Nanuet Raid Leaves Two Arrests, Several Weapons and Parts Seized

Lina Portman3 days ago

0 2 minutes read

NANUET – Two people were arrested on multiple counts of illegal firearm possession following the seizure of two handguns, ammunition and ghost gun parts during a raid on their home, authorities said Wednesday.

Authorities arrested Vivian Wu and Tao Zhang on charges of possessing multiple weapons and endangering the welfare of two children living with them in the home. The firearms were not properly stored and were within reach of the children, ages 7 and 9, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office said in a news release Wednesday.

“This investigation is an important step in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal firearms in Rockland County,” said District Attorney Thomas Walsh.

Rockland authorities executed a search warrant Tuesday at the home of three federal agencies, the New York State Police and Clarkstown police. The address of the home was not released.

The investigation began when federal authorities learned that numerous illegal firearm parts had been shipped to the Nanuet home. They also learned that Zhang had a prior felony conviction in 2015, authorities said.

During Tuesday's raid, investigators seized two loaded, unserialized semi-automatic pistols, three high-capacity magazines, five major firearm components and a large quantity of unserialized ghost gun parts.

The search warrant was executed by the District Attorney's Office and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Special Response Team in New York, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Clarkstown Police Department, the New York State Police, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Zhang and Wu, both 35, face the following charges:

∎ Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the two 9mm semi-automatic pistols;

∎ Three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the three high-capacity magazines: two 9mm Glock-style magazines with a capacity of 31 rounds and one 5.56/.223 AR-15-style magazine with a capacity of 30 rounds;

∎ five counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree relating to firearm components;

∎ 65 counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for unserialized ghost gun parts.

Zhang and Wu were both remanded in custody at the Rockland County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 surety bond and $200,000 partially secured bail by Clarkstown Judge Leslie Kahn. Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Peterson and Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Reilly are prosecuting the case.

Walsh said the two arrests underscore the importance of ensuring a “community free from gun violence.”

HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said the arrests and seizures demonstrate that cooperation between multiple agencies can work.

“Our efforts resulted in the apprehending of these individuals, one of whom had a prior felony conviction, who was receiving shipments of gun parts to allegedly build his own ghost guns,” Arvelo said. “This operation sends a message that illegal firearms activity will be combatted with the full force of our combined resources and expertise.”

Steve Lieberman covers government affairs, news, courts, police and investigations. Contact him at [email protected] Twitter: @lohudlegal

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Lina Portman

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