FREDONIA, N.Y. — NYS Troopers issued a search warrant for a Fredonia pawn shop that resulted in the arrest of the owner.
An investigation was led by the Community Stabilization Unit, Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, Special Investigations Unit Buffalo, and SP Fredonia Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
State Police say information gathered during their investigation found the pawn shop's owner Jermaine Batten a 36-year-old man from Fredonia was allegedly selling unlicensed firearms out of the business on Central Avenue.
Over the course of a few months, the Community Stabilization Unit had conducted physical surveillances at the business.
As part of their investigation, an undercover officer purchased a Benelli 12-gage shotgun from the owner for $150, which then allowed for the search warrant to be executed.
During the search officers found a stolen Springfield Armory XDS .45, Ruger AR556 5.56, Savage .17HMR, Savage Axis 243 Winchester, Henry Repeating Arm 44-40 caliber, Winchester 94AE 30-30 caliber, Taylors and Co. 44WCF, 1.5 grams of cocaine and $150.00 of NYSP Funds used to purchase the shotgun.
Batten was arrested for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third and fourth degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree.
Batten is currently in the Chautauqua County Jail awaiting arraignment. He was already a two-time convicted felon prior to this arrest according to police.
The photo below was provided by NYSP
