Story by Ethan
On April 23rd, 2026, the arrest of Mouhamadou Sylla, age 25, and Ncodjigui Sanogo, age 29, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Mouhamadou Sylla and Ncodjigui were charged with first-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, six counts of third-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm, third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, fourth-degree Conspiracy, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm. Mouhamadou Sylla was additionally charged with 24 counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm, second and third-degree Attempted Criminal Sale of a Weapon 68 counts of third-degree Criminal Sale of a Firearm, 15 counts of third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, two counts of third-degree Attempted Criminal Sale of a Firearm, six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and Criminal Sales of a Ghost Gun. The arrest and charges against Mouhamadou Sylla and Ncodjigui Sanogo were a result of an investigation handled by NYPD Firearms Suppression Division.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, an undercover investigation into illegal firearms sales in New York City was initiated by the NYPD Firearms Suppression Division in April of 2025. At approximately 3:30 p.m. on June 10th, 2025, Mouhamadou Sylla and Ncodjigui Sanogo allegedly sold a loaded and fully functional .38 caliber Titan Tiger revolver for $1,250 to an undercover officer. The transaction took place on Kissena Boulevard in the vicinity of a Queens College building where Ncodjigui Sanogo was employed and on duty in uniform as a security guard. Following the alleged hand-off Ncodjigui Sanogo re-entered Kissena Hall and returned to work. Mouhamadou Sylla is alleged to have taken part in numerous other transactions at different locations to multiple other undercover officers contributing to the aforementioned investigation. In the College Point parking lot at Queens College, Mouhamadou Sylla allegedly sold two guns at approximately 1:45 p.m. on June 17th, 2025, and sold another firearm at approximately 7:40 p.m. on July 2nd, 2025. At approximately 3:40 p.m. on June 19th, 2025, Mouhamadou Sylla sold one gun in the Melrose section of the Bronx, New York. Twelve other firearms sales were allegedly carried out by Mouhamadou Sylla between the dates of August 28th, 2025, and April 8th, 2026. Mouhamadou Sylla was determined to drive a 2022 Kia sedan to the various locations and sold each gun for $1,200, while Ncodjigui Sanogo served as a courier for three out of the sixteen transactions. 38 guns were sold in total, two of them being reported stolen in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and one handgun was also connected to multiple shootings in Newark, New Jersey. Majority of the sales to undercover officers included a machine gun and 9 mm pistols. The NYPD’s Firearm Suppression Section apprehended both defendants in the morning of April 21st, 2026, Mouhamadou Sylla being located in Queens, New York, and Ncodjigui Sanogo being located in Manhattan, New York.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Mouhamadou Sylla and Ncodjigui Sanogo are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
