Niagara Falls man arrested for allegedly possessing multiple ghost guns

NIAGARA FALLS, NY — A Niagara Falls man is facing multiple charges for allegedly possessing several ghost guns.

Joshua M. McClelland, 42, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th (Ghost Gun), Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of an Assault Weapon 3rd, Criminal Possession of a weapon 3rd (silencer) and criminal possession of a weapon 3rd. (large capacity ammunition feeding device) and illegal purchase of bulletproof vests.

State police investigators say Niagara City Police were called Wednesday to a complaint about suspicious property in Expressway Village.

During their investigation, officers say they found several weapons. State police were contacted to assist. Investigators say they found four rifles without serial numbers, two handguns without serial numbers, a bulletproof vest, a high-capacity ammunition magazine and a firearm silencer.

“On the call they were on, they discovered all this material,” said NYSP Officer James O'Callaghan. “We're talking four rifles, two pistols, no serial numbers on anything, a silencer, body armor, high capacity magazines.”

New York State made ghost guns illegal in 2022. A silencer, body armor, and high-capacity magazine are also illegal in the state.

State police do not know at this time why McClelland possessed an arsenal of illegal weapons and paraphernalia.

“We are examining [the] “He was very cooperative to a point, but once it got to that point it was, 'OK, what's going on with these guns?' all these things?' “

O'Callaghan attributes the speed of the investigation to cooperation with Niagara City police.

“When there's that kind of overlap, or spider web, if you will, that's when a lot of things get resolved,” he said.

Even though ghost guns are illegal in New York, other states have lax regulations on them, leading to concerns about smuggling into the state.

“Is this part of a bigger plan? We don't know,” O'Callaghan said. “But the fact is we just received six weapons. [not serialized] off the street with a bulletproof vest and suppressor. It’s a good day for law enforcement.”

McClelland was taken to the Niagara County Jail and arraigned Wednesday evening, and he was released on bail Thursday afternoon. He is due in court on June 10.