An Arkansas man is facing numerous charges for allegedly trafficking firearms throughout New York City.
Kyler Booker, a 44-year-old, was arrested in Arkansas following an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New York City Police Department.
An indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court on Nov. 2, officially charging Booker for his alleged crimes, which was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District.
Booker has been charged with conspiring to deal firearms, as well as making false statements to acquire said weapons.
According to court filings, Booker had reportedly bought 137 firearms from various federally licensed retailers in Arkansas between December 2019 and September 2021.
In all 26 separate transactions Booker made, it's alleged that he falsely identified himself as the purchaser of the guns.
According to court filings, it is presumed that Booker conspired to sell the firearms to other individuals he communicated with over the phone and through Facebook.
In total, at least 13 firearms that were allegedly dealt by Booker were recovered by the NYPD. The recovered firearms were found across all five boroughs in NYC, including eight guns recovered in Brooklyn.
“The surge of gun violence in New York City is being fueled by individuals who circumvent the law and supply firearms to trigger-pullers,” NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said.
“The weapons recovered in this case were headed to only one place, our neighborhoods, in the hands of criminals fully prepared to commit acts of wanton violence. I commend and thank all of the investigators with the NYPD, the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District for their outstanding work on this and many other cases.”
If Booker is found guilty and convicted, he could face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment for each of the false statement count, as well as a maximum of five years imprisonment for conspiracy.
Booker's initial hearing took place at the federal courthouse in Arkansas. He will be removed to the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
