Prosecutor: Arsenal of Weapons Smuggled by Asylum Seekers and Migrants in NYC

On Wednesday, a prominent member of the Tren de Aragua gang, who claims to be an asylum seeker, and two other migrants, all wearing Ralph Lauren-branded teddy bear tops, were brought before a court in New York City for charges of smuggling an array of firearms into the city.

In recent times, the sanctuary city has seen yet another case involving migrant crime.

Three handcuffed Venezuelans were escorted into the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan and entered a not guilty plea to a range of charges, including conspiracy, illegal firearm sales, and weapon possession.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office, led by Alvin Bragg, stated that the weapons sold include semiautomatic pistols, shotguns, rifles, and ghost guns.

Many semi-automatic weapons were sold with large ammunition-feeding devices and a "sear switch" to make them fully automatic.

The defendants were accused of selling 11 guns between September 2024 and January 2025 on 10 separate occasions, according to court documents and statements made on the record in court, prosecutors said. The migrants are alleged to have sent information about the weapons over WhatsApp, including photos, and the buyer would then come to the meet-up point and provide cash in exchange for the guns.

According to prosecutors, Stefano Pachon, a 21-year-old high-ranking member of the Tren de Aragua gang, sold multiple loaded guns, some of which had illegal ammunition loading devices and one was a ghost gun.

He was accused of selling weapons while on a bench warrant and had previously been arrested four times.

In court, Pachon was identified as the leader of the group and the one who negotiated the purchase and price of most of the weapons. The sales took place in various locations in the Bronx and at a gas station in East Harlem on East 125th Street and Second Avenue. Pachon was seen wearing a red hoody during the proceedings.

The court was informed by his attorney that he is a Venezuelan asylum seeker with a disability resulting from a previous stabbing, and falls under certain protection. His attorney pointed out that President Biden recently signed an order providing protections for Venezuelans. He arrived in the U.S. in December 2023.

Althea Drysdale replied that being from Venezuela does not automatically make someone an asylum seeker.

Three other individuals, including Darwin Figuera, 34, and Yorman Serrano, 31, were also charged in the 31-count indictment, along with a fourth co-conspirator.

Serrano, who was dressed in a green fuzzy hoody with a "polo" teddy bear logo, had a previous conviction in Queens and was arrested in Connecticut for possessing a shoplifting device. Figuera, dressed in a cream sweater with teddy bear designs, arrived in the U.S. in October, while Serrano had been here since December 2023.

All three spoke via an interpreter.

The investigation into Victor Parra, the leader of a cellphone snatching ring, led to the discovery of a gun trafficking conspiracy. Parra pleaded guilty to two counts of grand larceny and is facing two to six years in state prison.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the charges serve as a stark reminder of the need to remain vigilant against high-powered, illegal firearms and the dangerous gangs that use them to harm New York City families and communities.

"The NYPD will always unwaveringly carry out the courageous actions necessary to keep these weapons out of criminals' grasp, ensuring that our city remains safe from fear and violence."

Despite a decline in gun violence in Manhattan, there is still much work to be done.

"The use of illegal weapons in Manhattan is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, as stated by Bragg. The devastating toll of gun violence on our communities is a result of illegal firearms, and I have met with too many grieving families who have lost loved ones due to this scourge."

While Figuera was held on $50,000 cash bail and Serrano had his bail set at $50,000, the judge ordered Pachon to be held without bail.

The confiscated weapons included four 9mm semi-automatic pistols with ammunition magazines, a Polymer80 9mm semi-automatic ghost gun with a 34-round magazine, a Smith & Wesson .38 special caliber revolver, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber fully-automatic pistol with a 15-round magazine, an American Tactical 5.56×45 millimeter semi-automatic rifle with ammunition magazines, a Radical 5.56×45 millimeter semi-automatic pistol with ammunition magazines, and a Ruger semi-automatic pistol.

Planet Chronicle' Kirill Clark contributed to this report.