PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Four people from Philadelphia face charges in a 57-count New Jersey grand jury indictment for their alleged roles in a gun trafficking ring across state lines.
One of the guns has been connected to the murder of a 2-year-old girl being held by her mother in her own living room.
According to the grand jury indictment, Robert Crosley III, 34, is accused of running the gun trafficking ring. Matthew Zoba, 40, faces accusations of leading the drug trafficking operation. Yuri Lyubinsky, 40, and Victoria Zipf, 34, allegedly helped faciliate drug and gun sales. Zipf is also accused of making straw purchases.
The New Jersey attorney general's office says one of the 36 guns recovered in the investigation included a semi-automatic rifle used in the murder of Nikolette Rivera, 2, in 2019. She was shot in the head while in the crossfire of a drug turf war as two men allegedly fought to reclaim drug territory. Two men have been charged in the case.
Related
An Uzi, nine military-style rifles and three large-capacity magazines were reportedly among the guns recovered -- as well as 20 ounces of methamphetamine, the equivalent of 14,000 individual doses.
Investigations also led to the recovery of 60 wax folds of heroin, a small batch of crack cocaine and more than 80 marijuana plants, according to the attorney general's office.
Related
Initial arrests opened the door to "Operation Zombie," the investigation that led to the recovery of the guns and drug-related items. Operation Zombie is a collaboration between the New Jersey and Pennsylvania attorneys generals to help stop the pipeline of illegal guns across state lines.
“This investigation once again shows us the connection between drugs and guns,” U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration New Jersey Division Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson said in a written statement.