Pearl River Resident Faces Weapons Charges

PEARL RIVER, NY — A secret cache of illegal weapons including "ghost guns" has been confiscated and a 42-year-old Rockland County resident is under arrest after an investigation by local, county and federal law enforcement.

County Sheriff Louis Falco III announced that a multi-agency investigation by his department, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Orangetown Police Department led to the arrest of Pearl River resident Timothy Lewis.

Using a firearm-sniffing dog at Lewis's home, numerous secreted, illegally possessed weapons were located and seized, the sheriff said. Some weapons were 'ghost guns' — un-serialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled by the purchaser. Additionally, several weapon silencers were located and seized.

Lewis faces an array of charges:

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4 th 1 Count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3 rd 4 Counts
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2 nd 9 Counts
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 5 th 1 Count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2 nd 9 Counts

He was arraigned and sent to the Rockland County Jail.

"This arrest is a perfect example of the success of the RCIC having good working relationships with our local law enforcement and Federal partners," Falco said. "Additionally, a special thanks to the NYPD Strategic Intelligence Unit, RCSO BCI, Crime Scene Unit, the K9 Team of PO Mercurio and K9 Ott, and the Rockland County DA’s Office for their involvement in this case."

In addition to NYS charges, Lewis faces federal charges which are currently being pursued by the ATF, Falco said.