LI Man Charged For 'Ghost Gun' Assembly Operation: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY - A Sayville man was indicted in connection to an alleged "ghost gun" assembly operation, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini announced in a press conference in Riverhead on Tuesday.

Ghost guns are firearms that do not have serial numbers, making them untraceable by law enforcement.

Christopher Swanson, 42, was charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon, 10 counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon and third degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, the DA said.

On Aug. 13, a Suffolk County police officer was on routine patrol when he saw a car parked in a handicap parking spot without a permit at the Clarion Hotel on 3845 Veterans Memorial Highway in Ronkonkoma, the DA said.

The officer found that the car was a rental that had been reported stolen after it was not returned to the rental company by 39-year-old Marcella Brako, also of Sayville.

Further investigation of the car resulted in the recovery of mail addressed to Swanson, the DA said. Officers found that Swanson was staying in a room at the hotel and after identifying themselves as police, were given permission to enter the room by Swanson, the DA said.

The two men were inside the hotel room along with a third man, 42-year-old Leon Jantzer, of St. James.

Upon entering the room, police found an assault rifle, two loaded handguns, assorted high-capacity magazines and other ammunition, and assorted gun parts, the DA said. One of the handguns was fully automatic, also known as a machine gun, the DA said.

Police also saw packaging materials often used in drug sales, including glassine envelopes, the DA said.

A search warrant was obtained and resulted in the recovery of additional ammunition, drug paraphernalia and over 800 bags of heroin, the DA said.

"This was a dangerous drug dealer assembling ghost weapons in a hotel room right here in Suffolk County," Sini said. "Had it not been for the police officers’ vigilance, their keen investigative skills, and their bravery in entering that hotel room, there’s no doubt in my mind that these weapons would still be on the streets of Suffolk County."

The firearms recovered had allegedly been purchased in parts and assembled by Swanson, resulting in their not being registered and not having serial numbers, otherwise known as "ghost guns."

"It cannot be overstated how dangerous these ghost guns are, particularly when in the possession of a criminal," Sini said. "These are homemade weapons built from parts purchased over the internet that are not registered with law enforcement and cannot be traced. They are designed to evade detection by law enforcement and are essentially made to be used in the commission of crimes."

Swanson's lawyer, Charles Gleis told Newsday that there was a possibility Swanson didn't know what he was doing was illegal and that he was just a gun "hobbyist."

Swanson was arraigned on the indictment today by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice William J. Condon.

Bail was set at $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond. He is due back in court on Oct. 8.

If convicted of the top count, Swanson faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

In addition, Brako was charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, the DA said.

Jantzer, who was found in possession of a quantity of heroin, was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, the DA said.