Middleman in Scheme Purchased Loaded Gun in Playground
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced that four men have been indicted in a firearms trafficking conspiracy that sold nine guns—including a .300 Blackout semi-automatic rifle—to an undercover police officer out of a building in the Concourse section of the Bronx.
District Attorney Clark said, “These defendants allegedly provided high-powered pistols, and a semi-automatic rifle that fires ammunition suited for hunting and close-range combat. They allegedly brought a loaded gun into a playground. We will not tolerate such wanton disregard for public safety, and I applaud the NYPD undercovers who risk their lives to stop gun traffickers.”
Police Commissioner Tisch said, “The defendants in this case were part of a dangerous trafficking ring that funneled seven pistols, one semi-automatic rifle, and drugs into a thriving Bronx community, even operating near a public playground in broad daylight. The illegal distribution of guns and narcotics places New Yorkers at risk and has no business on our streets, but thanks to the meticulous work of our NYPD investigators, this operation has been shut down. We will continue to work with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office to ensure that these criminals are held fully accountable.”
District Attorney Clark said that the defendants, Junior Alvarado, 29, Brandon Suero, 29, Erick Martinez, 24, all of the Bronx, and Tajamar Daishah Hyatt, 29, of Florida, were variously charged in a 51-count indictment with Criminal Sale of a Firearm, Conspiracy, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Rifle or Shotgun in a Sensitive Location; and Possession of Ammunition.
District Attorney Clark said defendant Alvarado was arraigned on May 19, 2026 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Timothy Lewis. Bail was set at $200,000 cash/$600,000 bond/$600,000 partially secured bond. Suero and Martinez were arraigned on May 14, 2026, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goldsmith. Bail was set at $30,000 cash/$100,000 bond/$100,000 partially secured bond. Hyatt is awaiting arraignment.
According to the investigation by Narcotics Borough Bronx and the Bronx DA’s Special Investigations Bureau, from July 2, 2025, to November 6, 2025, NYPD detectives conducted a series of undercover purchases of firearms, narcotics, and controlled substances from Alvarado on East Clarke Place in the Concourse neighborhood. He is charged with first-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm for allegedly unlawfully selling three or more firearms within a year.
Further investigation revealed Suero, Hyatt and Martinez allegedly provided some of these firearms for Alvarado to sell. In one incident, on July 7, 2025, the parties met at about 6:30 p.m. in a playground area on East Clarke Place, Hyatt with a black backpack containing a loaded Ruger 9-mm pistol. Alvarado allegedly counted out cash and took possession of the backpack, which he then brought to the undercover and allegedly sold it to them. The transaction was captured on video surveillance.
Police purchased nine firearms in total: seven pistols, one .300-caliber Blackout American Technical semi-automatic rifle (AR-15 style) and one inoperable pistol. They also purchased oxycodone pills, alprazolam pills, and cocaine.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Ferdi Memedoski and Konti Markvukaj, Sergeant William Rojas, Lieutenants Daniel Maria and Robert Fischer, Captain Alberto Gonzalez and Inspector Miguel Iglesias, of Narcotics Borough Bronx Major Case Unit, for their work in the investigation.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
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