Queens DA seizes dozens of guns

The District Attorney’s office seized dozens of guns and firearm accessories last week. Photo courtesy of QDA

By Rachel Vick

The Queens district attorney’s office seized dozens of firearms, including assault rifles, that were stockpiled in a Richmond Hill home, DA Melinda Katz announced last week.

Thousands of rounds of ammunition and more than 30 guns were found in the house and car of 36-year-old Jonathan Santos. Among the illegal weapons seized were “ghost guns,” made from plastic and without serial numbers to identify them.

“I call it the ‘Polymer Pipeline’ because a crucial component of these ghost guns is made of a durable polymer plastic,” Katz said.

“We have a clear message to those who think they can get away with bringing these gun parts into our borough: Think again,” she added. “We will find you, we will prosecute you and we will dismantle the Polymer Pipeline.”

On Oct. 18, police observed Santos allegedly putting long-gun cases into the trunk of his car before pulling him over. They found seven completed semi-automatic and two completed assault rifle ghost guns, an assault rifle, 25 magazines and hundreds of ammunition rounds.

The bust at the 102 Street home after a search warrant was issued that night uncovered more than 20 guns — including machine guns, assault rifles and shotguns — and tools to turn handguns into automatic weapons. Police also found 110 high-capacity magazines, silencers, thousands of additional rounds and tools often used to manufacture ghost guns.

“We call them Ghost Guns because they are assembled piecemeal, have no serial numbers and are untraceable to investigators,” said NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea. “But the destruction wrought by criminals who wield them is anything but invisible and the NYPD and its partners are working around the clock to eradicate them – whether by regulating them, cutting off their supply over a virtual Iron Pipeline, or seizing them in the streets before they can impact one more life, one more community.”

Santos, who does not have a gun license for New York State, is facing a 252-count complaint including multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the first, second and third degrees.

He returns to court on Nov. 9 and faces up to 30 years in prison.