Photo Courtesy of Flickr/Joe Gratz
Cops recovered two loaded 7.62-caliber assault rifles from Williams’ apartment.
By Forum Staff
An Arverne, Queens, man has been sentenced to four years in prison following his conviction for illegally possessing two assault weapons that he bought online, as well as loose rounds of ammunition and marijuana.
“Firearms pose a serious and deadlythreat to public safety. The District Attorney’s Office is committed to ridding our communities of illegal guns. Let this be a warning. If you are caught with an illegal weapon you will face prison time. In this case, justice has been served and the defendant is going to prison,” said District Attorney Brown.
The defendant was identified as Charles Williams, 23, who was found guilty of second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marihuana, following a five-day trial last month. Following the trial, acting Supreme Court Justice John Latella sentenced Williams to four years in prison.
According to the criminal charges, members of the New York City Police Department’s Queens Gang Unit executed a court-authorized search warrant on Williams’ first-floor apartment on July 10, 2014. As the police entered the unit, Williams was observed by law enforcement in a rear bedroom from which they recovered a loaded assault rifle (7.62mm caliber) with a collapsible stock and an empty handgun magazine from the closet. Police also recovered a black leather bag containing eighteen .45 caliber rounds of ammunition on a bedroom dresser. Eleven 7.62 caliber rounds of ammunition were also found, along with a bag of marijuana, on a second dresser. From a front hall closet, police recovered a second loaded assault rifle (7.62mm caliber) capable of having a bayonet attached.
Williams told investigators that he bought the weapons on the internet
