IEDs & Ghost Guns Seized From Queens Apartment, Two Brothers Arrested

Summary

• A pair of brothers living in Astoria have been indicted on over 100 counts of criminal possession of a weapon and related charges after “an arsenal” of weapons was discovered inside an apartment they resided in with other family members, per the Queens district attorney.
• This weapon stash included improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ghost guns, including assault rifles. Ghost guns are firearms without serial numbers that are often assembled through kits.
• During the search of the home on January 17th, authorities also found bomb assembly instructions, “anarchist propaganda,” and a “hit list” with “cops, judges, politicians, celebrities” and “banker scum” written on it.
• Andrew and Angelo Hatziagelis, aged 39 and 51, have been taken into custody. Their apartment was across the street from a Con Ed power plant.
• They each face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
• Per the Queens DA, “members of the Queens District Attorney’s Crime Strategies & Intelligence Bureau launched an investigation into the purchase of firearm component parts, accessories, and the manufacture of illegal ghost guns by the defendants” based on previously acquired intelligence
• The NYPD assisted in collecting additional data, and a search warrant was obtained. The department’s Bomb Squad responded during the search, and evacuated the building once live IEDs were found.
• The items seized from their apartment include:
• Eight operational improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
• One partially constructed trip-wire IED
• Two loaded AR-15 style ghost gun assault weapons, each with a detachable magazine, muzzle compensator and threaded barrel
• Two loaded 9 mm semiautomatic ghost gun pistols
• Two loaded 9 mm semiautomatic 3D printed ghost gun pistols
• One partially constructed AK-47 style ghost gun
• Over 600 rounds of ammunition for each of the firearms above
• One 3D printer
• Three sets of body armor
• Six additional AR/pistol lower receivers
• 29 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, 13 of which were personally manufactured utilizing a 3D printer
• Tools to assemble ghost guns
• Metal knuckles
• A radio set to the frequency of the 114th Precinct in Astoria
• Several electronic devices (phones, computer)
• Numerous notebooks containing instructions on the manufacture of explosive devices and anarchist related propaganda
• Explosive residue, and components to manufacture additional IEDs
• Nine pyrotechnic smoke bombs
• The list of charges that make up the total of 130 include:
• Eight counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree
• Nine counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree
• 47 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree
• Six counts of criminal possession of a firearm
• Eight counts of reckless endangerment in the second degree
• 14 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree
• Six counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree
• 15 counts of make/transport/dispose/deface weapons and dangerous weapons
• Three counts of unlawful purchase of body armor
• One count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree
• One count of attempted criminal possession of a firearm
• Three counts of unlawful possession of a pistol or revolver ammunition
• Nine counts of unlawfully dealing with fireworks and dangerous fireworks
• “The city is safer today," District Attorney Melinda Katz said. "My Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau launches investigations every day so that we find illegal weapons, including guns and in this case explosive devices. We cannot measure the number of lives that were saved, but we do know that these weapons will never hurt anyone."