New York Gang Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Firearms Trafficking

BRUNSWICK, GA-  Qaaid Reddick, 33, of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 82 months in prison for his role in the attempted exchange of heroin and cocaine for a cache of firearms. 

According to evidence presented during guilty plea and sentencing hearings, Reddick, a Bloods Gang leader, and Brandon Conway, 22, both New York residents, traveled from New York to Brunswick, Georgia to trade heroin and cocaine for a cache of firearms.  Reddick and Conway were attempting to obtain firearms to take back to New York so they could be disseminated to others and used in crimes.  Reddick and Conway delivered the drugs to a person at a hotel room in Brunswick, Georgia.  In the hotel room, Reddick and Conway were shown the cache of firearms they ordered, which included semi-automatic weapons and an assault rifle.  To their surprise, Reddick and Conway were dealing with an undercover ATF agent.  Reddick and Conway were quickly arrested in the hotel room without incident. 

United States Attorney Ed Tarver stated, “Georgia is often referred to as a ‘source state’ for out-of-state gang members looking for firearms.  This U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and state law enforcement partners will continue to disrupt the illegal pipeline of guns from Georgia to the hands of those peddling drugs, fear and crime in neighborhoods throughout our great nation.”  

At an earlier sentencing hearing, Reddick’s coconspirator, Brandon Conway, was sentenced to 7 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the ATF, the GBI and the Glynn County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney E. Greg Gilluly, Jr. prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.  For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.