By Alexander Dworkowitz
A resident of Flushing's Pomonok Houses and his brother have been charged with illegally dealing shotguns, rifles and handguns to an undercover police officer, authorities announced last week.
Saiyd Pryor, 21, and Lester Battle, 28, were arrested June 11 and arraigned the following day in front of State Supreme Court Judge Salvatore Modica in Brooklyn, said a spokesman for Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes.
Pryor lives in Pomonok Houses. Police said Battle lived with Pryor in Pomonok, although the district attorney provided a Brooklyn address for him.
Battle, Pryor's brother, was a city employee working as a clerical associate with the Human Resources Administration, the district attorney said.
“Selling firearms is a very dangerous crime,” Hynes said in a statement. “These guns can very well end up in the hands of children or be used against police officers. What makes this case even more outrageous is that it was perpetuated by a city employee.”
Four of the 14 sales took place on Parsons Boulevard and Kissena Boulevard around Pomonok, while the remainder were done in Brooklyn, according to the complaint.
The first deal was made on May 24, 2002 while the last was carried out on March 3, 2003, the complaint said.
Pryor was charged with nine counts of criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a rifle or shotgun and criminal possession of a weapon, while Battle was charged with 20 counts of the same four crimes, the district attorney said.
Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years if the defendant is found guilty.
Battle sold undercover detectives 27 guns, usually three at a time, according to the criminal complaint. Pryor participated in half of the sales, acting as Battle's accomplice, the complaint said.
The weapons included a .45 caliber pistol, a rifle, a 9mm pistol as well as well as a shotgun, and the two men also supplied ammunition, the complaint said.
All of the sales took place in Brooklyn, and many of them were near Battle's downtown Brooklyn office or home, the complaint said.
The deals were made in the undercover officer's vehicle, the complaint said.
Two other men, who are still at large, also participated in the sales, the complaint said.
The brothers' attorneys could not be reached for comment.
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 141.
