Florida Gun Dealer Charged With Shipping Illegal Ghost Guns to New York
What to Know
- Destefano shipped 12 firearms, ghost gun kits, 28 high-capacity magazines, and over 400 rounds of ammunition to New York locations.
- He faces multiple charges including criminal sale of a firearm, conspiracy, and transport of weapons, with potential 25-year prison sentences if convicted.
- The investigation involved controlled purchases, covert surveillance, and analysis of social media and financial data to track illegal shipments.
NEW YORK -- A Florida gun dealer was a one-man weapons supply shop, shipping deadly firearms, ghost guns and ammunition to buyers in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, authorities said Thursday.
Orlando gun retailer Lawrence Destefano had already been sued in 2022 by State Attorney General Letitia James, who secured a $7.8 million judgment and court order prohibiting his shop from selling firearms in New York.
Now, Destefano faces a 71-count indictment for flouting the state’s gun laws with mail-order ammo clips, munitions and gun-making kits.
“Untraceable ghost guns put New Yorkers in danger and enable those who are barred from owning guns to obtain deadly weapons,” James said in a statement.
“Lawrence Destefano and his company Indie Guns are accused of flooding New York with illegal firearms, and we are determined to bring him to justice. I will not tolerate illegal and dangerous weapons in our communities, and I thank our partners in law enforcement for their work to shut down this ghost gun supplier.”
James said investigators determined that Destefano shipped 12 firearms, two ghost gun kits, 28 high-capacity magazines and more than 400 rounds of ammunition to locations in Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau County.
Destefano shipped at least two additional packages to New York that the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted, according to the indictment.
Charges against Destefano include criminal sale of a firearm, conspiracy, transport of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances and criminal sale of a frame or receiver.
If convicted of criminal sale of a firearm, Destefano faces 25 years behind bars.
“This case is a stark reminder of the threat that untraceable ghost guns pose to New Yorkers, and the great lengths traffickers will go to evade law enforcement,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.
“Lawrence Destefano and his Indie Guns company showed a blatant disregard for public safety when they allegedly sold and deceptively shipped illegal firearms and components into our city. Now, because of the relentless work of NYPD investigators, this iron pipeline has been shut down.”
Officials said the year-long investigation included controlled firearms purchases, covert video surveillance, social media monitoring and analysis of financial and telephone records.
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