NYC DEP officer from Ulster manufactured assault rifles: state police - Poughkeepsie Journal

John W. Barry Poughkeepsie Journal

Published 10:16 AM EST Mar 2, 2019

A New York City environmental police sergeant from Ulster County is due in court March 7 following his arrest on felony charges linked to the manufacture of handguns and assault rifles, state police said.

Gregg Marinelli, 38, of Plattekill, Ulster County, was arrested Thursday, state police said. A member of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police, Marinelli on Saturday morning remained in Orange County Jail on $200,000 bail or $600,000 bond

Marinelli allegedly manufactured dozens of weapons, including one fully-automatic assault rifle, before selling them to those who cannot legally possess them, state police said. Marinelli allegedly assembled the guns in his home and sold them to, among others, members of outlaw motorcycle groups and individuals with criminal convictions.

Marinelli sometimes delivered the weapons in his marked police car, state police said. Many of the weapons allegedly sold by Marinelli were “ghost” guns, which are manufactured without serial numbers or can be defaced weapons whose serial numbers have been removed. 

“Ghost” guns are often sought by those planning illegal activity because they are difficult to trace, state police said.

The state police, aided by the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, executed a search warrant at Marinelli’s home and allegedly recovered gun parts, tools and firearms.

Officials were led to Marinelli through investigations into cocaine trafficking and the sale of narcotic pills, state police said. During that investigation, Marinelli allegedly alerted a suspect that he was a target, state police said. Marinelli was not charged in that case.

He has been charged with second-degree criminal sale of a firearm; second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; the manufacture/disposition of a weapon; fourth-degree conspiracy; and second-degree hindering prosecution, all felonies, state police said.

Anyone who purchased a weapon from Marinelli is encouraged to call the state police at 845-344-5300 to surrender the firearm. Those who voluntarily surrender a weapon will not be prosecuted for possession, although they could be prosecuted for crimes committed with the weapons, state police said. 

John W. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo

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