Posted on: October 16, 2024 01:47 AM

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Former FBI agent charged with possessing arsenal of illegal ghost gun sand stockpile of ammunition in Queens Village

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Scott Chiang has been charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon after search warrants executed at his home in Queens Village and a storage unit in Port Washington, Long Island, uncovered 18 illegal firearms, including eight ghost guns and six assault weapons, as well as high-capacity magazines, ammunition and gun manufacturing tools. Chiang is a former FBI agent and current EMT and head of the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York.

District Attorney Katz said: “Individuals who choose to stockpile lethal, illegal firearms in Queens need to think again. Ghost guns cause unspeakable tragedy, and my office will continue to meticulously go after illegal firearms and those who manufacture and use them. Thanks to the work of my Crime Strategies & Intelligence Bureau, the seized weapons allegedly purchased and assembled by this defendant – including six assault weapons – will not be used to cause damage and heartbreak in our communities.”

Chiang, 53, of Peck Avenue in Queens Village, was arraigned Friday on a 242-count criminal complaint charging him with criminal possession of a weapon in the first, second, third and fourth degrees, criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree, criminal possession of a firearm, endangering the welfare of a child, make/transport/dispose/deface weapons and dangerous instruments, unlawful possession of a pistol or revolver ammunition and lack of a certificate of registration.

Criminal Court Judge Germaine Auguste remanded Chiang and ordered him to return to court on October 31. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges, members of her Crime Strategies & Intelligence Bureau conducted a long-term investigation into the defendant’s online purchase of polymer-based, unserialized firearm components, which can easily be assembled into operable firearms that are untraceable. The possession of ghost guns and ghost gun parts is illegal in the state of New York.

On October 10, officers from the New York Police Department’s Financial Crimes Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the Queens District Attorney’s Detective Bureau executed a court-authorized search warrant of Chiang’s Queens Village residence. The following were recovered during the search:

• One loaded and fully assembled black Glock 26-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled tan and purple Glock 26-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled black Glock 19-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled black Glock 23-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled gray Glock 23-style semiautomatic ghost gun pistol
• One loaded black serialized Sig Sauer p226 pistol
• One loaded serialized MP5 assault weapon with ability to accept a detachable magazine, a threaded barrel and a pistol grip
• One loaded black serialized Remington 700 hunting rifle
• Eight additional unserialized lower receivers, including:
  • One Glock-style lower receiver
  • Five P80-style lower receivers
  • Two AR-15 forged lower receivers
• 19 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition
• One Glock-style upper receiver
• Two silencers
• Over 1,000 of rounds of various caliber ammunition, including .40 caliber, .308 caliber, .300 caliber, 9 mm, .22 caliber, 12-gauge shotgun and .223 caliber
• One U.S. Passport bearing the name “Scott Chiang”
• One Republic of China Passport bearing the name of “Scott Chiang”
• Mail addressed to Scott Chiang bearing the address of Chiang’s Queens residence
• Three AR-15 Armorer’s tool
• One Jig Kit

While the search warrant was being executed, a postal carrier delivered a package to Chiang’s residence, addressed to Chiang, containing a complete Glock pistol slide and barrel.

DA Katz said that an additional court-authorized search warrant was executed on October 10 at Chiang’s Port Washington storage unit. The following were recovered during the search:

• One loaded and fully assembled Black Bushmaster .223-caliber commercially made assault rifle with ability to accept a detachable magazine and a pistol grip
• One loaded and fully assembled Black GSG 522 .22-caliber commercially made assault rifle with ability to accept a detachable magazine and a pistol grip
• One loaded and fully assembled tan SIG Sauer AR-15 commercially made assault rifle with the ability to accept a detachable magazine and a pistol grip
• One loaded and fully assembled LRB ARMS M15A .223-caliber commercially made assault rifle with the ability to accept a detachable magazine and a pistol grip
• One loaded and fully assembled tan and black AR-15 style ghost gun assault rifle with the ability to accept a detachable magazine and a pistol grip
• One loaded and fully assembled teal and black Glock 22-style .40-caliber ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled green and black Glock 22-style .40-caliber ghost gun pistol
• One loaded and fully assembled Black Legions USA Inc. commercially made 12-gauge shotgun
• One loaded and fully assembled Black Remington 870 Tactical commercially made 12-gauge shotgun
• One loaded and fully assembled Black MKA1919 commercially made 12-gauge shotgun
• 10 additional unserialized lower receivers, including:
  • One AR lower receiver
  • Six 556 caliber AR lower receiver
  • Three 7.62 caliber AR-15 lower receivers
• 127 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices
• One suppressor
• Over 900 of rounds of various caliber ammunition, including .556 caliber, 7.62 x .39 caliber, 7.62 x .51 caliber, 9 mm, .22 caliber, 12-gauge shotgun
• One receipt from Joe Bob Outfitters for an upper receiver bearing the defendant’s name, phone number, email address and Port Washington P.O. Box belonging to the defendant.

A check conducted of the License and Permit Systems database revealed that Chiang does not hold a license to possess or own firearms in New York City, despite having previously worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Division, from April 2004 until November 2005.

Including this takedown, 151 ghost guns have been seized in Queens so far this year, more than in any other borough.  The Queens District Attorney’s Office’s successful investigations and prosecution of numerous ghost gun manufacturers and traffickers has resulted in Queens leading all of New York City in the total number of ghost gun recoveries since 2021.

From Queens DA