Deputy Mayor of New York was charged after federal officials discovered that they had dozens of unregistered guns and fake FBI badges.

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A firearm display shelf found by law enforcement at Brian Downey's home.

A firearm display shelf found by law enforcement at Brian Downey’s house. Ministry of Justice

  • Brian Downey, Deputy Mayor of Airmont, New York, is being held criminally liable.

  • Authorities discovered that Downey had an unregistered gun and a fake badge that portrayed himself as a federal agent.

  • Downey was arrested last week after law enforcement officers executed a search warrant.

  • See other articles on Insider’s business page..

The deputy mayor of a New York city is facing federal accusations after authorities found unregistered firearms and fake badges from federal agencies, according to a criminal accusation opened on Tuesday.

Republican Brian Downey, deputy mayor of Airmont, New York, was detained last week for “purchasing a rifle suppressor over the Internet.” statement From the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office.

Authorities later carried out a search warrant at his home, discovering at least 13 illegal suppressors and 16 unregistered assault weapons, including short-barreled rifles and sawed-off shotguns.

The firearms were on display on the shelves in a room in Downey’s house, which the authorities called the “gun room.” Complaints.. Alongside illegal firearms, law enforcement officers also found a small locked box that Downey claimed he didn’t have a combination.

After forcing the box to open, it contained a “many federal badges and credentials” bearing Downey’s name from various agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Department, the Department of Justice Prisons, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“There was also Downey’s US passport book, US passport card, and his New York state commercial driver’s license in the lockbox,” the complaint said.

Federal credentials in the lockbox.

Federal credentials in the lockbox. Ministry of Justice

It was not immediately clear what Downey intended to use for fake federal badges and unregistered firearms.

The investigation was a joint effort between the US Department of Homeland Security, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, and the US Post Inspector General. Journal news report.

According to the complaint, Downey was charged with possession of unregistered firearms and a federal badge and ID following a search warrant. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced Thursday that Downey was also facing nearly dozens of states in criminal possession of weapons in connection with the case.

“Today’s arrest of an individual entrusted with community service by a citizen is a sad day for our county,” Walsh said. statement last week.

“Our community is definitely safer today than yesterday,” he continued.

Downey was elected Deputy Mayor of Airmont in 2019. If convicted, he will be forced to resign.

It was not immediately clear whether Downey had a lawyer to represent him in the case.

Read the original article Business insider

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