A 36-year-old United States nationwide has been handed a sentence of greater than 5 years in jail for his involvement in a far-reaching scheme that noticed the trafficking of greater than 100 “ghost weapons” to the Dominican Republic.
The decision was introduced by Damian Williams, the US legal professional for the Southern District of New York.
Responsible plea and sentencing
Robert Alcantara, the person on the middle of this case, was sentenced by US District Choose Vernon S. Broderick after he pleaded responsible to 2 critical prices: conspiring to visitors firearms and conspiring to launder cash.
Damian Williams, who hails from a Jamaican-born household, emphasised the gravity of Alcantara’s actions, stating, “Robert Alcantara alone trafficked over 100 untraceable ghost weapons to the Dominican Republic. The proliferation of illegal ghost weapons is a menace to public security, and our response is obvious: we is not going to let up.”
Working a “ghost gun” manufacturing facility
Allegations towards Alcantara detailed in charging paperwork and court docket statements reveal a startling timeline of occasions. From 2017 till January 2022, he ran a “ghost gun” manufacturing facility proper from his residence in Rhode Island.
The indictment outlines that Alcantara acquired ghost gun kits from numerous sources, together with gun exhibits. Subsequently, he reworked these kits into totally purposeful firearms.
The exportation of untraceable firearms
As soon as these untraceable firearms have been accomplished, Alcantara’s illicit operation took a extra worldwide flip as he exported and offered these weapons to the Dominican Republic.
Studies are that a lot of the weapons trafficked have been handguns, though some rifles have been additionally a part of the contraband.
A major haul
The indictment additional underlines the dimensions of Alcantara’s operation.
On November 20, 2021, he was apprehended whereas in possession of kits supposed to assemble roughly 45 extra ghost weapons.
Throughout questioning by regulation enforcement brokers, Alcantara admitted to having an extra 50 comparable ghost weapons at his residence.
Authorized penalties
Along with the jail time period, Robert Alcantara has been sentenced to 3 years of supervised launch.
This verdict sends a powerful message relating to the results of partaking in such illicit actions.
Acknowledging investigative efforts
US Legal professional Damian Williams counseled the “excellent investigative work” carried out by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in addition to the US Division of Commerce’s Workplace of Export Enforcement, New York Subject Workplace.
