NEW YORK (AP) - Police have arrested four Virginia men who they say were part of a conspiracy to smuggle guns from their home state into New York City for sale on the street.
Prosecutors say 28-year-old Clive Dixon, the suspected ringleader of the group, was apprehended along with three of his suppliers following an investigation into the “iron pipeline” of illegally trafficked firearms.
The suspects coordinated sales over the phone and through text messages. Dixon allegedly sold more than 100 weapons at an average price of $1,000 a piece to an undercover NYPD detective between March 28 and Nov. 17.
The trafficking ring was brought down with help from court-authorized wiretaps and social media analysis.
Dixon’s attorney says his client, who is also a rapper known as Moe Chetta, has pleaded not guilty.
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