United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NEW YORK -- A three-month 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 a quantity of cocaine were sold to an undercover officer.

Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, New York City Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea and Rick J. Patel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations New York (HSI-NY), announced the arrest of Yamil Torres-Rincon, of Atlanta, Ga., who was taken into custody shortly before 8 p.m. on Friday, November 12, 2021 in West Harlem.

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor charges Torres-Rincon with 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. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday, November 13.

The investigation was conducted by DEA’s New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force (OCDETF), Group Z-13, and the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Firearms Suppression Section. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. reviewed and submitted a wiretap application for court authorization in October.

Sales of 25 guns occurred in Manhattan on four dates between September 3 and November 12, 2021. Before each sale, Torres-Rincon traveled from Georgia to New York City. On multiple occasions, he drove with guns concealed inside a hidden compartment in his car.

In total, 20 handguns (pistols and revolvers) and five assault weapons were seized. The NYPD determined some guns were stolen. Agents and officers also recovered nine air pistols during the final sale.

Additionally, an undercover officer purchased cocaine on one occasion. The month-long wiretap investigation revealed Torres-Rincon allegedly negotiated larger narcotics deals.

Torres-Rincon charged a combined $42,900 for 20 handguns and three assault weapons sold on the first three dates.

On September 3 at approximately 12:30 p.m., in the vicinity of Dyckman Street, Torres-Rincon sold one Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver, seven 9mm Glock pistols, and one .40 caliber Glock pistol, with ammunition and magazines, to an undercover officer.

The second transaction occurred on September 19 at approximately 11:45 p.m., near Pleasant Ave and 116th Street. Torres-Rincon again met with an undercover officer and allegedly sold one .357 caliber Taurus revolver, seven 9mm Glock pistols, one .22 caliber Glock pistol, with ammunition and magazines.

On October 6 at approximately 11:15 a.m., at 94 East Broadway, Torres-Rincon allegedly sold the undercover officer a quantity of cocaine, one 9mm Beretta pistol, one .22 caliber Ruger pistol, and three assault weapons with ammunition.

For the fourth and final sale, on November 12, Torres-Rincon and the undercover officer agreed upon the price of $19,500 for two assault weapons, nine handguns and ammunition. At approximately 7:30p.m., in the vicinity of Pleasant Ave and 116th Street, Torres-Rincon allegedly provided the undercover officer two AR-15 Palmetto assault weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition with high capacity and extended magazines, as well as nine Glock air/CO2 pistols. The undercover officer subsequently realized the nine Glocks were air pistols.  Torres-Rincon allegedly attempted to flee and was apprehended near the corner of West 133rd Street and Old Broadway. Agents and officers recovered the cash for the purchase from Torres-Rincon.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and commended SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau, DEA’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force and the NYPD’s Firearms Suppression Section and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York for their work on the investigation.

“Unfortunately, drug and firearms trafficking have a symbiotic relationship,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “This investigation identified an individual who precipitated the trafficking of numerous firearms and addictive drugs into our communities, all while crossing state lines, attempting to evade law enforcement. This arrest demonstrates the diligence and commitment of our counterparts to safeguard our neighborhoods. I commend the persistence of our agents and officers of the DEA Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force group, our fellow law enforcement partners, and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office throughout this dangerous and multi-faceted investigation.”

“Gun violence is surging across our city. Guns and drugs go hand in hand, and both lead to senseless deaths. Reducing the supply of illegal firearms on our streets is a top priority,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan.

“Our men and women officers work relentlessly to prevent illegal guns from getting into criminals’ hands because every shooting frays the fabric of our city’s life. With too many illegal guns already on our streets, I commend our NYPD investigators, law enforcement partners, and the prosecutors in the city’s Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for working together in this important case to ensure that these trafficked guns were interdicted before they could be used to carry out violence against New Yorkers,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

“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.”

The New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force (OCDETF) is comprised of agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the New York State Police, the U. S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, the Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The Strike Force is partially funded by the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which is a federally funded crime fighting initiative and part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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