New unit will concentrate on long-term investigations into gun-running in Nassau County; Unit will share intelligence with local and federal partners
Law Enforcement in Nassau County has seized 94 guns – including 28 ghost guns – since January 1
MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced the formation of the Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit at the District Attorney’s office to combat an increase in illegal guns in the county.
“The volume of firearms that we’ve seized since the new year is truly staggering,” DA Donnelly said. “We are witnessing a once-in-a-generation surge of illegal and untraceable weapons into Nassau County and too many innocent people are becoming victims of gun violence. We will use every tool at our disposal and collaborate with every federal and local partner to stem the flow of these weapons into Nassau County.”
The District Attorney’s Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit consists of three prosecutors with extensive training in firearms and narcotics, as well as two specialized detective investigators with decades of experience in long-term weapons investigations, and an intelligence analyst.
From January 1 to March 9, 2022, law enforcement in Nassau County has seized 94 firearms during criminal investigations. In 2021, 45 guns were seized in the same two-month period, while 51 were seized in 2020.
The unit will utilize enhanced investigative techniques and the new ballistics capabilities of the Nassau County Office of the Medical Examiner’s Crime Laboratory to analyze if previously unrelated shootings are related.
“Our objective when we arrest a person with one gun is to find out where that gun came from and work our way up the pyramid to find out who is the gun supplier,” DA Donnelly said.
An analysis of gun prosecutions indicates that the majority of firearms seized in Nassau County are from out of state, with most trafficked along the “Iron Pipeline” from southeastern states to New York along Interstate 95. Additionally, an increasing proportion of so-called ghost guns, which can be assembled from kits purchased online and do not have serial numbers, are being seized in criminal investigations in the county.
In February, both a dentist and New York City firefighter were arrested for possessing multiple illegal weapons, including ghost guns.
Aaron Martin, Jr., an FDNY firefighter and resident of Baldwin, was arrested in Queens County on February 13, for possession of two ghost gun kits. After executing a search warrant at his home in North Baldwin, six assault weapons and ammunition were recovered. The defendant surrendered to members of the Nassau County Police Department on February 25, and was charged with seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony) and seven counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D violent felony). The defendant faces a potential maximum of 90 years in prison.
On February 16, Paul Carey, 62, of Massapequa, was arrested for possession of thirty firearms, including 20 assault weapons. Eighteen of those assault weapons are without serial numbers and ghost guns. The defendant – a dentist – was allegedly in possession of 61 high-capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition, seven silencers and multiple firearm parts. The defendant is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree (a B violent felony), Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony), and three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (two of which are D violent felonies.) The defendant faces a potential maximum of 25 years in prison.
Martin is represented by Robert Gallo, Esq. Carey is represented by John Carman, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
###