STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Federal authorities have charged seven individuals, including four from Staten Island, in a major interstate gun and drug trafficking operation that allegedly funneled dozens of illegal firearms and narcotics into New York and New Jersey.
According to a previous Advance/SILive.com story, the 23-count indictment details a network that sourced weapons from southern states and sold them openly in residential neighborhoods.
Here are five key takeaways from the original article:
1. Four Staten Islanders face federal charges
At the center of the indictment are four Staten Island residents: Juanita Figueroa, 44; Ronald “Stuben” Jackson, 43; Nicholas “Light” Willacy, 47; and Coty “Boatee” Harley, 39. They, along with three other individuals from the Bronx, Missouri and South Carolina, are accused of participating in a conspiracy to traffic firearms and distribute cocaine base. According to federal prosecutors, the group allegedly sold 37 illegal firearms and narcotics across Staten Island, the Bronx and New Jersey between August 2022 and August 2025. An eighth defendant was charged separately in connection to the case.
2. “National trafficking network”
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Summer Heat,” uncovered what an FBI official called a “national trafficking network.” The firearms, which included AR-15-style rifles, shotguns, and pistols, were primarily traced back to southern states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas and Georgia. Authorities highlighted the dangerous nature of the weapons, noting that some were equipped with extended magazines, including a drum magazine capable of holding approximately 100 rounds of ammunition, posing a significant threat to public safety.
3. Brazen daylight sales in residential areas
Prosecutors allege that the defendants conducted many of their illicit sales in a flagrantly public manner. The sales of firearms and narcotics frequently occurred in broad daylight within residential areas of Staten Island and the Bronx. NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch condemned the suspects for having “flooded communities … with dozens of dangerous firearms,” emphasizing that assault weapons and high-capacity magazines have no place on city streets.
4. Both guns and crack cocaine trafficked
The criminal enterprise was not limited to firearms. Several defendants are also charged with narcotics trafficking. Court documents allege that Coty “Boatee” Harley sold both weapons and cocaine base. Notably, even after being incarcerated on unrelated charges, Harley allegedly continued to arrange drug sales through his co-defendants Figueroa, Willacy, and Jackson. Jackson and Willacy are specifically accused of selling over 68 grams of crack cocaine on Staten Island over a month and a half.
5. Suspects “a danger and flight risk”
Following arrests in New York, Missouri and South Carolina, federal prosecutors are seeking to keep several key defendants detained pending trial. They have argued that John Donaldson, Ronald Jackson and Nicholas Willacy pose a significant danger to the community and are flight risks, stating that “no combination of bail conditions will ensure the safety of the community.” For defendant Juanita Figueroa, the government is only willing to consider release under “strict conditions” and the posting of a substantial bond, underscoring the seriousness of the charges…