Attorney General James Announces Sentencings of Five Members of Bronx Gun and Heroin Trafficking Ring

 

Individuals Collectively Sentenced to Over 30 Years Imprisonment for Selling Assault Weapons, Firearms, Hundreds of Rounds of Ammunition, and Heroin

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the sentencings of five individuals for their roles in a gun trafficking operation that illegally sold 16 firearms in the Bronx. The five defendants — who were charged with trafficking numerous assault weapons, high-capacity feeding devices, semiautomatic pistols, and more than 300 rounds of ammunition — have all pled guilty and were sentenced for their respective crimes. Additionally, two of the individuals, Luis Alsina and Michael Alsina were also sentenced for their roles in the sale of heroin. Altogether, all five defendants were sentenced to a total of more than 30 years in state prisons.

The sentencings were the result of a joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the New York Strike Force. The investigation culminated with the arrest of all five individuals in February 2020, in which they were charged for their respective crimes.

“Gun violence devastates our communities every day and these five individuals fueled this crisis by flooding our streets with assault weapons and heroin,” said Attorney General James. “Public safety remains our top priority, and with these sentencings, we are continuing to ensure those who cause harm to New Yorkers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My office will continue to bring to justice anyone who endangers our communities, and I thank our partners in law enforcement for their critical support and commitment to this cause.”

The investigation revealed that Michael Alsina acted as a broker between his firearms suppliers and undercover officers, to whom he sold firearms and/or ammunition to on 10 occasions between June 2019 and November 2019. Luis Alsina provided the firearms and/or ammunition to Michael Alsina on seven of those 10 occasions and sold firearms directly to undercover officers on three other occasions between June 2019 and December 2019. Rafael Cruz supplied two firearms in the sales brokered by Michael Alsina, while Miguel Rodriguez and others transported the firearms that were sold to undercover officers. Josue Pagan-Adorno attempted to transport two assault weapons from Pennsylvania with the intent of selling them in New York, but the firearms were seized by police in New Jersey along the way. Additionally, both Luis Alsina and Michael Alsina sold approximately 250 grams of heroin to an undercover officer on five occasions between August 2019 and September 2019. 

All five defendants have since pled guilty and were sentenced to the respective terms below: 

Luis Alsina, 33, pled guilty last June to one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree (Class B violent felony); one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (Class A-II felony); and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (Class E felony). He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Michael Alsina, 30, pled guilty last June to one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree (Class B violent felony); one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (Class A-II felony); and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (Class E felony). He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Miguel Rodriguez, 35, pled guilty in October 2021 to one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (Class D violent felony) and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (Class E felony). He was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Rafael Cruz, 25, pled guilty last February to one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (Class D violent felony). He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, followed by three years of post-release supervision.

Josue Pagan-Adorno, 32, pled guilty last April in the Superior Court of New Jersey in Morris County to Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. He was sentenced to five years in New Jersey state prison, with one year of parole ineligibility.

The investigation resulted in the recovery of the following firearms and ammunition: 

•   Seven 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistols
•   Three .32 caliber revolvers (one inoperable)
•   Two 5.56-millimeter semiautomatic rifles (assault weapons)
•   One 7.62x39-millimeter semiautomatic rifle (assault weapon)
•   One .40 caliber Carbine (assault weapon)
•   One 7.62x39-millimeter single shot rifle
•   One .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol
•   One .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol
•   One .38 caliber revolver
•   11 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices
•   One bullet-proof vest (uncharged)
•   Approximately 317 rounds of ammunition

Attorney General James thanks the members of the New York Strike Force for their partnership in this investigation, including the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York State Police, and the New York City Police Department. The New York Strike Force includes the New York Division of the DEA; the New York State Police; the New York City Police Department; Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Marshals Service, the New York National Guard; the Clarkstown Police Department; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Port Washington Police Department; and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.  

Attorney General James also thanks the Mt. Arlington, New Jersey Police Department; Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey; and members of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force for their valuable work and assistance in this investigation and prosecution.