NANUET - Two people have been arrested on multiple felony counts of possessing illegal firearms following the seizure of two handguns, ammunition, and ghost gun parts during a raid on their home, authorities said Wednesday.
Authorities arrested Vivian Wu and Tao Zhang on multiple weapons possession charges, as well as endangering the welfare of two children living with them in the home. The firearms were not safely locked away and were within reach of the children, ages 7 and 9, the Rockland District Attorney's Office said Wednesday in a news release.
“This investigation is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal firearms in Rockland County," District Attorney Thomas Walsh said.
Rockland authorities executed a search warrant on the home on Tuesday with three federal agencies, the New York State Police, and Clarkstown police. The home's address was not released.
The investigation jump-started when federal authorities learned that numerous illegal firearm parts had been shipped to the Nanuet home. They also learned that Zhang had previously been convicted of a felony in 2015, authorities said.
During the Tuesday raid, investigators seized two loaded and un-serialized semi-automatic handguns, three high-capacity magazines, five major components of a firearm, and a large quantity of un-serialized ghost gun parts.
The search warrant was executed by the District Attorney's Office and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Response Team, the United States Postal Inspections Services, the Clarkstown Police Department, the New York State Police, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
Zhang and Wu, both 35, face the following charges:
∎ Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the two semi-automatic 9mm pistols;
∎ Three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the three high-capacity magazines: two Glock style 9mm mags with 31 capacity, and one AR-15 style 5.56/.223 caliber magazine with 30 capacity);
∎ five counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the firearm components;
∎ 65 counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for un-serialized ghost gun parts.
Zhang and Wu were both remanded to the Rockland County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond and $200,000 partially secured bond by Clarkstown Justice Leslie Kahn. Supervising Assistant District Attorney Michael Peterson and Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Reilly are prosecuting the case.
Walsh said the two arrests underscore the focus on ensuring a "community safe from gun violence."
HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said the arrests and seizures show multi-agency cooperation can work.
"Our efforts resulted in the apprehension of these individuals, one with a prior felony conviction, who was receiving shipments of gun parts to allegedly build his own ghost guns," Arvelo said. “This operation sends a message that illegal firearms activities will be met with the full force of our combined resources and expertise."
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal
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