Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the sentencing of ZAQUAN GAILLARD, 34, to 7 1/2 years in state prison for trafficking more than 10 guns from North Carolina to New York City from December 2021 to June 2022. GAILLARD pleaded guilty to one count each of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree and Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree on June 6, 2023.
“Zaquan Gaillard funneled firearms into our city, which could have fallen into the wrong hands had it not been for the brave work of undercover detectives,” said District Attorney Bragg. “It is far too easy to traffic guns through the iron pipeline. We will continue to aggressively prosecute traffickers, and I urge the federal government to take comprehensive action to cutdown on the availability and flow of firearms into our communities.”
The Manhattan D.A.’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit and the NYPD’s joint investigation included obtaining a court-authorized eavesdropping warrant to intercept calls, along with examining GPS location data.
As admitted in his guilty plea, the sales took place in broad daylight in the undercover agent’s car at either 149th Street and Convent Avenue or 149th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Eight of the guns recovered were “Taurus” or “SCCY” models, which are two of the most prevalent firearms used in New York City gun crimes. GAILLARD also sold two additional firearms to the undercover right before he was arrested.
GAILLARD spoke to multiple suppliers, who acquired firearms in North Carolina and sold them to him. In addition, GAILLARD would travel to South Carolina to purchase firearms at pawnshops himself. Conversations picked up on the wiretap revealed that GAILLARD failed at least one background check when attempting to purchase firearms in South Carolina.
Once in possession of the weapons, GAILLARD texted photos of the firearms to the undercover agent and then negotiated a price and date for the sale. Calls intercepted on the wiretap revealed that GAILLARD would often sell firearms for up to twice the price he paid to acquire them.
GAILLARD drove the weapons up from North Carolina to the sale point. After completing the sale, he would almost immediately return to North Carolina.
D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD and the Firearms Investigation Unit, including Chief Christopher McCormack, Inspector Brian Gill, Captain Jeffrey Heilig, Lieutenant Michael Raso, Sergeant Brian Manning, Sergeant James Lundy, Detective Juan Rodriguez, who investigated the case while battling cancer, Detective Adam Conlin, and the undercover detectives.
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