New York –-(Ammoland.com)- On Thursday, a police officer for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection was arrested and charged for manufacturing guns and selling them to prohibited people.
Sergeant Gregg Marinelli, 38, was also charged with criminal conspiracy and hindering prosecution after warning a suspect in an investigation into cocaine and fentanyl-trafficking drug rings that move drugs into New York State.
The Orange County resident assembled and knowingly sold pistols and various semi-automatic rifles to members of multiple Outlaw motorcycle clubs including members that by law were prohibited from owning guns due to their criminal records. These same people were under investigation by the State Police for trafficking drugs into New York State.
Most of the guns sold by Marinelli were lacking serial numbers. Although firearms without serial numbers are not illegal, it is unlawful to transfer those guns without first adding serial numbers to them through the ATF. These guns were built on 80% lower receivers.
Marinelli also filed off the serial numbers of other guns he sold to prohibited people. One of the rifles for sale seized by law enforcement in the raid of Marinelli home was fully automatic. Police are not sure how many full auto rifles were sold by Marinelli.
The criminals that purchased the firearms from Marinelli knew he was a police officer. Marinelli was so bold in his alleged crime that he was meeting up with the motorcycle clubs and selling them the illegal firearms right out of his police cruiser.
Law enforcement discovered Marinelli involvement with the drug trafficking rings during a drug investigation dubbed “Operation: Bread, White, and Blue.” The operation netted more than two dozen arrest for trafficking and selling drugs.
Using the information obtained the New York State police were able to get a search warrant which they executed at the residence Marinelli on Thursday. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives aided the State Police in carrying out the raid.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler plans to prosecute Marinelli to the fullest extent of the law. He cites the breach of trust between the former cop, the state, and the public. The raid was able to seize 13 guns that were for sale.
“This has to be one of the most egregious breaches of trust that I have encountered,” Hoovler said in a press conference. “I am furious. Number 1, about the leak in the case; and number 2, the conduct, the possibility of putting untraceable guns on the street.”
A New York City Department of Environmental Protection also said the alleged crimes by Marinelli were a “betray the oath that this officer took to protect the public.”
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for protecting the water supply for the City.
Marinelli’s home in Plattekill, New York is about 75 miles north from his workplace in New York City.
Marinelli is currently being held in the Orange County Jail in lieu $200,000 cash bail or $600,000 bond.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.