Bronx District Attorney (DA) Darcel D. Clark and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced May 20 that four men have been indicted in a firearms trafficking conspiracy in which nine guns were sold to an undercover police officer out of a building in the Concourse section of the Bronx. One of the guns was a .300 Blackout semi-automatic rifle.

 

Clark said that the defendants, Junior Alvarado, 29, Brandon Suero, 29, Erick Martinez, 24, all of The Bronx, and Tajamar Daishah Hyatt, 29, of Florida, were variously charged in a 51-count indictment with criminal sale of a firearm, conspiracy, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun in a sensitive location; and possession of ammunition.

 

“These defendants allegedly provided high-powered pistols, and a semi-automatic rifle that fires ammunition suited for hunting and close-range combat,” the district attorney said. “They allegedly brought a loaded gun into a playground. We will not tolerate such wanton disregard for public safety, and I applaud the NYPD undercovers who risk their lives to stop gun traffickers.”

 

According to the investigation by Narcotics Borough Bronx and the Bronx DA’s special investigations bureau, from July 2, 2025 to Nov. 6, 2025, NYPD detectives conducted a series of undercover purchases of guns, narcotics, and controlled substances from Alvarado on East Clarke Place in the Concourse neighborhood. The court heard that Alvarado is charged with first-degree criminal sale of a firearm for allegedly unlawfully selling three or more firearms within a year.

 

Further investigation revealed Suero, Hyatt and Martinez allegedly provided some of the guns for Alvarado to sell. Prosecutors allege in one incident, on July 7, 2025, the parties met at about 6.30 p.m. in a playground area on East Clarke Place, where Hyatt allegedly had a black backpack containing a loaded Ruger 9-mm pistol. They said Alvarado allegedly counted out cash and took possession of the backpack, which he then brought to the undercover agent and allegedly sold it. They said the transaction was captured on video surveillance.

 

Prosecutors said police purchased nine guns in total: seven pistols, one .300-caliber, Blackout American technical semi-automatic rifle (AR-15 style) and one inoperable pistol. They said they also purchased oxycodone pills, alprazolam pills, and cocaine.

 

Tisch said, “The defendants in this case were part of a dangerous trafficking ring that funneled seven pistols, one semi-automatic rifle, and drugs into a thriving Bronx community, even operating near a public playground in broad daylight. The illegal distribution of guns and narcotics places New Yorkers at risk and has no business on our streets, but thanks to the meticulous work of our NYPD investigators, this operation has been shut down.”

 

She added, “We will continue to work with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office to ensure that these criminals are held fully accountable.”

 

Clark said defendant Alvarado was arraigned on May 19 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Timothy Lewis and that bail was set at $200,000 cash/$600,000 bond/$600,000 partially secured bond. She said Suero and Martinez were arraigned on May 14 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goldsmith and bail was set at $30,000 cash/$100,000 bond/$100,000 partially secured bond. She said Hyatt is awaiting arraignment.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Paul A. Andersen of the special investigations bureau and Alessandra Ambrosi, supervisor in the special investigations bureau, under the supervision of Craig Cecchini, chief of the special investigations bureau, and under the overall supervision of Denise Kodjo, deputy chief of the investigations division and Wanda Perez-Maldonado, chief of investigations division.

 

Clark thanked Assistant District Attorney Bridget Killen and Trial Preparation Assistant Lakora Sarkodie for their assistance with the case. She also thanked NYPD Detectives Ferdi Memedoski and Konti Markvukaj, Sergeant William Rojas, Lieutenants Daniel Maria and Robert Fischer, Captain Alberto Gonzalez and Inspector Miguel Iglesias, of Narcotics Borough Bronx major case unit, for their work on the investigation.

 

The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.