Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly was joined by members of the Nassau County Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT), Long Beach Police Department and New York Police Department at a press conference on August 28 to announce that a Long Beach man has been indicted for allegedly selling 10 illegal guns, including assault weapons and a ghost gun, in broad daylight in front of his apartment between April and July. Two of the weapons have been traced to multiple shootings in Queens and Nassau County that occurred as early as 2021.
In April, NCDA began working together with the ATF, the Long Beach Police Department, the NYPD, and the Nassau County Police Department on an investigation into defendant Edwards after receiving a tip that the defendant was selling illegal weapons.
From April to July, James Jayshaun Edwards allegedly sold a total of 10 illegal firearms, including an assault pistol, an AR-15 style “ghost gun,” and multiple pistols and loaded firearms in front of his home on Birch Court in Long Beach. He also allegedly sold approximately 20 grams of cocaine to a buyer. Nearly all the weapons were loaded, and Edwards allegedly sold hundreds of rounds of extra ammunition with the weapons.
Ballistics comparisons performed by the ATF on the guns allegedly purchased from the defendant showed that two weapons had also been used in multiple shootings in Queens, Roosevelt, Westbury, and Long Beach that took place between August 2021 and June 2022.
Three separate shootings in Nassau County are associated with the same gun and caused various injuries to four victims. These shootings are currently being prosecuted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. Charges include multiple counts of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault.
Edwards, 33, was arrested on August 22, 2024, in Long Beach by members of the Long Beach Police Department, ATF, and NYPD. He was later arraigned before Judge Robert Schwartz on charges including first-degree criminal sale of a firearm (a Class B violent felony); second-degree criminal sale of a firearm (a Class C violent felony); 20 counts of third-degree criminal sale of a firearm (all Class D violent felonies); 10 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (all Class C violent felonies); six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (all Class D violent felonies); 10 counts of criminal possession of a firearm (all Class E felonies); second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (a Class A-II felony); third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (a Class B felony); and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (a Class B felony).
Edwards pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $750,000 bond, and $1.5 million partially secured bond. He is due back in court on September 20. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
An investigation into the suppliers of the weapons is ongoing.
“The 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 Donnelly. “Our investigation determined that two of the guns were used in multiple shootings that injured four victims in Westbury and Long Beach dating back to 2021, which are currently being prosecuted by my office. 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. Together with our law enforcement partners, we continue to take out traffickers who are bringing weapons into Nassau County, disrupt the pipeline of illegal guns, and save lives.”
“This indictment highlights ATF’s efforts to identify, investigate, and stop gun traffickers using crime gun intelligence. 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. This required diligent work & tireless dedication,” said ATF NY Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller. “This case is yet another example of how local, county, and state partners can collaborate with ATF to make the streets safer for all.”
Long Beach Police Commissioner Richard DePalma stated, “This is a textbook example of multi-agency cooperation. LBPD Detectives worked seamlessly with the ATF, NYPD, NCPD and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office to make an arrest in this large-scale investigation. We will continue to use our partnerships to keep our residents safe.”
“This indictment speaks to the power of multiagency collaboration and how critical it is to our work combating the sale of illegal firearms in our communities,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “Shutting down this shameless operation in Long Beach prevented untold tragedies, and we will continue investigating until everyone involved in the trafficking pipeline is held to account. I commend the ongoing efforts of our NYPD detectives, the Nassau County district attorney’s office, and all of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to our shared public safety mission.”
“The Nassau County Police Department has longstanding, strong relationships with our local and federal law enforcement partners, including the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office,” said Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. “Through a combination of intelligence-led policing and thorough investigations by our Detective Division, the men and women of the NCPD work tirelessly every day to take illegal guns off our streets and keep Nassau County the Safest County in America.”