A alleged Big Apple ghost gun trafficker who turned his home “an illegal weapons factory” was arrested last week and indicted on 73 firearm related charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Martin Streich, 21 of Gravesend, Brooklyn is alleged to have manufactured and sold eight ghost guns, including two assault weapons, over the course of three months, according to the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office.
The NYPD and Homeland Security Investigations launched a joint undercover dubbed ‘Operation Big Sky,’ after a confidential source contacted a lead investigator with information on Streich, the Staten Island Advance reported.
As part of ‘Operation Blue Sky,’ undercover investigators purchased several firearms from Streich in both Brooklyn and Staten Island, according to the outlet.
Ghost guns are typically dangerously untraceable, but the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network were able to determine through ballistic evidence that one of Striech’s ghost guns was involved in at least eight shootings carried out in Jersey City.
“Dangerous shootings have already been linked to these weapons, and countless lives could have ended in tragedy if more of these guns had reached the streets of New York,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso.
Streich — who also goes by the alias JD Sammy — was arrested last Wednesday on Staten Island while allegedly attempting to sell his ghost guns and two firearms were recovered from his car.
A subsequent search warrant was executed at his Brooklyn apartment that uncovered multiple high-capacity magazines, a grenade, a silencer and a large quantity of ammunition, the DA’s office said.
An explosive device was also discovered during the search and the building was evacuated, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, the Staten Island Advance reported.
“Over the course of several months, this defendant turned his home into an illegal weapons factory – manufacturing illegal and deadly ghost guns,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in a press release Tuesday.
“This criminal operation is now over, and the NYPD will never rest in our efforts to rid our city of these untraceable weapons that only exist to evade law enforcement,” she said.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a proposal of “commonsense measures to block the production of 3D-printed firearms” that requires the state be notified off any recoveries, as well as ensuring that “pistols cannot be converted to automatic weapons.”
Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said investigators believe Streich acted alone — and that the efforts of the joint task force ensures “that one of New York City’s most notorious ghost gun traffickers will be held accountable for his deceptive and criminal actions.”
The 21-year-old faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top charges.
Streich was arraigned on Staten Island last Wednesday and bail was set in the amount of $1 million cash, $3 million partially secured surety bond, and $3 million insurance company bond.
