Mastic Man Indicted After Discovery Of Cocaine, 6 Loaded Firearms, In His Home: DA

MASTIC, NY — A Mastic man was indicted Thursday on charges including first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, after a search of his home reportedly resulted in the discovery of cocaine and six loaded firearms — including a semi-automatic assault weapon, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

According to the investigation, on September 26, Suffolk County police officers executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Mastic residence of Jason Morris, 36. During the execution of the warrant, they recovered five loaded and operable firearms, including a defaced Ruger 9mm semi automatic pistol, a Browning Model Fabrique Nationale .25mm semi-automatic pistol, a Ruger .380 semi-automatic pistol, an H&R .22 revolver, a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol and one Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle with an ammunition clip capable of holding 30 rounds, the DA said.

Police also found more than 10 ounces of cocaine, 120 Oxycodone pills, and drug paraphernalia, including scales and plastic bags, used for the packaging and distribution of narcotics, Tierney said.

Additionally, officers found an embossing machine and two hotel key cards, in the shape and size of credit cards, embossed with numbers from a Visa pre-paid gift card, Tierney said. An embossing machine is a device that creates raised letters and numbers that can be used to unlawfully create fake or counterfeit cards by allowing the user to print numbers that were stolen from legitimate cards onto them, the DA said.

Morris was arrested the day the search warrant was executed, Tierney said.

According to the DA, on Thursday, Morris was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro on charges including one count of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class A felony; five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, Class B felonies; three counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia, Class A misdemeanors; seven counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class C felonies; ∙ eight counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class D felonies; two counts of possession of a forged instrument, Class D felonies; and one count of criminal possession of a forgery device, a Class D felony, Tierney said.

Justice Ambro ordered Morris held on $1 million cash, $3 million bond or $5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, the DA said.

Morris is due back in court on December 5 and faces 12 to 24 years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said.

He is being represented by Mukesh Haridat, who was not immediately available for comment.

"Morris allegedly had illegal weapons, as well as illegal drugs and the materials to make fake credit cards,” said Tierney. "The illegal activities that this defendant was allegedly participating in have no place in Suffolk County, and I am thankful for the officers who removed him from our streets."