Three Venezuelan migrants, including a young Tren de Aragua leader, have been accused of boldly selling illegal firearms across New York City, according to prosecutors. The alleged ringleader, Stefano Pachon, 21, along with his two accomplices, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom to face charges of gun trafficking conspiracy detailed in a 31-count indictment.
Pachon, who has a lengthy criminal record since arriving in New York from Venezuela in late 2023, is accused of selling nine different loaded guns during the course of the operation. Assistant District Attorney Yuval Simchi-Levi stated, “The defendant has access to a seemingly endless supply of loaded guns. This defendant sold the guns while out on a bench warrant.”
The investigation into Victor Parra, 30, the leader of an interstate migrant moped gang who was apprehended by the NYPD in May after three months as a fugitive, led to the discovery of the gun-trafficking ring allegedly led by Pachon, a high-ranking member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Working alongside Darwin Figuera, 34, and Yorman Serrano, 31, as well as a fourth unnamed defendant, Pachon is said to have trafficked a variety of firearms over WhatsApp. The guns sold included a 9-millimeter pistol with a magazine feeder and one semi-automatic weapon equipped with a “sear switch” that could convert it into an automatic weapon.
In total, the group sold 11 guns, with sales taking place in various locations across the Bronx and an East Harlem gas station. Pachon, Figuera, and Serrano, all natives of Venezuela, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the severity of illegal gun sales in Manhattan, stating, “Selling illegal weapons in Manhattan is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” He acknowledged the toll that gun violence takes on communities and reaffirmed the commitment to working with the NYPD to address such dangerous activities.
During the court proceedings, Pachon’s attorney highlighted his client’s status as an asylum seeker, but Judge Althea Drysdale emphasized that this should not impact the bail application. Pachon was ultimately held without bail due to his extensive criminal record, which includes an alleged theft from a Sephora store in Queens.
Figuera, who appeared in court wearing women’s Cheetah-printed Adidas slides, had his bail set at $50,000 cash. Serrano, who allegedly attempted to sell his own ghost gun, had his bail set at $75,000.
The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat illegal firearms trafficking and the commitment to holding individuals accountable for such dangerous activities in New York City.
