from gun and drug trafficking networks. I applaud the diligent and courageous work by our law enforcement partners in New York and Washington DC area throughout this investigation and arrests.”
As alleged in the indictment, Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz, 27, of Yonkers, Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz, 21, of Yonkers, and Netaly A. Pena-Camilo, 25, of Washington, D.C. conspired to transport firearms from Washington, D.C. between April 28, 2022, and June 24, 2022, for the purposes of selling them in Yonkers. Pena-Camilo was allegedly in possession of the firearms and responsible for transporting them across state lines to sell them in Westchester County.
Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz, Pena-Camilo and Idanis Lora-Espinal were arraigned on August 4, 2022, and Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz was arraigned on August 8, 2022, in Westchester County Court. The District Attorney’s Office requested that Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz and Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz be held without bail, or in the alternative, on $500,000 cash bail. The District Attorney also requested that Pena-Camilo be held without bail, or in the alternative on $1 million cash bail. Bail was set by various Westchester County judges as follows: Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz $50,000 cash bail, Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz $200,000 cash bail and Pena-Camilo $150,000 cash bail. Lora-Espinal is being held on $5,000 cash bail.
On June 24, 2022, Yonkers Police and the DEA arrested Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz, Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz, and Idanis Lora-Espinal, 30, of Washington, D.C. Pena-Camilo, was apprehended in Washington, D.C. on June 29, 2022 by members of the investigative team, with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.
“This investigation shows the amazing work that can be accomplished when highly-skilled investigators collaborate toward the ultimate goal of public safety” Yonkers Police Commissioner Chris Sapienza stated. “Because of the efforts of these Detectives and their supervisors, more than 30 guns have been removed from the streets of Yonkers and its surrounding communities. I applaud the hard work in this lengthy and successful investigation by our Yonkers Police Narcotics Unit and our partners in the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, as well as the agencies in the Washington, D.C. area for a job well done.”
A Westchester County Grand Jury indicted the defendants on the following felony charges:
· Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz was charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, seven counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, 11 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
· Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz was charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, 11 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
· Pena-Camilo was charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, six counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, 11 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
· Lora-Espinal was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree.
As alleged in the felony complaint, a total of 31 ghost guns and two conventional firearms were sold on five separate occasions between April 28, 2022, and June 24, 2022, as detailed below:
- On five occasions between April 28, 2022, and June 24, 2022, Jose Gregorio Olivo-Feliz was in possession of and sold a total of 31 ghost guns and two conventional firearms in the City of Yonkers.
- On two occasions between May 6, 2022, and May 13, 2022, Pedro Junior Olivo-Feliz was in possession of and sold a total of 10 ghost guns in the City of Yonkers.
- On two occasions between May 6, 2022, and June 24, 2022, Netaly A. Pena-Camilo was in possession of and sold a total of 26 ghost guns in the City of Yonkers.
- On June 24, 2022, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Idanis Lora-Espinal was in possession of 19 ghost guns in the City of Yonkers.
All suspects are currently in custody and awaiting upcoming court appearances. The case is before Judge George Fufidio in Westchester County Court and is being prosecuted by the Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau of the Trials and Investigation Division of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. The defendants are scheduled to appear again in court on October 27, 2022. Additional information may be released as it becomes available.
NOTE: Booking charges are merely accusations, and the defendant(s) are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
AJ Woodson
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief of Black Westchester and Co-Owner of Urban Soul Media Group, the parent company, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show. AJ is a Father, Brother, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Hip-Hop Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
