Six men have been charged following a 14-month investigation that recovered 47 illegal handguns and more than one kilogram of cocaine and heroin allegedly trafficked through Nassau County and Queens, prosecutors announced.
The investigation, described by Nassau County officials as one of the largest gun trafficking cases in county history, resulted in the arrests of Robert Petgrave, 30; Andrew Petgrave, 36; Jamari Jamaal Purrier, 34; Raeem Smith, 23; Clayton Solomon, 48; and Shahede Folkes, 25.
The defendants were arrested by the Nassau County Police Department’s Gang Investigations Squad on July 16, 2026, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.
Authorities said the investigation recovered 47 illegal handguns, approximately 900 grams of cocaine and 150 grams of heroin.
The joint investigation began in April 2025 and involved the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to prosecutors, the defendants allegedly obtained firearms from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and other out-of-state sources before trafficking them into Valley Stream and Queens.
Robert Petgrave and Andrew Petgrave allegedly obtained illegal firearms from Smith and other sources and sold them to undercover law enforcement officers during eight transactions, prosecutors said.
Folkes and Solomon were allegedly present during some of the firearm sales.
Purrier and Andrew Petgrave are also accused of selling heroin and cocaine to undercover officers during 13 transactions in Valley Stream, Hempstead and Queens.
Robert Petgrave was arraigned July 17 on one count of first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, a violent felony. He pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond or $2.5 million partially secured bond.
Andrew Petgrave was arraigned on charges that include first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty and was held on the same bail conditions as Robert Petgrave.
Purrier was arraigned on one count of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond or $2.5 million partially secured bond.
Smith was arraigned on charges that include first-degree criminal sale of a firearm and fourth-degree conspiracy. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded without bail.
Solomon was arraigned on one count of first-degree criminal sale of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $1.25 million partially secured bond.
Folkes was arraigned on one count of fourth-degree conspiracy. He pleaded not guilty and was released to pretrial services with electronic monitoring.
Robert Petgrave, Smith and Solomon each face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Andrew Petgrave and Purrier each face up to eight to 20 years, while Folkes faces up to 1⅓ to four years.
The defendants were scheduled to return to court on July 21, 2026.
The Suffolk County Police Department, New York City Police Department and U.S. Secret Service also assisted with the investigation.
The charges are accusations. All six defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
