Prosecutor’s Office – NBC New York (47)

NEW YORK — An “arsenal” of ghost guns has been discovered in the home of a Brooklyn man accused of buying gun parts worth thousands and building the untraceable firearms.

County prosecutors say the man had four assault weapons, five handguns and four assembled rifles hidden in his Bushwick apartment when authorities executed a search warrant on April 6.

Dexter Taylor, 51, was arraigned Friday in Brooklyn Supreme Court on a 37-count indictment. Information from the man’s attorney was not immediately available.

“This defendant allegedly acquired a massive arsenal of homemade ghost weapons that are just as real and dangerous as traditional firearms,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

In addition to the 13 completed firearms, officials found rifle and pistol magazines, shell casings, bullet primers, and gunpowder “to build ammunition and various tools commonly used to build firearms.”

Police investigators determined that Taylor ordered “ghost gun kits” from online sellers and had them shipped to her Brooklyn apartment, according to prosecutors.

“By assembling weapons from kits, unfinished parts or 3D printed components, those who own ghost weapons evade critical background checks and registration requirements, and because they don’t have a serial number, they can’t be traced.” Gonzalez added.

State and federal officials have focused on these types of weapons showing up at crime scenes in increasing numbers, including in the Bronx, where police believe a suspect used a phantom gun in the slaying of an honor student. 16 years old.

Earlier this month, the Biden administration unveiled a new rule to change the definition of a firearm and require federal firearms dealers to add serial numbers to ghost guns presented to them.

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