Ghost Guns seized in a prior raid
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced on July 7 the seizure of 22 ghost guns (including 2 assault-style rifles), 3 serialized firearms, multiple large-capacity magazines and 6 oz. of cocaine pursuant to a sting operation led by her Criminal Investigators Squad, and conducted in partnership with the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Homeland Security Investigations), the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenwich Police Department.
Following the operation, a Greenwich man, Michael Larriuz, 49, was arrested and charged with one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a class A-I felony, one count of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B felony, and five counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony.
The defendant was arraigned last week in White Plains, where bail was set at $100,000 cash/$250,000 bond/$500,000 partially secured bond.
Ghost guns are unserialized, untraceable firearms made with 3D printers or assembled from partially finished gun parts. They completely evade New York’s legal framework for manufacturing and selling firearms, which typically includes background checks, fingerprinting and other critical safeguards. Ghost guns are increasingly turning up at crime scenes across the country and in Westchester, in particular. From 2024 to 2025, the number of ghost guns recovered by police agencies in Westchester increased by 33%.
DA Cacace said: “The unheralded work of public safety is the gunshot wound that doesn’t exist, the overdose that can’t occur and the drug deal that never happens. This week’s operation is only a small glimpse behind the scenes, exemplifying the thankless, dedicated investigative work undertaken by my Criminal Investigators Squad, in conjunction with our federal and state counterparts, every single day to root out illegal guns and drugs. Notwithstanding the County’s reduction in our public safety funding, I am committed to ensuring Westchester remains a safe place to live, for each of our 48 communities.”
FBI NY Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr., said: “Ghost guns and illicit drugs present a growing danger to the public, and operations like this one demonstrate the FBI’s shared commitment to removing drugs and guns from the streets of New York. The arrest of Michael Larriuz on both drug and illegal gun charges is a clear example of the dangerous criminal activity these joint enforcement efforts are designed to disrupt. We will continue to work closely with our partners to safeguard our neighborhoods and hold those who threaten community safety accountable.”
HSI NY Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas: “Behind every illegal firearm seizure is a potential tragedy prevented. By holding criminals accountable for trafficking potentially lethal weapons, we disrupt the cycle of crime that threatens our communities. HSI will continue to collaborate with our state and federal partners to protect the residents we serve.”
Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess said: “We are proud to have worked closely with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office throughout this investigation. This case highlights the strength of interagency collaboration and demonstrates how law enforcement partnerships are essential to protecting our communities and ensuring those who commit these crimes are held accountable.”
Greenwich Police James Heavey said: “I am very happy with the cooperation and work that our departments did together, and I am proud that we were able to get these illegal weapons off our streets.”
The case against Larriuz is being prosecuted by Angie Morelli, Chief of the Complex and Pattern Crimes Bureau.
