Guns and ammunition allegedly recovered from the defendant’s possession (Queens District Attorney’s Office)
Aug. 19, 2021 By Allie Griffin
A Richmond Hill man faces up to 20 years in prison for smuggling guns and ammo over state lines into to New York City.
Richard McCormick, 42, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and other charges Tuesday night after he allegedly bought a cache of high-capacity magazines, gun parts and ammunition at a gun show in Pennsylvania and drove them all back to New York.
McCormick was being watched by officials when he attended the Oaks Gun Show in Pennsylvania shortly after 10 a.m. on Aug. 15, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
He allegedly purchased multiple rounds of ammunition, magazines and firearm components and put them into a Cadillac. McCormick then drove through New Jersey and crossed the George Washington Bridge into New York City, the criminal complaint states.
Shortly thereafter, Port Authority police officers pulled him over and seized his items, which included 44 high-capacity magazines, 1,000 rounds of 7.62 rifle ammunition, a trigger assembly, an upper slide and barrel for a 9mm pistol, a hook knife, a switch blade and more.
Guns, cash and ammunition allegedly recovered from the defendant’s possession (Queens District Attorney’s Office)
Police later obtained a warrant to search McCormick’s home on 85th Drive and recovered more weapons and ammunition along with $8,500 in cash, according to the charges.
Officers seized parts for three pistols, more high-capacity magazines, four firearm silencers, a set of brass knuckles, two switchblades and 9,991 bullets for various calibers of weapons, allegedly from his home.
“The scourge of illegal guns in our city has caused bloodshed and heartache,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “This defendant is accused of taking advantage of the easy access to guns outside of our state in order to bring them into our communities.”
McCormick was arraigned on a 117-count criminal complaint in Queens Criminal Court Tuesday night. He must return to court on Aug. 20 and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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