Department of Justice

Defendants Sold Dozens of Semi-Automatic and Defaced Guns Midday in a Drive-Through Restaurant’s Parking Lot

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a six-count indictment was unsealed charging Yashiya Louisdor, Zaire Alman, Marques Seals and a fourth defendant with conspiring to illegally traffic more than 40 firearms in three months. Louisdor, Alman and Seals were arrested yesterday and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. The fourth defendant is still at large. During the arrests 33 guns, including several rifles and shotguns, were recovered.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Thomas Kalogiros, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.

“As alleged, in just three short months the defendants attempted to bring over 40 guns into our community to sell them on our streets, including selling near an elementary school,” stated U.S. Attorney Peace. “Thanks to our Office and our law enforcement partners, this gun trafficking ring has been dismantled and we hope this sends a message to all who seek to profit from the illegal gun trade that we will not stop in our efforts to keep our community safe.”

“This indictment highlights NYPD investigators’ ongoing intelligence-driven efforts to pinpoint, arrest, and hold accountable gun traffickers,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “Allegedly selling these illegal firearms in broad daylight, close to a school, makes these charges especially disturbing. Along with our partners at the ATF and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, the NYPD vows to remain relentless in our quest to eradicate gun violence in all New York City neighborhoods.”

Stated ATF Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kalogiros: “Firearms trafficking is a central focus of the ATF strategy to protect the public from violent crime. These individuals are alleged to have brought dozens of illegal firearms to the streets of New York. With their arrests we have disrupted and dismantled a trafficking ring that profited from bringing illegal firearms to our city streets endangering each and every one of their fellow citizens. I would like to thank the ATF Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the NYPD/ ATF Joint Firearms Task Force for their diligent efforts on this case. This case is yet another example of how the many units in the NYPD and ATF can collaborate and coordinate their efforts with their Federal partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to make the streets safer for all.”

According to the indictment and other court documents, the defendants made multiple sales of at least 40 illegal firearms, including semi-automatic and defaced weapons, between February 2024 and April 2024. The defendants conducted many of these firearms sales in a vehicle in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, which was at a busy intersection and mere blocks away from an elementary school and a sports venue and concert arena. The defendants also conducted these firearm sales in a vehicle near a public transportation hub in Manhattan. Three members of the gun-trafficking operation obtained the firearms in Georgia and then transported them to New York to be sold on the streets of Brooklyn. The firearms deals often occurred in the middle of the afternoon and in broad daylight. Some of the firearms had defaced serial numbers.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine P. Onyshko is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Peiyuan Lo.

The Defendants:

YASHIYA LOUISDOR
Age: 23
Brooklyn, New York

ZAIRE ALMAN
Age: 23
Douglasville, Georgia

MARQUES SEALS
Age: 23
Douglasville, Georgia

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-187