Former FBI agent charged with possessing arsenal of illegal ghost guns in Queens, LI

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A former FBI agent was charged after officials uncovered 18 illegal firearms at his Queens home and at a storage unit on Long Island. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.

Scott Chiang, 53, was arraigned Friday on a 242-count criminal complaint charging him with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful possession of a pistol or revolver ammunition, lack of a certificate of registration and make/transport/dispose/deface weapons and dangerous instruments.

Chiang is a former FBI agent and current EMT and head of the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

On Oct. 10, authorities executed a court-authorized search warrant of Chiang’s Queens Village residence and recovered:

• One loaded and fully assembled tan and purple Glock 26-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled black Glock 19-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled black Glock 23-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled gray Glock 23-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded black serialized Sig Sauer p226 pistol
• One loaded serialized MP5 assault weapon with ability to accept a detachable magazine, a threaded barrel and a pistol grip
• One loaded black serialized Remington 700 hunting rifle
• Eight additional unserialized lower receivers
• 19 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition
• One Glock-style upper receiver
• Two silencers
• Over 1,000 of rounds of various caliber ammunition
• One U.S. Passport bearing the name "Scott Chiang"
• One Republic of China Passport bearing the name of "Scott Chiang"
• Three AR-15 Armorer’s tool
• One Jig Kit

While the search warrant was being executed, a postal carrier delivered a package to Chiang’s residence, addressed to Chiang, containing a complete Glock pistol slide and barrel, D.A. Katz said.

An additional court-authorized search warrant was executed on Oct. 10 at Chiang’s Port Washington storage unit where officials recovered:

• One loaded and fully assembled Black Bushmaster .223-caliber commercially made assault rifle
• One loaded and fully assembled Black GSG 522 .22-caliber commercially made assault rifle
• One loaded and fully assembled tan SIG Sauer AR-15 commercially made assault rifle
• One loaded and fully assembled LRB ARMS M15A .223-caliber commercially made assault rifle
• One loaded and fully assembled tan and black AR-15 style ghost gun assault rifle
• One loaded and fully assembled teal and black Glock 22-style .40-caliber ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled green and black Glock 22-style .40-caliber ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled Black Legions USA Inc. commercially made 12-gauge shotgun
• One loaded and fully assembled Black Remington 870 Tactical commercially made 12-gauge shotgun
• One loaded and fully assembled Black MKA1919 commercially made 12-gauge shotgun
• 10 additional unserialized lower receivers
• 127 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices
• One suppressor
• Over 900 of rounds of various caliber ammunition
• One receipt from Joe Bob Outfitters for an upper receiver bearing the defendant’s name, phone number, email address and Port Washington P.O. Box belonging to Chiang.

Additionally, a check conducted of the License and Permit Systems database revealed that Chiang does not hold a license to possess or own firearms in New York City, despite having previously worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Division, from April 2004 until November 2005.

Including this takedown, 151 ghost guns have been seized in Queens so far this year, more than in any other borough, leading all of New York City in the total number of ghost gun recoveries since 2021, D.A. Katz said.

"Individuals who choose to stockpile lethal, illegal firearms in Queens need to think again. Ghost guns cause unspeakable tragedy, and my office will continue to meticulously go after illegal firearms and those who manufacture and use them, D.A. Katz said. "Thanks to the work of my Crime Strategies & Intelligence Bureau, the seized weapons allegedly purchased and assembled by this defendant – including six assault weapons – will not be used to cause damage and heartbreak in our communities."