Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEW YORK — Earlier today, a federal grand jury in Brooklyn returned a two-count indictment charging Isaiah Dukes, aka “Lil Zay Osama,” with possession of a machinegun and possession of an unregistered firearm. Dukes is presently in state custody in Illinois on unrelated charges and will be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn at a later date.  

Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives New York Field Office; and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department, announced the indictment.

“As alleged, Dukes brought a machinegun into our district, and then dangerously left it in the back of a rideshare,” stated U.S. Attorney Peace. “This office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work diligently to protect our communities from such dangerous weapons.”

“Machineguns have been highly regulated in the United States since the 1930s and have been banned since 1986. Machineguns have no place on the streets of our communities. They are weapons intended to kill and injure with maximum effect, with the shooter often firing uncontrollably and indiscriminately. They pose a significant danger to both the public and law enforcement. Today’s indictment serves as an important reminder that machinegun conversion devices, such as switches, violate federal law, and that possession will not be tolerated. The men and women of ATF will continue to work with our partners to reduce the proliferation of these devices on our streets. Thanks to ATF NY’s Joint Firearms Task Force, ATF Chicago, NYPD and EDNY,” stated ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kalogiros.

“Today’s indictment is a stark reminder that loaded, illegal firearms – sometimes modified to maximize their deadly potential, as alleged in this case – continue to be brought into and carried throughout New York City,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “Let me be clear: This behavior will not be tolerated here, and the NYPD vows to keep our streets safe from guns and anyone who unlawfully possesses them. I commend and thank the rideshare driver who observed this weapon for doing what we always ask of all New Yorkers: He saw something and he said something, and he possibly saved lives in the process.”

As alleged in public filings, on Sept. 29, 2022, Dukes carried a loaded Glock pistol affixed with a switch — a device that when attached to the back of a handgun like a Glock converts the firearm into a fully automatic weapon. Law enforcement subsequently determined that the firearm can automatically fire more than one round with a single function of the trigger, rendering it a machinegun. Dukes was arrested after leaving the firearm in a rideshare vehicle that brought him from a luxury hotel in Manhattan to a recording studio in Queens. 

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of all counts, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gilbert M. Rein and Rebecca M. Schuman are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Rachel Friedman.

Defendant:
Isaiah Dukes
Age: 26
Calumet City, Illinois

E.D.N.Y. docket number 24-CR-28 (NRM)

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