A newly promoted Westchester detective with a shocking past was busted for allegedly funneling guns to notorious Long Island gangbangers tied to a string of murders and armed robberies.
Kyren Braunskill, 34, was hauled into custody in Mount Vernon Thursday morning after being named in an 18-person indictment that charged him with peddling weapons to alleged members and associates of the “48 Gang” in Riverhead, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
The guns were used in both fatal and non-fatal shootings, prosecutors said.
Braunskill llegedly sold a 9mm Ruger pistol to a high-ranking member of the Suffolk County gang in early 2021, according to the 57-count indictment obtained by Lohud.
The cop, who joined the Mount Vernonr Police Department in 2022, is also accused of plotting gun buys with indicted thug Nickomas Allen and a member of another syndicate in March 2021. The following year he repeatedly offered to sell multiple firearms to senior “48 Gang” operative Jayvonte Nash, court papers said.
Braunskill’s last offer to Nash came on Dec. 25, 2022 – three days before he was hired by Mount Vernon police and just over a week before he attended the Westchester Police Academy, the outlet reported.
Prosecutors said the vicious Suffolk criminal organization – of which 17 members are also charged in the indictment – is linked to two murders, eight armed robberies, five shootings and the possession of 13 illegal firearms.
Braunskill was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy for the alleged gun deals. He was also hit with third-degree attempted grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument after being caught with a fraudulent check on Dec. 15, 2022, the outlet reported.
Prior to being hired by Mount Vernon, he was reportedly on the state decertification list for law enforcement officers. The disgraced cop had been terminated while serving as a probationary corrections officer in October 2020, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Following his Thursday arrest – which came exactly one week after he was promoted to detective – the Mount Vernon Police Department said they will review “its hiring and vetting practices.”
They placed Braunskill on suspended duty pending the outcome of the case, police told PIX 11.
“A pre-employment background investigation was conducted in accordance with department procedures, and no findings were returned,” the department said in a Facebook post Thursday night, calling the indictment “disappointing” and stressing the allegations “precede his employment.”
“Based on the information available at that time, the decision was made to proceed with his employment. In light of these developments, the Mount Vernon Police Department will review its hiring and vetting practices to ensure they meet the highest standards.”
Braunskill was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy for the alleged gun deals. He was also hit with third-degree attempted grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument after being caught with a fraudulent check on Dec. 15, 2022, Lohud reported.
He pleaded not guilty and was released on supervision with GPS monitoring, according to the outlet. Braunskill is due back in court on April 15.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney is scheduled to hold a press conference Friday morning to provide additional information on the sweeping indictment.
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