E. Setauket Man Found With Ghost Guns, Drugs In Safety Search: Sheriff

EAST SETAUKET, NY — Three ghost guns, a cache of ammo and drugs were found Wednesday during a search of the home of an East Setauket man when the Suffolk County sheriffs office says its deputies served a special safety order deeming him dangerous and unable to be in the possession of weapons.

At about 10:30 a.m., deputies from the Domestic Violence Bureau served an Extreme Risk Protection Order on 26-year-old Robert Ludwig, and found an array of illegal weapons and drug paraphernalia, Sheriff Errol Toulon's office said.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order Law became effective in New York on Aug. 24, 2019, and it prevents people who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm.

The sheriff's Criminal Investigations Bureau served the order in collaboration with the Domestic Violence Unit and confiscated three ghost guns, all 9 mm handguns, 41 high-capacity magazines, a silencer, and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition, Toulon's office said.

A ghost gun is a privately-made, untraceable firearm that lacks commercial serial numbers.

Deputies also found amphetamines, fentanyl, marijuana, LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, THC edibles, concentrated cannabis, Xanax, Suboxone, two scales, and over $50,000 in cash, Toulon's office said.

Ludwig was arrested and charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance and weapon charges, as well as criminally using drug paraphernalia and criminal contempt, the office said. Additional charges are pending.