New York.- The Dominican Reinaldo Romero, 28, was arrested and charged with heading a powerful ring of gun smugglers operating from a barbershop in the Soundview section of the Bronx.
Romero was arrested with 13 others, including other Dominicans accused of the same crime and other charges, according to the Bronx County Office of the DA. It said 54 weapons were seized, including pistols, assault rifles and machine guns in raids by local and federal agents.
Investigators say Romero owns the barbershop and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Also charged were Christopher Baez, Elvis Montero, Jose Martinez, Angel Plass, Jonas Acevedo, Thomas Disla, Christina Rodriguez and Jessenia Carrasquillo, who face sentences of 15 years in prison.
The 18 month-long operation "Ghostbusters" used undercover agents posing as gun "buyers" in 33 separate transactions directly with Romero, whom Prosecutors affirm called or sent text messages every time he sold weapons.
Nine of the defendants also sold ammo, bullet-proof vests and cocaine to police.
A judge had authorized the tapping of 11 phones to tape the smugglers’ calls to the undercover agents.