D.A. Bragg Has Brought Two Indictments Against Two Gun Traffickers from North Carolina This Week

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and New York City Police Department Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today announced the indictment of ZAQUAN GAILLARD, 32, for allegedly trafficking guns from North Carolina to New York City. GAILLARD allegedly sold 16 semi-automatic pistols totaling more than $28,000 to an undercover NYPD officer on seven separate occasions from December 2021 to April 2022. GAILLARD was arrested today after selling two additional firearms to an undercover. 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.

This is the second indictment of a gun trafficker brought by D.A. Bragg this week. GAILLARD was arrested one day after Tyreke Colon was indicted for selling 36 guns from North Carolina to an undercover officer in Harlem over several months.

COLON is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree and 16 counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree. [1]

“This is our second case this week against a gun trafficker from North Carolina, which once again puts a direct spotlight on how the iron pipeline is undermining public safety in New York City,” said District Attorney Bragg. “These consecutive indictments of traffickers make clear that our office will vigorously pursue gun cases and other forms of dangerous violent crime in our city. I thank our law enforcement partners and I am very grateful for the bravery of the undercover officers who partnered with us on this case and stopped these guns from hitting our streets.” 

“On Tuesday, our NYPD detectives and prosecutors in Manhattan outlined the criminal case against an alleged gun trafficker we interdicted funneling firearms into New York City from North Carolina. A day later, we’re announcing another indictment against another trafficker accused of illegally running guns along the same Iron Pipeline,” said Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “We will never stop focusing every resource toward eradicating guns and the violence they cause and I commend our NYPD investigators and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for bringing these two important cases as part of our tireless work together to protect those we serve.”

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.

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, 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 allegedly 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. 

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Duda is handling the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Christopher Prevost (Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit), and Executive D.A. Joyce Smith (Chief of the Trial Division). Senior Investigator Joseph Monroig and VCEU Investigative Analysts Norah Senftleber, Grace Dore, and Brittany Wolfe are also assisting with the case.

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.

Defendant Information:
ZAQUAN GAILLARD
Red Springs, North Carolina

Charged:

• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, 16 counts

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.