USANewsOnline.Com Desk, News York : Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Ryszard Materna has been arraigned on weapon possession charges after a search of his Rockaway Beach home uncovered ghost guns, including assault weapons, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition and other weapons-related paraphernalia.
District Attorney Katz said: “For those who think they are safe placing orders online and assembling deadly weapons in the comfort of their home, they need to think again. So far this year, we have recovered 69% of the ghost guns seized citywide and we will continue to meticulously go after illegal guns and those who stockpile them. Every gun that we seize is a potential tragedy averted.”

New York City Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban said “These charges emphasize that the manufacturing of illegal, untraceable ghost guns is one of New York City’s most pressing public safety concerns, and we are taking direct action to combat this issue. Our relentless efforts to eliminate gun violence in New York make clear that NYPD investigators, in collaboration with the Queens District Attorney’s office, will continue to vigorously pursue these types of cases.”
Materna, 51, of Beach 117th Street in Rockaway Park, was arraigned yesterday on a 281-count complaint charging him with two count of criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree; 53 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; 137 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; 19 counts of manufacture, transport, disposition and defacement of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances; 29 counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree; 29 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree; six counts of failure to safely store files, shotguns and firearms in the first degree; endangering the welfare of a child; three counts of unlawful possession of pistol or revolver ammunition; and two
counts of failure to obtain firearm certificates of registration.
Materna faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Criminal Court Judge Germaine Auguste ordered the defendant to return to court on April 22.
According to the charges:
• The District Attorney’s office conducted a long-term investigation into Materna’s purchase of polymer-based firearm components that can be easily assembled into operable weapons, known as
ghost guns. Press Release.