'Operation Hotcakes' Uncovers Gun Smuggling Ring In NYC: Queens DA

NEW YORK CITY — An undercover investigation dubbed “Operation Hotcakes” concluded with the arrest of five men from Queens, The Bronx and Tennessee who now face more than 1,000 criminal charges linked to smuggling guns into New York City, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz’s Office.

The men face a 1,611-count indictment related to conspiracy, criminal possession of a firearm and the criminal sale of firearms charges for the alleged purchase of 186 handguns, 136 high-capacity ammo feeders and a cache of bullets in Tennessee with the intent to sell the 78 various types of guns in Queens and The Bronx, according to NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and DA Katz during a press conference held Thursday afternoon.

The ringleader of the gun smuggling crew was Bronx man Jonathan Harris, 28, according to the NYPD, which conducted two separate investigations in Queens and The Bronx.

Richard “Rick” Horne, 70, of Tennessee acted as the main supplier of the weapons, according to police.

Anthony “Tony” Sanford, 57, of Jamaica and his nephew Oliver Sanford, 40, of Springfield Gardens, along with Thomas Parsley, 44, of The Bronx acted as re-sellers and distributors of the weapons in the two boroughs, according to an indictment.

Katz thanked the NYPD’s Firearms Investigation Unit for working closely with her office’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau on the case.

“Illegal gun traffickers who flood our neighborhoods with dangerous firearms put every resident of our borough at grave risk,” Katz said in a statement. “We have seen far too many instances of guns, purchased down South and trafficked into New York, that are then recovered at devastating crime scenes, leaving bloodshed and tragedy on our streets.”

Cutting off the notorious “Iron Pipeline” gun supply chain is a top priority of Katz’s administration, said the DA.

“We will continue our efforts against the proliferation of gun violence in this borough,” added Katz.

Parsley and the younger Sanford’s lawyers said they had “no comment” when asked about the defendants alleged connection with the gun smuggling ring.

The elder Sanford and Harris’ attorneys were not able to be reached for comment.

No information was provided on who is representing the defendant from down South.

The Queens undercover investigation, “Operation Hotcakes,” started in August 2021, when the elder Sanford sold five handguns as well as .357 and .40 caliber ammunition to an undercover cop as his nephew acted as a lookout, officials said.

By April 22, the uncle sold 22 weapons throughout Springfield Gardens and Jamaica, according to police intelligence.

An unrelated investigation initiated in November 2021, revealed Harris to be an arms dealer in the Bronx and later linked the ringleader to the Sanfords, in what turned out to be a larger gun operation, said NYPD detectives.

The electronic surveillance monitoring of Harris and the Sanfords on trips to gun shows in Knoxville in Tennessee, which has looser gun possession laws, connected them to Horne, according to police.

On April 23, 2022, Horne warned Harris about federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the DA’s Office reported.

Weeks earlier, police stopped Parsley during a delivery of weapons in Queens and uncovered two shopping bags with eight loaded pistols, according to the court documents.

The Bronx and Queens defendants were arraigned Tuesday and Horne was arrested on Wednesday, prosecutors said.

Harris is expected back in court on Aug. 1, while Parsley and the Sanfords are expected back on Sept. 15. Horne’s extradition is pending.

Sewell commended the detectives and prosecutors involved in the case.

“Building long-term investigations to stop accused gun traffickers from funneling illegal firearms up the Iron Pipeline is one layer of the NYPD’s relentless work to eradicate gun violence in New York City,” Sewell said in a statement. “This is the work we all must continue — and we will — because the lives of New Yorkers we serve depend on it.”