Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder announced that six men have been charged with multiple counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal sale of a firearm, and other charges in one of the largest gun trafficking investigations in Nassau County history.
The arrests are the result of a 14-month-long joint investigation led by NCDA’s Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit and included the Nassau County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division, Long Island District Office Task Force.
“This was a takedown of historic proportions that will not only make Nassau County safer, but the whole region,” said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. “This is a combination of using technology and good old-fashioned police work to solve these crimes that are being committed on a daily basis here in our region.”
“These six defendants allegedly tried to flood our communities with deadly narcotics and nearly 50 illegal firearms, some of which have been linked to crimes in other jurisdictions. Every illegal gun recovered had the potential to destroy innocent lives,” Donnelly said. “Since taking office, combating gun violence has been a top priority. Thanks to this outstanding joint investigation, these guns and drugs will never reach the hands of criminals who try to terrorize our neighborhoods. For five years, we have made clear that gun traffickers in Nassau County will face the consequences, and we are not slowing down.”
Beginning in April 2025, NCDA, working in conjunction with ATF, DEA, and NCPD, began a firearms and narcotics trafficking investigation into the suspected gang-related activities of the defendants, who allegedly obtained firearms from out of state, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, and trafficked them into Valley Stream and Queens.
As targets of an undercover operation, Robert and Andrew Petgrave allegedly obtained illegal firearms from Smith and other sources, then sold the firearms to undercover law enforcement officers on eight separate occasions. Shhede Folkes and Clayton Solomon were allegedly present at the time of some of the illegal gun transactions.
On multiple occasions, Jamari Jamaal Purrier and Andrew Petgrave allegedly sold heroin and cocaine to undercover officers in 13 separate transactions. The narcotics transactions occurred throughout Valley Stream, Hempstead, and Queens.
As a result of the monthslong investigation, law enforcement recovered 47 illegal handguns, approximately 900 grams of cocaine, and 150 grams of heroin.
The defendants were arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department’s Gang Investigations Squad on July 16, 2026.
“If anyone thinks they are going to bring guns and drugs into Nassau County, they better think again,” Ryder added. “With the full support of our county executive, Bruce Blakeman, our detectives went after these criminals and now they will have to answer for their crimes. Nassau County will remain the safest county in America, thanks to the hard work of the men and women in the Nassau County Police Department. We value our partners who worked with us to hold these criminals accountable.”
All six defendants were arraigned on July 17 before Judge Michael Alpert.
Robert Petgrave, 30, was arraigned on one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree (a Class B violent Felony). He pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond or $2.5 million partially secured bond. He was also ordered to surrender his passport. His next court date is scheduled for July 21, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Andrew Petgrave, 36, was arraigned on charges including Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (a Class A-I felony) and two counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree (a Class D violent felony). He pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond or $2.5 million partially secured bond. He was also ordered to surrender his passport. His next court date is scheduled for July 21, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to 8 to 20 years in prison.
Purrier, 34, was arraigned on one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (a Class A-I felony). He pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond or $2.5 million partially secured bond. He was also ordered to surrender his passport. His next court date is scheduled for July 21, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to eight to 20 years in prison.
Raeem Smith, 23, was arraigned on charges including Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree (a Class B violent felony) and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (a Class E felony). He pleaded not guilty and was remanded. His next court date is scheduled for July 21, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Clayton Solomon, 48, was arraigned on one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree (a Class B violent felony). He pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $1.25 million partially secured bond. He was also ordered to surrender his passport. His next court date is scheduled for July 21, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Shahede Folkes, 25, was arraigned on one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (a Class E felony). He pleaded not guilty and was released to pretrial services with electronic monitoring. His next court date is scheduled for July 21, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to 1-1/3 to four years in prison.
“This investigation demonstrates the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to protecting the public,” said ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “I want to commend the brave undercover personnel and the dedicated men and women from our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies who worked tirelessly to dismantle this firearms-trafficking operation. By disrupting the illegal sale of more than 40 firearms, we are preventing dangerous weapons from reaching those who would use them to commit violent crimes. ATF remains laser-focused on identifying firearms traffickers, dismantling illegal trafficking networks, and protecting our communities by stopping gun violence before it occurs.”
“The arrests of these six individuals and the seizure of 47 firearms, cocaine, and heroin, serve as a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officials face while targeting those who fuel drug-related violence in our communities,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Every firearm recovered represents one less weapon that can be used to intimidate, injure, or kill. The DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to targeting violent criminals that profit from violence and drug trafficking, and protecting the communities of Long Island.”