Ex-Airmont trustee Downey gets year in jail on state, federal weapons possession charges

NEW CITY -- Former Airmont Deputy Mayor Brian Downey has been sentenced to a year in the county jail for illegal possession of weapons.

Downey's sentence will run concurrently with his separate federal prison term of eight months for illegal possession of an unregistered firearm.

Downey's sentencing in Rockland County Court on Wednesday for six illegal gun possession counts had been delayed since 2023 as he recovered from broken bones and other serious injuries from a motorcycle crash.

Downey's court cases kicked off on Sept. 2, 2021, after federal and local authorities arrested him during a raid on his Airmont home. He came under investigation based on information that he had received a mailed package containing a firearm silencer. The United States Customs and Border Protection intercepted the package disguised as a motorcycle noise reduction exhaust pipe, authorities said.

Investigators found arsenal of weapons

During the raid, investigators removed what they called an arsenal of weapons from a basement room. They seized 17 unregistered weapons, finding 12 firearm silencers, 19 assault rifles, and more than 85 high-capacity magazines. They also found numerous false federal law and state enforcement credentials.

U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel sentenced Downey in November 2022 to eight months, a $7,500 fine, and three years post-sentence supervision. His federal conviction carried a potential prison term of 18 to 24 months.

His plea forced his resignation from the Airmont Board of Trustees. He had won a four-year term in March 2019. Downey had worked as a court officer for several justice courts and had worked for the Ramapo highway department and later the building department.

Downey pleaded guilty in Rockland County Court on Feb. 28, 2023, to six felony counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He faced a maximum of two years in the county jail.

When both cases were settled, Downey's sentence became a year in the county jail, with the potential for early release for good behavior. Judge Anne Bianchi sentenced Downey on Wednesday following the prosecution by First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Lloyd.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ex-Airmont trustee Downey gets year in jail on state, federal weapons possession charges