LONG BEACH, NY — A Long Beach man has been charged with selling illegal weapons, including assault rifles and a ghost gun, in broad daylight outside his apartment from April to July 2024. Two of the weapons were traced to several shootings in Queens and Nassau County that occurred as early as 2021, prosecutors said.
James Jayshaun Edwards, 33, was arraigned on Aug. 22. He faces charges including criminal sale of a firearm, multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon, multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal sale of a controlled substance, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.
Edwards pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $750,000 surety, and $1.5 million partially secured bond.
“The defendant is alleged to have conducted a brazen, open-air illegal gun trafficking operation just steps from Long Beach Police Department headquarters by packing high-powered weapons in duffel bags and diaper boxes and selling them in broad daylight outside his home,” Donnelly said. “Our investigation revealed that two of the weapons were used in multiple shootings that injured four victims in Westbury and Long Beach in 2021. These cases are currently being prosecuted by my office.”
According to the indictment, Edwards is alleged to have sold a total of ten illegal firearms, including an assault pistol, an AR-15-style “ghost gun,” and several pistols and loaded firearms, outside his home on Birch Court in Long Beach between April 2024 and July 2024.
He also allegedly sold about 20 grams of cocaine to a buyer, Donnelly said.
“This indictment underscores ATF's efforts to identify, investigate and stop gun traffickers by leveraging intelligence on criminal gun trafficking. The uncontrolled flow of firearms directly contributes to the gun violence on our streets,” said Bryan Miller, ATF Special Agent in Charge in New York. “Disrupting such gun smuggling schemes is ATF's highest priority.
Edwards is due back in court on September 20. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.
