9 Years For Palisades Speeder With Gun In Locked Safe, Ammo

ORANGETOWN, NY — A Bronx man arrested after state police searching his truck after a traffic stop on the Palisades Parkway found high-capacity ammo magazines and a gun in a locked safe has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe announced Monday that Alfonso Cortez, 37, will also have 2 1⁄2 years post release supervision.

A jury convicted him in May of:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class "C" Violent Felony
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, class "D" Violent Felonies

The sentences will be served concurrently.

“The defendant possessed a loaded deadly weapon, including a small stockpile of ammunition, posing a potential threat to public safety," Zugibe said. "Under the circumstances, these state prison sentences are more than warranted.”

At 7:26 a.m. Sept. 19, 2017, a New York State Trooper stopped Cortez's truck, alleging the driver was violating various New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law violations, including speeding, on the northbound Palisades Interstate Parkway in Orangetown.

Following a search of the vehicle, the trooper recovered a locked, metal gun safe containing a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol. According to the charges, the gun held 15 rounds in the clip and one round in the chamber. Also recovered from Cortez' truck was a gun cleaning kit and two, loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm magazines. One magazine contained 15 (9mm) rounds and the second magazine contained 16 (9mm) rounds - both considered large-capacity ammunition feeding devices.

The gun was later test-fired by investigators.

Supervising Assistant District Attorney Nabeela McLeod prosecuted the case.

PHOTO: Alfonso Cortez/ Rockland County DA's Office