A Long Beach man was recently indicted for running an audacious illegal weapons trafficking operation right outside his own apartment. Authorities say James Jayshaun Edwards, 33, was brazenly selling firearms, including assault weapons and a ghost gun, in broad daylight from April to July 2024. These transactions occurred just steps away from the Long Beach Police Department Headquarters, highlighting the audacity of the operation.
The investigation, led by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), revealed that Edwards allegedly sold 10 illegal firearms. These weapons included an AR-15 style ghost gun, an assault pistol, and several other loaded firearms. The guns were often packaged in duffle bags and diaper boxes, making the transactions appear more inconspicuous to passersby.
The case took a darker turn when ballistics tests performed by the ATF linked two of the weapons Edwards allegedly sold to multiple shootings in Queens and Nassau County. These shootings, which occurred between August 2021 and June 2022, injured four people in separate incidents in Westbury and Long Beach. The shootings are currently being prosecuted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, with charges including multiple counts of attempted murder and assault.
In addition to the illegal firearms, Edwards is also accused of selling approximately 20 grams of cocaine during the same period. Authorities say nearly all the weapons Edwards sold were loaded, and he allegedly provided buyers with hundreds of rounds of extra ammunition.
Edwards was arrested on August 22, 2024, by members of the Long Beach Police Department, ATF, and New York City Police Department. He was arraigned the same day on a long list of charges, including multiple counts of criminal sale and possession of firearms, as well as drug-related offenses. Edwards pleaded not guilty, and his bail was set at $500,000 cash, $750,000 bond, or a $1.5 million partially secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on September 20, 2024, and if convicted, could face up to 25 years in prison.
“This defendant allegedly conducted a brazen illegal open-air weapons trafficking business just steps away from Long Beach Police Department Headquarters, packaging up high-powered weapons in duffle bags and diaper boxes and selling them in broad daylight in front of his home,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “This multi-jurisdictional operation not only made the streets of Long Beach safer but has provided us with a key piece of evidence to aid in those prosecutions.”
ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller emphasized the importance of disrupting firearms trafficking schemes, stating, “The unchecked flow of firearms is a direct contributor to gun violence in our streets. Disrupting firearms trafficking schemes like this is a top priority for ATF.”
The investigation into the suppliers of the weapons Edwards allegedly sold is still ongoing. Since January 2024, law enforcement in Nassau County has recovered 223 illegal weapons, marking a 14.5% decrease from the same period last year.
The case is being prosecuted by the Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit of the Narcotics, Firearms, and Gangs Bureau, with Unit Chief Lee Genser leading the effort under the supervision of Bureau Chief Nicholas Mauro.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
