Seven Defendants Charged with Firearms Trafficking, Narcotics Distribution, and Related Offenses

A 23-count indictment was unsealed today charging seven defendants variously with firearms trafficking, conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and related offenses. John Donaldson, also known as "Jay," Juanita Figueroa, Ronald Jackson, also known as "Stuben," and Nicholas Willacy, also known as "Light," were arrested in New York and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. Marcus Dyce, also known as "John John," was arrested in Missouri and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of Missouri. Lonney Walker, also known as "Hollywood," was arrested in South Carolina and will be arraigned in the District of South Carolina. Coty Harley is in state custody in New York and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. An additional defendant, Juancarlos Hechavarria, Sr., charged separately by complaint, was arrested in South Carolina and will be arraigned in the District of South Carolina.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charges.

"As alleged, the defendants sold a significant number of pistols, rifles, and bags of crack cocaine in Staten Island, New Jersey, and the Bronx," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "Gun violence and the proliferation of narcotics are serious and ongoing threats to our communities. Our Office and federal and local law enforcement are committed to protecting the public by stopping the flow of dangerous firearms and narcotics into the hands of criminals by using proactive investigations and collaborating with our law enforcement partners."

"These seven defendants allegedly orchestrated a national trafficking network to import 37 firearms, including assault-style rifles and extended magazines, into the tristate region, while some distributed narcotics as another source of illicit income," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. "Their alleged criminal behavior unnecessarily introduced deadly weapons and drugs into our communities, posing a significant threat to the lives of the surrounding public unaware of these illegal transactions. May today's Operation Summer Heat takedown emphasize the FBI's steadfast commitment to continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners to disrupt any unlawful sales fueling criminal activity in our city."

"These alleged gun traffickers flooded communities in the Bronx and Staten Island with dozens of dangerous firearms, including assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that have no business on the streets of New York City," stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. "The members of the NYPD work tirelessly to identify and dismantle these criminal networks that bring illegal guns and drugs into our city and put people in harm's way. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators and our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for putting a stop to this dangerous pipeline."

As alleged in the indictment and court documents, from August 2022 through August 2025, Donaldson, Dyce, Walker and Harley variously engaged in multiple transactions involving the sale of 37 illegal firearms in Staten Island, the Bronx, and New Jersey. Several of the sales took place in the middle of the day in residential areas where members of the public were engaging in daily activities. At least one of the defendants transported firearms from South Carolina to be sold onto the streets of New York. The firearms were predominantly traced to southern states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, and Georgia, and included AR-15 style rifles, shotguns, and pistols of various calibers; semiautomatic weapons; and several extended magazines, including a drum magazine capable of holding approximately 100 rounds of ammunition.

As alleged in the complaint, in addition to the above firearms sales, Hechavarria, Sr., who Dyce connected with a buyer, sold three firearms in exchange for $3,100 in Brooklyn outside a restaurant in broad daylight. All three firearms were traced to South Carolina.

As alleged in the indictment and court documents, several of the defendants also engaged in narcotics trafficking conspiracies involving the sale of cocaine base in the community. On two occasions, Harley sold at least one firearm and cocaine base in one transaction. Following his incarceration on unrelated charges, Harley continued to arrange for the sale of cocaine base in New York communities, including through Figueroa, Willacy and Jackson. As a result, Willacy sold approximately 18 grams of cocaine base in August 2025 and Jackson sold a total of approximately 50 grams of cocaine base from June 2025 through July 2025.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The joint investigation was conducted by the FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Pak is in charge of the prosecution of Donaldson, Dyce, Figueroa, Harley, Jackson, Walker and Willacy. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Sullivan is in charge of the prosecution of Hechavarria, Sr.

The Defendants:

JOHN DONALDSON (also known as "Jay")
Age: 61
Bronx, New York

MARCUS DYCE (also known as "John John")
Age: 50
St. Louis, Missouri

JUANITY FIGUEROA
Age: 44
Staten Island, New York

COTY HARLEY (also known as "Boatee")
Age: 39
Staten Island, New York

RONALD JACKSON (also known as "Stuben")
Age: 43
Staten Island, New York

LONNEY WALKER (also known as "Hollywood")
Age: 48
Columbia, South Carolina

NICHOLAS WILLACY (also known as "Light")
Age: 47
Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-278 (BMC)

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JUANCARLOS HECHAVARRIA SR. (also known as "Los")
Age: 52
Sumter, South Carolina

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-273