New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the convictions and sentencings of four individuals involved in selling illegal ghost guns and firearms across Central New York. The investigation, led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), seized dozens of weapons, parts, and ammunition in Onondaga County.
Ghost gun trafficking network dismantled
The investigation recovered 34 firearms and receivers, including 21 ghost guns or ghost gun parts. Law enforcement also seized dozens of high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
“Gun traffickers who flood our communities with illegal untraceable ghost guns put all New Yorkers in danger,” said Attorney General James. “This investigation took dozens of weapons off our streets and brought dangerous gun traffickers to justice.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James praised the collaboration, noting that the traffickers posed a significant threat to public safety.
Defendants sentenced to years-long prison terms
Four individuals were charged with 35 crimes in April 2024 and have now pleaded guilty:
- Charles Baker and Jeremy Baker: Both pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony. They were sentenced to six years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. Both also forfeited $4,100 earned through firearm sales to undercover investigators.
- Brian Lawson (a.k.a. “P’Nut”): Pleaded guilty to the same charge and received a sentence of three and a half years in state prison with five years of post-release supervision.
- John Leone, Jr.: Charged separately, he pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. He was sentenced to two and a half to five years in state prison.
Judge Matthew J. Doran in Onondaga County Court presided over all sentencings.
Firearms and components seized
Throughout the investigation, authorities seized:
- Nine unfinished Polymer80 and AR-15 frames/receivers
- Nine unserialized Polymer80 ghost gun pistols
- Nine serialized but unregistered firearms
- Three AR-15 style rifles
- One 7.62 assault rifle
- Three ghost guns, including an assault rifle
- Dozens of high-capacity magazines
- Hundreds of rounds of ammunition
These seizures removed a significant number of illegal and untraceable weapons from Central New York communities.
How the investigation unfolded
The OCTF and New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit led the joint operation, with help from the Special Investigations Unit’s Rochester and Syracuse offices and the Syracuse Police Department. Investigators used law enforcement subpoenas, covert surveillance, undercover operations, and other intelligence techniques.
The case was prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Geoffrey Ciereck, with support from Legal Support Analyst Sean McCauley and Confidential Clerk Theresa Rowe. Oversight came from Upstate OCTF Deputy Chief Maria Moran and Deputy Attorney General Nicole Keary.
Attorney General James emphasized that the bust aligns with her broader mission to combat gun violence and keep illegal firearms off New York streets.
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