BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Hassian Humphrey, 24, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit firearms offenses, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. In addition, co-defendant Keishawn Turner, 25, of Kannapolis, NC, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the firearms business without a license, which also carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Between May 2022, and June 24, 2025, Humphrey and Turner conspired with Jylin Woods, Benjamin Martin a/k/a Benji a/k/a Ben10 a/k/a Gun Man, and Jerry Antonio Baine a/k/a Bank 3x, to illegally sell firearms. During the course of the conspiracy, Humphrey and Turner exchanged several photographs and/or videos of firearms and negotiated the price of various firearms with Humphrey indicating he was soliciting buyers for the firearms. In October 2023, Humphrey and Turner transported five firearms, including a ghost gun, from North Carolina into the Western District of New York to be sold. Two of those firearms were recovered during the execution of search warrants in Buffalo in December 2023.
In addition, in May 2022, Humphrey and Jylin Woods attempted to transport two firearms from North Carolina to Buffalo. However, their vehicle was stopped by law enforcement in Oak Hill, West Virginia, and the two firearms were seized. During the course of the conspiracy, Humphrey and Woods shared photographs of firearms they possessed, updated each other regarding the solicitation of buyers, and on at least two occasions, they successfully transported North Carolina-purchased firearms to Buffalo to be resold. Humphrey also communicated with Jerry Antonio Baine regarding firearms transactions, with Baine sending photographs of approximately 19 firearms to Humphrey, including several privately manufactured firearms bearing no serial number, indicating that they were for sale. Humphrey and Baine would then discuss potential sale prices for the firearms. Baine also purchased multiple firearms from retail establishments in North Carolina that were ultimately sold to Humphrey. One of those firearms was recovered in Buffalo, in July 2024, in a separate criminal investigation. None of the defendants involved in the conspiracy were licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers, or collectors of firearms. Charges remain pending against Jylin Woods, Benjamin Martin and Jerry Antonio Baine. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis A. Testani and Monica Benjovsky. The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.# # # #