By Jackie Salo December 19, 2021 3:33pm
SOURCE: NEW YORK POST
A Rockland County, New York deputy mayor has been hit with more than 100 felony charges after a raid of his home uncovered an arsenal of weapons and bogus police badges, prosecutors said.
Airmont Deputy Mayor Brian Downey, 47, was indicted by a grand jury Friday on 117 counts of possessing weapons and three counts of having forged law enforcement credentials, the Rockland/Westchester Journal News reported.
The charges come after a Sept. 2 search of his home turned up 12 firearm silencers, 19 assault rifles, and more than 85 high-capacity magazines, Rockland District Attorney Thomas Walsh said.
Federal and local authorities also found numerous fake federal law enforcement badges and insignias, as well two bogus New York State Court Officer shields and a New York State Court Officer ID card, prosecutors said.
Downey, through his lawyers, has denied the charges, the outlet reported.
Prosecutors said they began investigating after being tipped off by Homeland Security agents to a package being mailed to Downey’s home containing a firearm silencer. Further investigation revealed other packages had been delivered to his residence.
Downey acknowledged that weapons were not licensed in an interview with federal agents, according to the complaint filed in federal court.
“He stated that he lacked any registration or authorization for controlled firearms, such as the short-barrel rifle or the sawed-off shotgun,” said Daniel Suden, a special agent with the US Department of Homeland Security.
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