ATLANTA — The Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a three-month undercover operation in New York that resulted in the arrest of an Atlanta man.
Federal officials said the investigation disrupted a Georgia-to-New York gun trafficking pipeline and resulted in the seizure of 25 guns, including five assault weapons. The guns and cocaine were sold to an undercover officer, the DEA said.
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Yamil Torres-Rincon, of Atlanta, was taken into custody on Nov. 12 in West Harlem, New York. He is facing charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal sale of firearms in the first degree (10 or more within a year), criminal sale of a firearm in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree.
Investigators said the sales of 25 guns happened in Manhattan on four dates between Sept. 3 and Nov. 12. Before each sale, Torres-Rincon allegedly traveled from Georgia to New York City. On multiple occasions, investigators said he drove with guns inside a hidden compartment in his car.
In total, 20 handguns (pistols and revolvers) and five assault weapons were seized, DEA said. The NYPD said that some of the guns were stolen.
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Authorities said Torres-Rincon also sold cocaine to an undercover officer and also allegedly larger drug deals.
Torres-Rincon allegedly charged a combined $42,900 for 20 handguns and three assault weapons sold on the first three dates.
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“Torres-Rincon is accused of operating a narcotics and gun trafficking enterprise that stretched from Georgia to New York and attempted to introduce weapons capable of causing mass casualties into our communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “Working with our partners, HSI will continue to be vigilant in efforts to prevent the flow of dangerous narcotics and weapons into our neighborhoods, which is vital in preventing deadly crimes and saving lives.”