Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that a crew of gun runners led by Jamaica resident Jessica Heyliger was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court, following a grand jury handing up a 182-count indictment. The defendants are variously charged with criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, conspiracy and other crimes. Between September 2019 and July 2020, the crew mainly purchased guns from the South – where the laws are not as strict – then allegedly hauled a variety of pistols, revolvers and other weapons into New York State via Interstate 95 to sell.

 

“Getting guns off our streets is one of my top priorities,” said District Attorney Katz. “Accomplishing that means investigating and prosecuting those responsible for allegedly bringing deadly guns into our region. One of the firearms recovered by police was once banned and is the type of weapon that is meant to kill as many people in as short a period as possible. These kinds of firearms do not belong in our communities. Each weapon seized during this investigation is a potential life saved. We will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to put gun runners out of business. I would like to acknowledge the great work of NYPD’s Firearm Suppression Section and my team for their tireless efforts.”

 

The main defendant in this case is Jessica “Cess Milla” Heyliger, 36, who allegedly operated this illegal enterprise with co-defendant Mitchell “Mitch” Myree, 37, both of Jamaica, Queens. The two were arraigned on November 12, 2020 before Queens Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Braun. Co-defendant Sharod “Yahyo” King, 33, of Woodside, Queens, was arraigned today, also before Justice Braun. All three defendants are variously charged with criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and other crimes. The defendants return date was set for January 28, 2021. (See Addendum for further details on defendants).

 

According to the charges, Heyliger was the alleged crew leader and the principal dealer of the weapons. Myree is accused of being the backup supplier and King allegedly was Heyliger’s salesman.

 

The investigation into the crew began in September 2019 when King allegedly sold an undercover police officer a handgun and two large capacity ammunition feeding devices. In December 2019, the Court authorized electronic surveillance on King’s mobile phone.

 

According to the charges, the defendants allegedly sold an undercover police officer 23 guns in 13 separate transactions. As part of the conspiracy, DA Katz said, King communicated directly with a buyer – who was really an undercover police officer – and delivered firearms, large capacity magazines and ammunition to that “buyer.” Most of the illegal sales occurred in and near the Astoria neighborhood. Heyliger is accused of providing all the weapons and ammo to King.

 

DA Katz said, the defendants allegedly sold the undercover officer hundreds of rounds of ammunition and more than 10 high-capacity magazines. Through buys, the police recovered the following weapons:

 

two .40 caliber Taurus pistols

a 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol

a .380 caliber Remington Arms pistol

a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol

a pair of 9mm Taurus pistols

a 9mm Keltec pistol

a pair of .40 caliber Smith and Wesson pistols

a pair of 9mm KAHR pistol

a pair of .357 caliber Taurus revolvers

a defaced 9mm Intratec Tec-9 firearm

a .22 caliber Phoenix Arms pistol

a .38 caliber Taurus revolver

a .32 caliber N. Amer. Arms pistol

a .40 caliber Bersa pistol

a 9mm Ruger pistol

a .380 caliber Ruger pistol

two pair of 9mm SCCY pistols

 

The investigation was conducted by New York City Police Department Detective David Joel, with the assistance of Detective Brian McCloskey, under the supervision of Sergeant Brian O’Hanlon, Lieutenant Michael Whelan and Commanding Officer Captain Jonathan Korabel, under the supervision of Firearms Suppression Section Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Brian Gill, and the overall supervision of Gun Violence Suppression Division Commanding Officer Inspector Richard Green.

 

Assisting in the investigation, and now prosecuting the case is Assistant District Attorney Ajay Chheda, Section Chief of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Mark Katz, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Jonathan R. Sennett, VCE Bureau Chief, under the overall supervision of Gerard Brave, Executive Assistant District Attorney in charge of Investigations.

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                                                                            ADDENDUM

 

JESSICA HEYLIGER, 36, of Jamaica, Queens, is charged in a 182-count indictment with criminal sale of a firearm in the first and third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree, unlawful possession of pistol ammunition and conspiracy in the fourth degree. If convicted Heyliger faces up to 25 years in prison. The defendant is currently represented by Mr. Jeff Cohen, Esq.

 

MITCHELL MYREE, 37, of Jamaica, Queens is charged in a 182-count indictment with criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree, criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree, unlawful possession of pistol ammunition and conspiracy in the fourth degree. If convicted Myree faces up to 15 years in prison. The defendant is represented by Mr. Ronald Nir, Esq.

 

SHAROD KING, 33, of Woodside, Queens is charged in a 182-count indictment with criminal sale of a firearm in the first and third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree, unlawful possession of pistol ammunition and conspiracy in the fourth degree. If convicted King faces up to 25 years in prison. The defendant is being represented by Mr. Richard Torres of Queens Defenders.