Two Defendants Face 131 Charges After Authorities Remove 38 Illegal Firearms

You follow local news in New York City and stories like this one stand out because they show how persistent police work can pull dangerous weapons out of circulation before they cause harm. Two men from Manhattan now face a massive set of charges tied to selling dozens of guns to undercover officers over many months. The operation stretched across Queens and the Bronx, ending with arrests this week and a detailed indictment that lays out repeated transactions.

Officials describe it as a long-term effort that kept real threats off the streets. One sale even happened in broad daylight near a college campus. The case highlights the steady pressure law enforcement applies to illegal gun markets in the city.

How the Investigation Unfolded

Officers from the NYPD’s Firearms Suppression Division started looking into these sales back in spring 2025. They worked with prosecutors from the Queens District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau in a careful undercover effort that lasted roughly 13 months. Over time, they built evidence through repeated buys from the same individuals.

You see the patience required in work like this. Detectives arranged meetings at different spots, documented each exchange, and tracked the flow of weapons. By the end, they had records of 16 separate transactions involving 38 firearms. The approach let them gather strong proof without alerting the sellers too soon.

The Defendants and Their Alleged Roles

Mouhamadou Sylla, 25, and Ncodjigui Sanogo, 29, both from Harlem, now sit at the center of the case. Prosecutors say Sylla handled most of the direct sales while driving a 2022 Kia sedan to many of the meetups. Sanogo reportedly acted as a courier in some deals and participated in others.

Their backgrounds add layers to the story. Sanogo worked occasional shifts as a security guard through a contractor at Queens College. Authorities claim one sale occurred right outside a campus building while he wore his uniform. Both men were taken into custody Tuesday morning and remain held without bail.

Charges That Add Up to 131 Counts

The grand jury indictment includes a wide range of accusations. You will find conspiracy charges, multiple counts of criminal sale of a firearm in various degrees, and several weapon possession charges against each man. Sylla faces additional counts that cover more sales and specific weapon types.

Each count ties back to specific evidence from the undercover buys. Prosecutors listed everything from first-degree sales to attempted sales. If convicted on the top charges, the men could each face significant prison time, up to 25 years. The sheer volume of counts reflects how many separate acts investigators documented.

One Sale on a College Campus

On June 10, 2025, in the afternoon, authorities say the pair sold a loaded .38-caliber revolver to an undercover officer for $1,250. The exchange happened on Kissena Boulevard outside a Queens College building. Sanogo was reportedly on duty in uniform at the time and walked back inside afterward.

This detail has drawn particular attention. A security guard selling a gun on campus property raises serious questions about trust in everyday settings. Officials pointed to it as an example of how brazen the activity became. The revolver was one of many loaded weapons passed during the investigation.

Sales Across Multiple Neighborhoods

The transactions took place in several locations. Some happened in a College Point parking lot and others in the Melrose section of the Bronx. Many more occurred on a street in Woodhaven near Forest Park between late August 2025 and early April 2026.

Sylla allegedly sold most guns for around $1,200 each. Officers recovered a mix of handguns, including 9mm pistols, a TEC-9, and at least one ghost gun. Two of the firearms had been reported stolen in other states, and another linked to shootings elsewhere. The spread across areas shows how these networks move weapons around the city.

What Officials Had to Say

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stressed the importance of removing these guns before they reach streets where violence could spike. She noted the weapons would no longer pose risks in Queens or the broader city. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted the precision of the operation and its role in larger efforts to seize illegal firearms this year.

Their comments reflect a shared focus on proactive policing. Both leaders thanked the undercover officers who took risks during the buys. The collaboration between police and prosecutors stands as a clear example of how these cases move forward when agencies coordinate closely.

Next Steps in Court

The men appeared in Queens Supreme Court shortly after their arrests and received a return date in early June. Justice Toni Cimino ordered them held. Prosecutors from the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau will continue handling the case alongside NYPD investigators.

You can expect more details to emerge as proceedings advance. Defense teams will review the evidence, and any plea discussions or trial preparations will follow standard timelines. For now, the focus remains on the strength of the undercover recordings and physical evidence collected over those many months.

Why Cases Like This Matter in New York

Illegal gun trafficking continues to challenge law enforcement across urban areas. Operations that target sellers feeding the streets help reduce the supply available for crime. This one removed 38 firearms through controlled buys rather than waiting for them to surface in incidents.

Communities notice when guns disappear from circulation. The work also sends a message to others in similar trades. Persistent investigations backed by detailed indictments make it harder for these networks to operate without detection over time.