South Carolina Man Trafficked Illegal Firearms, Faces 59-Count Indictment: Nassau DA

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A South Carolina man who formerly lived in Freeport was arraigned Wednesday on a 59-count indictment in connection with the sale of nearly a dozen illegal firearms, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said Wednesday.

Kim Lilly, 45, of Greenville, South Carolina, sold illegal firearms, including rifles and pistols, between August 2023 and January 2024, Donnelly said. He was arrested when entering Nassau County in early April while in possession of two firearms, the DA said.

Lilly, if convicted, faces up to 25 years in prison. He is due back in court May 23.

"This defendant allegedly made several trips up and down the I-95 corridor and trafficked dangerous illegal guns into Nassau County," Donnelly said in a news release. "When Kim Lilly was arrested on April 3, police executing a search warrant found another two handguns, one of which was defaced and hidden beneath the driver side floor mat of Lilly’s car."

Donnelly thanked the Nassau DA's partners at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nassau County Police Department for their work apprehending alleged firearms dealers.

Lilly's arrest will "inevitably" keep neighborhoods and communities safer because of the reduction in available illegal firearms, said Patrick Ryder, commissioner of the Nassau police.

"This multi-jurisdictional investigation has shut down the illegal trafficking of dozens of firearms by this defendant," Ryder said. "A great job by all of the dedicated investigators and their affiliated agencies."

On four separate dates between August 2023 and January, in Freeport, Lilly sold 11 illegal firearms, including an assault rifle, assault pistol, and pistols, investigators said. All but one of the firearms were loaded and sold with accompanying ammunition, prosecutors said. Lilly also sold several high-capacity magazine, the DA said.

The DA said it is believed that the weapons were purchased from a pawn shop in South Carolina and then trafficked to Nassau by Lilly.

Lilly was arrested on April 3 in Farmingdale by members of the ATF Firearms Task Force, officials said.

Following Lilly’s arrest, two loaded handguns were recovered during a search warrant executed on his vehicle, authorities said.

Lilly was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sale of a firearm; two counts of second-degree criminal sale of a firearm; 22 counts of third-degree criminal sale of a firearm; 10 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; 10 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and 11 counts of criminal possession of a firearm.

Lilly’s co-defendant, Tomeca Jeter, 49, of South Carolina, who was in the vehicle when the additional weapons were found, was also arraigned and charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; two counts of criminal possession of a firearm; and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Bail was set at $50K cash, $100K bond, and $500K partially secured bond. She is due back in court on May 23.

Illegal firearms trafficking is a "major contributing factor" to the violent crime epidemic in New York communities, said Thomas Kalogiros, assistant special agent in charge of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives New York Field Division.

"This indictment underscores ATF's commitment to form partnerships and utilize crime gun intelligence to disrupt the flow of illegal guns," Kalogiros said.

Lilly is represented by Jenna Spelke, while Jeter is represented by Lori Golombek.