Lengthy Island gun supplier busted after allegedly promoting firearms hidden in diaper containers – NBC New York



A Lengthy Island man was arrested after allegedly trafficking weapons on a road — generally close to kids and simply steps away from a police station — in broad daylight, and police mentioned he was packing warmth inside diaper containers.

Nassau County prosecutors displayed the ten seized weapons on Wednesday, every of which they mentioned was offered by Lengthy Seashore resident James Edwards. The gross sales came about in entrance of his house in a public housing neighborhood, based on prosecutors.

Neighbors advised us many children additionally stay within the growth, which is simply a couple of block from the Lengthy Seashore police division and metropolis corridor.

However none of that slowed the gun gross sales, based on Nassau County District Legal professional Anne Donnelly.

“Edwards would package deal up the weapons in duffle baggage and even diaper containers and offered them within the open in broad daylight in entrance of his residence,” she mentioned. “To me that was a brazen act and a slap to the Lengthy Seashore police division and I don’t need to put up with that.”

Prosecutors used diagrams to hyperlink a recovered ghost gun and handgun to 6 separate shootings in Lengthy Seashore, Westbury and Bayside throughout 2021 and 2022. 4 folks had been injured in these shootings linked to unlawful weapons.

DA Donnelly mentioned gun gross sales had been even made the identical day in June 2023 {that a} teen was shot in an unrelated incident following a seaside social gathering in Lengthy Seashore.

An NYPD intelligence division tip led to an 11-month investigation, and in the end to the seizure of the eight handguns and two assault weapons.

Edwards’ lawyer advised NBC New York that his consumer has by no means been in bother with the regulation, and that they’d proceed to combat the costs towards him in court docket.

“This can be a vital quantity of firearms seized from the streets of Lengthy Seashore,” mentioned appearing Lengthy Seashore Police Commissioner Richard DePalma, cheering the gun seizure and saying it makes the town safey.

Different metropolis officers later declined to touch upon what’s now being performed to guard public housing residents — a priority for many who stay within the space.

“Anger, discomfort that that’s what’s taking place in my neighborhood,” mentioned Karl Williams, a father of 4. “I fear about my children. That’s my foremost focus.”

After his arrest, Edwards was ordered held on $500,000 money bail. He faces as much as 25 years if convicted. 

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