Defendants allegedly trafficked and sold 45 firearms from Georgia worth over $46K

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives New York Field Division Bryan DiGirolamo today announced the indictment of four individuals for an alleged conspiracy to acquire firearms and ammunition from Georgia to traffic and sell in New York City between March and May 2026. Acting in concert, the defendants allegedly sold 45 guns to an undercover officer across five sales.

All of the defendants are charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree for the alleged firearm conspiracy. All of the defendants are additionally charged with at least one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm. In total, they are collectively charged with 56 counts, including various counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. [1]

"As alleged, these defendants worked together to funnel dozens of illegal firearms along the iron pipeline into New York City over the course of a months-long conspiracy," said District Attorney Bragg. "Multiple recovered guns were equipped with devices designed to inflict increased harm. Had these firearms fallen into the wrong hands, they could have fueled violence that seriously injured or even killed New Yorkers. Every illegal gun removed from our streets is a potential tragedy prevented, and I thank the brave members of the NYPD and ATF, as well as our prosecutors, for their outstanding work dismantling this alleged trafficking operation."

"This gun trafficking network led by a father and son duo attempted to move a significant number of illegal guns into New York City," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "Over the course of just four months, members of the NYPD seized more than 70 guns from these defendants, guns that otherwise would have ended up on our streets. But the NYPD identified the network and built this case with precision and strategy to remove these guns before they could be used to harm New Yorkers. Thanks to the tireless work of the NYPD investigators, and our partners at the ATF and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, these individuals are out of the gun trafficking business, and these deadly weapons will never be used in our communities."

"This case highlights the critical work being done every day to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking and prevent crime guns from reaching our communities. By removing dozens of illegally possessed firearms, ammunition, and machine gun conversion devices from circulation, investigators helped reduce the threat of gun violence and potential future shootings. The success of this investigation is a testament to the strong partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working together to protect the public. Special thank you to the men & women of ATF/NYPD Joint Firearms Task Force, NYPD 103rd Precinct Intelligence Division, Gwinnett County (GA) Sheriff's Office, Newton County (GA) Sheriff's Office, Rockdale County (GA) Sheriff's Office and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office," said Special Agent in Charge of ATF NY Field Division Bryan DiGirolamo.

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, Georgia-based DANIEL VERN JOLY, 34, contacted the undercover officer to arrange firearm sales, advertising the sale of the firearms through texts and video calls. He communicated with his father DANIEL JOLY, 53, JOHNNY PHILOGENE, 37, and DEASHAWN ROSS, 25, to help acquire the firearms and conduct the sales. ROSS equipped some of the firearms with attachments, including rapid-fire modification devices such as "forced reset triggers" (FRTs). Of the guns sold, at least two contained rapid-fire modification devices.

The indictment alleges the defendants acted in concert to sell firearms in five different sales by allegedly carrying out the following acts:

On April 1, 2026, at approximately 6:36 p.m., VERN JOLY told the officer that he planned to travel to New York on the 8^th and arrive either the 9^th or 10^th. Over the next week, VERN JOLY shared photographs and videos of firearms, including discussing attachments on some, such as one that contained a "switch."

On April 9, 2026, at approximately 11:24 a.m., VERN JOLY met the officer near Canal Street and Forsyth Street in Chinatown and traveled nearby with him. At approximately 1:27 a.m., while inside the officer's vehicle, VERN JOLY sold the officer 10 firearms with corresponding ammunition, including a semiautomatic pistol with a flashlight attachment and modified with an FRT. A few minutes later, ROSS called VERN JOLY, who was still with the officer, and stated in substance that he acquired firearms with FRTs to sell to the officer and that he could acquire firearms with "switches." The total sale was over $10,800.

The next week, VERN JOLY shared more photographs and video of firearms with the officer. On April 13, 2026, VERN JOLY told the officer that he would leave firearms at his father JOLY's address and would return to New York on April 21.

On April 21, 2026, at approximately 12:07 p.m., VERN JOLY met the officer at the same Chinatown location and sold him 10 firearms with corresponding ammunition, including a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol with a machinegun conversion device attached. The total sale was approximately $10,500. Later that evening, VERN JOLY called the police officer and stated in substance that JOLY, his father, would conduct the next sale, which he described in detail.

On April 23, 2026, at approximately 8:55 a.m., JOLY placed a container containing eight guns, along with corresponding ammunition, on the ground near East 21st Street and Woodruff Avenue in Brooklyn. The officer retrieved the container, went to his vehicle and removed the contents. He then placed cash inside the container and returned it to where JOLY left it. The total sale was approximately $9,000.

On May 4, 2026, VERN JOLY told the officer he would return to New York with additional firearms in the coming days. On May 6, 2026, VERN JOLY exchanged several calls with PHILOGENE.

On May 7, 2026, at approximately 1:35 p.m., PHILOGENE met the officer near East 87th Street and Avenue M in Brooklyn and gave him one firearm with corresponding ammunition. Following the exchange, VERN JOLY instructed the officer to meet JOLY near Ocean Avenue and Avenue L in Brooklyn and give him cash for the firearm. At approximately 5:15 p.m., the officer met and paid JOLY. Following the transaction, VERN JOLY communicated with JOLY and ROSS via phone calls. The total sale was approximately $1,000.

On May 11, 2026, at approximately 4:28 p.m., VERN JOLY told the police officer that he would return to New York with additional firearms the following week. The next day, VERN JOLY and ROSS engaged in a three-way call with the officer in which ROSS explained, in part, how he went to a gunsmith to get the FRTs installed.

On May 19, 2026, at approximately 10:05 a.m., VERN JOLY sent a screenshot of the location from the previous Chinatown sales with a caption reading, "It says 3 hours." At approximately 1:32 p.m., VERN JOLY met the officer and sold him 16 guns with corresponding ammunition. The total sale was approximately $14,800.

All of the defendants were arrested on June 17, 2026. VERN JOLY and his father, JOLY were arraigned in Supreme Court the same day, while ROSS and PHILOGENE were arrested in Georgia and will undergo extradition proceedings. Collectively, more than 30 additional firearms were allegedly recovered from the arrests.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A. Jeffrey Greenberg, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Pierre Griffith (Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit), Christopher Prevost (Deputy Chief of the Trial Division) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Senior Investigative Analyst Nicole Boudrieau (VCEU) is providing invaluable assistance.

D.A. Bragg also thanked the members of the NYPD-ATF Joint Firearms Task Force and the NYPD Intel Field Intelligence Office Unit, particularly Detective Michael Harkins, ATF's Special Agent and Detective Daniel Gukelberger, along with their supervisors and courageous undercover detectives. He also thanked the Newton, Gwinnett and Rockdale Sheriffs' Departments in Georgia.

Defendant Information:
DANIEL VERN JOLY
Covington, GA

Charged:

• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B felony, three counts
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, a class B felony, three counts
• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 44 counts
• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count

DANIEL JOLY
Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, eight counts
• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count

JOHNNY PHILOGENE
Brooklyn, NY

Charged:

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count

DEASHAWN ROSS
Conyers, GA

Charged:

• Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.