Queens man charged after 25 'ghost guns,' ammunition found inside home: DA

© Provided by WCBS Radio New York Ghost Guns Katz

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A 20-year-old Queens man was arrested this week after he was found to be in possession of an “arsenal of illegal ‘ghost’ guns,” according to the Queens District Attorney.

Chaz McMillian, of Fresh Meadows, was arraigned on multiple charges Wednesday, including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale of a firearm and numerous other crimes relating to the alleged stockpile of weapons.

DA Melinda Katz said investigators had been conducting on-going surveillance of McMillian after he was found to be purchasing firearm parts online.

A search warrant executed at his home on Dec. 8 uncovered a number of illegal items including 25 ghost guns, including 19 semi-automatic pistols, five assault weapons and one semi-automatic shotgun.

Ghost guns are homemade firearms that lack commercial serial numbers, making them nearly impossible to trace.

Authorities also recovered materials to make ammunition for the weapons, including:

· 31 large capacity magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, four additional complete polymer-based lower receivers

· Approximately 670 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, including 9mm, 10mm, several firearm-related components, parts, and equipment for assembling and manufacturing ghost guns

Video: 2 Shot Outside Queens Bar, Including Bar Owner (CBS New York)

2 Shot Outside Queens Bar, Including Bar Owner

CBS New York See more videos

SHARE

SHARE

TWEET

SHARE

EMAIL

What to watch next

• 

  Vaccine Hesitancy Forces Closure Of Emergency Room At Long Beach Hospital

  
  CBS New York
• 

  High School Football Coach Kyle Moodt Has Life-Saving Brain Surgery Days Before Winning Championship

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Connecticut Desperately Trying To Hire Snow Plow Drivers

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Pandemic Food Insecurity Means Holiday Giveaways Needed This Year More Than Ever

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Federal Cash Help Protect School Districts From Cyberattacks, Ransomware

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Statue Of Thomas Jefferson Removed From City Council Chamber

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Department Of Social Services Head Steven Banks To Resign

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Faith Leaders Call On Newark Residents To Be Vigilant In Face Of Recent Spike In Shootings

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Longtime Employees Say Roosevelt Hotel Remains Shut Down

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Village Of Ossining Awarded $10 Million As Part Of Downtown Revitalization Initiative

  
  CBS New York
• 

  How To Gather For Thanksgiving Safely

  
  CBS New York
• 

  5 Hospitalized After Building Fire Near Times Square

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Dump Truck Slams Into A New Jersey Home

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Closing Arguments In Trial Of 3 Men Accused Of Murdering Ahmaud Arbery

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Man Inside Yankee Stadium Hit By Stray Bullet

  
  CBS New York
• 

  Assembly Report Into Cuomo's Behavior As Governor Outlines Fresh Allegations

  
  CBS New York

Click to expand

Replay Video

• Vaccine Hesitancy Forces Closure Of Emergency Room At Long Beach Hospital CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff has the story. CBS New York
• High School Football Coach Kyle Moodt Has Life-Saving Brain Surgery Days Before Winning Championship Life-saving surgery on Long Island returned a father to his family and a coach to the field just in time for a championship game. CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reports. CBS New York
• Connecticut Desperately Trying To Hire Snow Plow Drivers The state is looking to hire about 140 drivers to address a 13% shortage. CBS New York

UP NEXT

· Approximately two 10-ounce bars of silver and fifteen 1-ounce silver coins

The bust is the fifth of its kind since August, according to DA Katz, who announced the charges on Thursday.

“Using traditional investigative techniques, accurate intelligence gathering and analysis, we are continuing a relentless pursuit of those who think they can get away with bringing gun parts into our borough, assembling them and selling them here,” Katz said in a statement.

She added that her office “will not stop” efforts to “dismantle the ‘polymer pipeline’ – ‘polymer,’ because a crucial component of these ghost guns is made of a durable polymer plastic – and get these tools of death off our streets.”

Katz stressed that McMillan does not have a license to possess or own any firearms in New York City.

Since August, authorities have seized a total of 74 guns – including 51 ghost guns – more than 200 high-capacity magazines and over 33,000 rounds of ammunition throughout Queens, prosecutors said.

“This not a passing fad,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “These illegal weapons endanger our citizens, our police and our kids.

Snapping together semi-automatic pistols and assault weapons from kits that are ordered from out of state is not some kind of hobby. We are seeing hundreds of ghost guns, ordered online and shipped directly to New York City.”

He added: “This is emerging, quickly, as a replacement supply chain for gun smugglers who traditionally relied on the 'iron pipeline.' When we see dozens of guns in this case — and component gun parts to make more – we can only surmise there is an intent to sell and distribute them.”

McMillan has been ordered to return to court on Dec. 13. If convicted, he faces 25 years in prison.