Damian Williams, the United States Legal professional for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Business office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Division (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing now of a three-rely Indictment charging ERIC LESANE with firearms and drug trafficking offenses. LESANE was in the beginning billed by Criticism soon after his arrest on February 1, 2022. LESANE’s situation has been assigned to the Honorable U.S. District Choose Alison J. Nathan.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams reported: “As alleged, the defendant illegally possessed numerous guns, such as an untraceable ‘ghost’ gun. Illegally possessed and untraceable guns pose a serious community protection danger. Many thanks to our law enforcement associates, the defendant’s weapons are now in protected palms.”
Michael J. Driscoll, FBI Assistant Director-in-Cost stated: “Mr. Lesane was mindful of the problems attached to his launch from jail – he was not authorized to invest in or preserve a firearm. We allege he possessed several, one particular of which was an untraceable ghost gun – a course of weapon that poses an escalating threat to our communities. Our aim is to operate with our law enforcement partners to get criminals and their weapons off our streets.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell reported: “Convicted beforehand in a firearms possession case, Eric Lesane now faces federal indictment for allegedly amassing a stockpile of weapons — together with an untraceable ghost gun — when on supervised launch. Our NYPD investigators, doing work with our partners and prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office environment, will in no way quit pursuing these types of situations in our continuing effort to eradicate gun violence in New York.”
Michael Fitzpatrick, Chief U.S. Probation Officer mentioned: “On February 1, Probation Officers from the Southern District of New York done a lookup of Eric Lesane’s handle. These officers seized a number of firearms and a significant quantity of ammunition. This search exemplifies the significance of conversation amongst regulation enforcement organizations.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed right now in Manhattan federal court docket and in the Complaint and statements made in open up Courtroom:
On February 1, 2022, the United States Marshals Assistance arrested LESANE, who was earlier convicted of a felony connected to illegal firearms possession, immediately after an arrest warrant issued for violations of supervised release. Adhering to LESANE’s arrest, Probation Officers from the United States Probation Office for the Southern District of New York done a look for of LESANE’s apartment. In the course of the search, Probation Officers discovered:
(1) a Ruger Precision Rifle,
(2) a Mossberg Rifle,
(3) a SWD Model M-11 9mm pistol,
(4) a Typhoon 12 Gauge Semiautomatic Shotgun, and
(5) a black pf940c polymer 80 privately designed handgun with no serial number—in other text, a “ghost” gun.
A photograph of the guns is down below:
In the study course of the look for, Probation Officers also recovered a number of higher-capability journals each containing far more than 15 rounds of ammunition, about 75 buckshot shotgun shells, supplemental ammunition, and a amount of marijuana.
Probation Officers also found huge amounts of paraphernalia that seems to be linked with the “Crips” street gang, like blue apparel and signals, literature that discusses the Crips, and a black and blue baseball bat with a black and blue bandana tied all around it, wrapped in barbed wire.
* * *
LESANE, 34, of the Bronx, New York, is billed with: (1) possession of firearms following a felony conviction, which carries a highest sentence of 10 many years in jail, (2) marijuana trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 a long time in jail, and (3) possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which carries a obligatory minimum sentence of 5 decades in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum sentence of lifestyle in prison. The utmost possible sentences in this circumstance are prescribed by Congress and are delivered here for informational functions only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be decided by the choose.
Mr. Williams praised the exceptional investigative get the job done of the FBI and the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Probation Office for the Southern District of New York, the Bureau of Liquor, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Support for their help in this scenario.
The prosecution is becoming managed by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Device. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Espinosa is in cost of the prosecution.
The fees contained in the Indictment are simply accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless of course and until established responsible.