Pictured: Ghost Gun Parts and 3D Printers Recovered Pursuant to a Search Warrant
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of ELEAZER EDELSTEIN, 21, for possessing operable ghost guns, ghost gun parts and high-capacity magazines that he manufactured in his apartment. EDELSTEIN is also charged with threatening to kill his former girlfriend, at one point displaying one of the ghost guns he manufactured during a Facetime call with her.
New York State Law does not specifically prohibit the manufacture of 3D guns or ghost guns. Earlier this month, D.A. Bragg announced new legislation with Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and New York State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal to make the manufacture of 3D-printed guns and gun parts a class D felony. The legislation would also make it a class A misdemeanor to share, sell or distribute files containing blueprints for 3D-printed firearms components. This legislation would apply to cases like the one being indicted today, as the Office is currently only able to bring criminal possession charges.
EDELSTEIN is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree; four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree; one count of Menacing in the Second Degree; one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree; and one count of Unlawful Possession of Ammunition. [1]
“This defendant is alleged to have made threats using weapons he easily assembled in his own apartment,” said District Attorney Bragg. “These facts, as alleged, once against demonstrate just how simple and cheap it is for someone to create their own deadly firearms, and the rapid pace of technological advancement is only going to make this process simpler. We must pass our legislation to close the 3D gun manufacturing loophole and stop the spread of digital files to proactively address the continued proliferation of these guns.”
“With today’s indictment, the NYPD continues its ongoing efforts to rid our city of illegal guns,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “The rapid proliferation of ghost guns and ghost gun parts is a grave public-safety threat, and our police department is facing that threat head-on. I want to thank all of our law enforcement partners, including the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, for their support in this important work.”
According to court documents and statements made on the record, from January 2021 to December 2022, EDELSTEIN purchased at least 16 items to construct, assemble and print ghost guns, including two 3D printers and multiple spools of filament.
EDELSTEIN used those items to build three operable ghost gun pistols; two 3D printed lower receivers; an upper receiver for an AR-15 style rifle; and an operable assault weapon-style rifle. He also possessed four high-capacity magazines and more than 200 rounds of ammunition.
A search of EDELSTEIN’s electronic devices found multiple “CAD files,” or digital blueprints, to utilize the 3D printers found in his apartment. Some of the files contained specific codes for 3D printing firearms and other parts, such as magazines.
Between May 28 and May 30, EDELSTEIN sent a series of text messages to a former girlfriend threatening to kill her. At one point, he called her over Facetime and displayed one of the weapons he had printed.
A search warrant was executed by the NYPD on EDELSTEIN’s apartment on June 2, which recovered the weapons and parts. EDELSTEIN was arrested during the execution of the search warrant.
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 93 ghost gun parts, 46 fully assembled ghost guns, 24 serialized firearms, 427 high-capacity magazines, 47 silencers, and other gear including scopes and rapid-fire modification devices.
Assistant D.A. James O’Donohue of Trial Bureau 30 is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Phil Gary and Elizabeth Clerkin (TB 30 Deputy Chiefs), Erin Tierney (TB 30 Chief), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Trial Division Chief).
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 David Stuart (Counter Terrorism Unit Chief), Mike Ohm (Rackets Bureau Deputy Chief), Judy Salwen (Rackets Bureau Principal Deputy Chief), and Jodie Kane (Rackets Bureau Chief and Acting Chief of the Investigation Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked Officers Glickman and Corbin, Detectives John Ramalho, Christopher Dalessandro, and Steven Humburg, and Sergeant Christopher Kearney of the NYPD’s 101st Precinct. D.A. Bragg also thanked the following members of the NYPD’s Major Case Field Intelligence Team: Detectives John Shultz, Michael Billotto, John Uske, Christopher Thomas, Christopher Dalessandro, Victor Cardona, Steve Humburg and Sergeant Christopher Kearney, under the supervision of Sergeant Bogdan Tabor, Captain Christian Jara, and Inspector Courtney Nilan.
Defendant Information:
ELEAZER EDELSTEIN
New York, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, five counts
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, five counts
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, four counts
- Menacing in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count
- Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count
- Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, one count
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.