NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Queens man was arraigned on weapon possession charges after police found over 30 firearms inside his home, prosecutors said.
Ryszard Materna, 51, was arraigned on a 281-count complaint after a long-term investigation into Materna’s purchase of polymer-based firearm components that can be easily assembled into ghost guns was conducted by the District Attorney’s office.
Prosecutors found that Materna had allegedly placed numerous orders for firearm components, accessories and ammunition which were shipped to an address in Pennsylvania and his home in Rockaway Park.
Police searched Materna’s Rockaway Park home on April 17 and uncovered ghost guns, including assault weapons, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition and other weapons-related paraphernalia.
If convicted, Materna faces up to 25 years in prison.
Materna’s charges include two count of criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree; 53 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; 137 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; 19 counts of manufacture, transport, disposition and defacement of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances; 29 counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree; 29 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; six counts of failure to safely store files, shotguns and firearms in the first degree; endangering the welfare of a child; three counts of unlawful possession of pistol or revolver ammunition; and two counts of failure to obtain firearm certificates of registration.
“For those who think they are safe placing orders online and assembling deadly weapons in the comfort of their home, they need to think again,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. “So far this year, we have recovered 69% of the ghost guns seized citywide and we will continue to meticulously go after illegal guns and those who stockpile them. Every gun that we seize is a potential tragedy averted.”
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