D.A. Bragg Announces 69-Count Indictment in Ghost Gun Factory Takedown


February 3, 2023

Cliffie Thompson Allegedly Possessed 3-D Printed Firearms, 3-D Printers and Ghost Gun Parts in his East Village Apartment

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today announced the indictment of CLIFFIE THOMPSON, 35, for running a sophisticated ghost gun factory in his East Village apartment. THOMPSON allegedly possessed firearms, ammunition, 3-D printers and ghost gun parts. 

THOMPSON is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, five counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, one count of Attempt to Commit the Crime of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, one count of Assault in the Second Degree, five counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, thirty-six counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, one count of Tampering with Evidence, five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, three counts of Possession of Unfinished Frame or Receiver and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition.[1]  

“This indictment makes clear that ghost guns continue to proliferate in our city due to their accessibility and low cost,” said District Attorney Bragg. “This alleged ghost gun factory posed a serious threat to public safety, and I thank our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their excellent work in preventing any harm coming from these weapons.” 

“Stopping the proliferation of illegal guns in New York City neighborhoods is at the forefront of our public-safety mission,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “In particular, the manufacture and circulation of ghost guns present a grave threat to our community – and the NYPD will continue to investigate, arrest, and hold accountable anyone who traffics in these deadly weapons. That is the promise we make to the people we serve every day, and we will never relent in our fight against gun violence. I commend and thank the NYPD investigators, as well as the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, for their outstanding work on this critical case.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record, on January 15, 2023, THOMPSON was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. After he was arrested, he directed a woman at his apartment to remove equipment from his home.

On January 16, 2023, a search warrant was authorized to search Thompson’s apartment, where officers recovered five firearms and various types of ammunition. THOMPSON had a highly sophisticated setup to manufacture ghost gun parts from scratch, including two 3-D printers with plastic filament in them, approximately 11 large spools of plastic filament used in 3-D printing, a kiln, and 3-D printed gun parts in various stages of completion. Tools for manufacturing guns, including drills, drill bits and wrenches, small metal parts such as springs and screws, were also recovered. Some of the parts were purchased from an Idaho based company.

THOMPSON also possessed approximately 36 blank forged credit cards that contained the personal identifying information of others.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the NYPD and other law enforcement partners, established the Ghost Guns Initiative in 2020 to address the proliferation of ghost guns in New York City. To date, the Ghost Guns Initiative has prosecuted cases involving the seizure of over 85 ghost gun parts, 42 fully assembled ghost guns, 24 serialized firearms, 421 high-capacity magazines, 45 silencers, and other gear including scopes and rapid-fire modification devices.
 
Assistant D.A. Michael Kelley of Trial Bureau 70 is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Mireille Dee and Sara Sullivan (Deputy Chiefs of Trial Bureau 70), David Hammer (Chief of Trial Bureau 70) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Trial Division Chief). Henry Brody (Investigative Analyst of Trial Bureau 70) also assisted with the case.
 
Assistant D.A. Bonnie Seok of the Rackets Bureau, overseeing the Ghost Guns Initiative, is assisting with the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Mike Ohm (Rackets Bureau Deputy Chief), Judy Salwen (Rackets Bureau Principal Deputy Chief), and Jodie Kane (Rackets Bureau Chief), and Executive Assistant D.A.s Christopher Conroy (Senior Advisor to the Investigation Division) and Susan Hoffinger (Investigation Division Chief).
 
D.A. Bragg thanked the following members of the NYPD’s PSA 4: Police Officers Jeralmys Rodriguez and Vincent Ayres, and Sergeant Daniel Tirado. D.A. Bragg also thanked the following members of the NYPD’s Major Case Field Intelligence Team: Detectives John Uske, John Schultz, Michael Billotto, Victor Cardona, and Christopher Thomas, under the supervision of Sergeant Bogdan Tabor, Captain Christian Jara, and Inspector Courtney Nilan.

Defendant Information:
CLIFFIE THOMPSON
New York, New York

 Charged:

  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, six counts
  • Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Third Degree, a class D felony, five counts
  • An Attempt to Commit the Crime of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
  • Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
  • Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony, five counts
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, five counts
  • Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, thirty-six counts
  • Tampering with Physical Evidence, a class E felony, one count
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, five counts
  • Possession of Unfinished Frame or Receiver, a class A misdemeanor, three counts
  • Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, one count