A joint operation between the FBI and Long Beach police ended with the arrest of 34-year-old Charles Burns, who now faces 59 criminal counts after authorities uncovered a cache of illegal firearms, narcotics, and cash inside a family residence on JJ Evans Boulevard.
The raid, which took place after a months-long investigation into a trafficking network moving cocaine and fentanyl from Queens into Long Beach, turned up 23 illegal firearms, including multiple untraceable ghost guns, high-capacity magazines, and nearly 1,000 rounds of live ammunition. Investigators also seized hundreds of grams of ecstasy, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, along with $100,000 in physical currency.
A dangerous find near a daycare and church
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly stressed the danger of the discovery, noting that the home was just steps away from a local daycare and a church. Four young children were living inside the residence at the time of the raid, raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being.
“This is exactly the kind of situation that keeps parents up at night,” Donnelly said in a statement. “An arsenal of weapons and lethal drugs in a home where children are present is an unacceptable risk to the entire community.”
Long Beach Police Commissioner Richard DePalma echoed those concerns, calling the bust a major blow to a trafficking operation that posed a severe threat to public safety. “To find this volume of contraband in a single residential property is alarming,” he said.
Prior record and neighborhood history
Burns, who has a prior criminal record, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors pointed out that the same block has seen similar criminal activity before—another illegal arms dealer was arrested on the same street two years ago. Given the pattern, they intend to push for maximum penalties.
The case also highlights a broader issue: the flow of illegal guns and drugs into suburban communities across Long Island. For many Latino families in the area, this news hits close to home, as neighborhoods like Long Beach are home to a growing Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Central American community. The presence of ghost guns—firearms without serial numbers that are nearly impossible to trace—adds another layer of concern for local leaders.
“These are not just statistics,” said community organizer María Torres, who works with youth in Long Beach. “These are weapons that could end up in the hands of our kids. We need more investment in prevention and after-school programs, not just more arrests.”
Meanwhile, forensic experts are conducting ballistics testing on all confiscated handguns to determine if any were used in prior violent crimes. The investigation is ongoing, and child welfare services have been notified to ensure the safety of the four minors who were present during the raid.
For residents of Long Beach, the bust is a stark reminder of the challenges facing many working-class neighborhoods across the U.S. As one local parent put it, “We moved here for the schools and the beach, but we never expected this kind of danger right next door.”
This case also echoes broader concerns about gun violence and drug trafficking that affect Latino communities nationwide. For more on how these issues play out in other regions, check out our coverage of housing challenges for Latino buyers and what we carry with us as we navigate life in the U.S.
