Cache Of Illegal Guns, Parts In Home With Children: Rockland County DA

CLARKSTOWN, NY — Investigators tracking illegal firearms in Rockland County found a huge cache of semi-automatic handguns, high-capacity magazines and a large quantity of ghost and unserialized gun parts at a Nanuet home within easy reach of two children, District Attorney Thomas Walsh announced.

Two adults who were involved in a Valley Cottage home invasion in 2015 over drugs now face 149 weapons possession charges as well as two counts of child endangerment, prosecutors said.

In May, the DA’s Office received information regarding an illegal firearm component being shipped to Nanuet, Walsh said.

The Special Investigations Unit Detectives, who are cross sworn as Federal Task Force Officers with the United States Department of Homeland Security, launched an investigation into the intended recipient.

Working in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the
United States Postal Inspection Service and the US Attorney’s Office Southern District of
New York, investigators discovered that numerous illegal firearm parts had been shipped to a
home in Nanuet.

They also learned that it was the home of Vivian Wu and Tao Zhang, who was convicted of a felony in 2015. The duo was arrested after smashing their way into a home in Valley Cottage, then fleeing in a truck, in a confrontation police said involved a past drug deal. Wu's 4-month-old baby was found in the truck when they were arrested a short time later, police said.

A search warrant was executed Tuesday by the DA's Office with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Response Team, United States Postal Inspections Services, Clarkstown Police Department, New York State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

As a result of the search warrant, two loaded and un-serialized semi-automatic handguns, three high-capacity magazines, five major components of a firearm, and a large quantity of un-serialized ghost gun parts were found.

The firearms were not safely locked away and were within easy reach of a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old who live there, the DA said.

Tao Zhang, 35, faces 77 counts of criminal possession of a weapon, all related to possession of two semi-automatic 9mm pistols, three high capacity magazines (two Glock style 9mm mags with 31 capacity, and one AR-15 style 5.56/.223 caliber magazine with 30 capacity), major components of a firearm and un-serialized ghost gun parts as well as two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Vivian Wu, 35, faces 72 counts of criminal possession of a weapon plus two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

"Together, with support from the ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the New York
State Police, our efforts resulted in the apprehension of these individuals, one with a
prior felony conviction, who was receiving shipments of gun parts to allegedly build his
own ghost guns,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. “This
operation sends a message that illegal firearms activities will be met with the full force of
our combined resources and expertise."

They sent to the Rockland County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond and $200,000 partially secured bond before the Honorable Leslie Kahn in Clarkstown town court.

"This investigation is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal firearms in Rockland County," Walsh said. "I commend Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, US Attorney’s Office Southern District of NY, New York State Police, ATF, Customs and Border Protection, and the Clarkstown PD for their assistance in this investigation."

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, DA's Office officials said.