Wash Heights Man Who Printed Ghost Guns, Threatened GF Sentenced: DA

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY - A Washington Heights man was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to making and possessing operable ghost guns in his apartment, as well as threatening to kill his former girlfriend with one of the weapons he made, authorities said.

Eleazer Edelstein, 21, was sentenced to 4.5 years in state prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said. Edelstein pleaded guilty in December to two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of aggravated harassment in New York State Supreme Court.

“The ease with which anyone can create ghost guns and then use them to potentially inflict harm is one of the most significant public safety challenges New York City faces today,” Bragg said. “We are prioritizing this work and working closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who are making and using these weapons.”

According to statements made in court, from January 2021 to December 2022, Edelstein bought at least 16 items to print ghost guns, including two 3D printers and multiple spools of filament, authorities said. The 21-year-old then used those items to build at least two usable ghost gun guns.

Edelstein’s electronic devices also contained multiple “CAD files,” or digital blueprints, to utilize the 3D printers found in his apartment. Some of the files contained specific codes for 3D printing firearms and other parts, such as magazines, authorities added.

Between May 28 and May 30, 2023, Edelstein threatened to kill his girlfriend over a series of text messages. During a FaceTime call over the same period, he shower her one of the weapons he printed.

A search warrant was executed by the NYPD on Edelstein’s apartment on June 2, where the weapons and parts were seized and Edelstein was arrested.