Former Airmont Trustee Enters Plea On Felony Weapons Charges

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Brian Downey, an Airmont village trustee (until he pleaded guilty to a federal weapons charge) has now pleaded guilty to six felony counts in Rockland County Court.

Downey pleaded guilty to six counts of criminal possession of a weapon, felonies under New York state law. In a deal with the Department of Justice, he had pleaded guilty to one federal count of possession of unregistered firearms in December. SEE: Plea Deal For Airmont Trustee In Federal Gun & Badges Case

Downey was accused of owning illegal weapons and fake law enforcement badges and IDs.

His house was raided in Sept. 2, 2021, as a result of an investigation into the purchasing of illegal gun parts by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, and the United States Postal Service Inspectors.

The plea was entered before the Honorable Larry J. Schwartz Monday in the Rockland County Court. Sentencing is scheduled for June 27, District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced.

Downey pleaded guilty to six counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon:

• two counts for possessing two illegal assault weapons; to wit: a Colt Carbine semi-automatic rifle and an Aero Precision semi-automatic rifle
• two counts for possessing two illegal silencers; to wit: a Surefire LLC, and an Advanced Aramet Coro M4-2000
• two counts for possessing two illegal large capacity feeding devices; to wit: two Magpul magazines that have a capacity to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition

Downey faces two years incarceration in the Rockland County Jail, the sentence to run concurrently to a plea of guilty entered Feb. 10 in US District Court for possession of an unregistered firearm and a federal offense committed during the search of his residence.

"Investigators from my office and many other law enforcement agencies were able to see this investigation through to a guilty plea," Walsh said. "I commend them for dedication and hard work, striving to keep Rockland a safe community. Many thanks to the Department of Homeland. Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Town of Ramapo Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation."

SEE ALSO:

• Airmont Official Accused Of Illegal Weapons Arsenal
• Feds Charge Arrested Airmont Official Over IDs, Badges