guns and ammo found at the home and storage facilities of James Neff
By Dan Murphy
US Attorney for the SDNY Damian Williams recently announced two different arrests in Westchester.
Dobbs Ferry resident James Neff was arrested by the FBI on May 2, and is charged with the possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction in connection with the discovery by law enforcement of the defendant’s trove of firearms, including multiple personally manufactured firearms, or “ghost guns,” and ammunition. In addition, members of law enforcement discovered, and continue to investigate, suspected explosives, paraphernalia related to improvised explosive devices, and suspected readily assembled explosive devices.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, James Neff, some 23 years after having been convicted on similar state charges for criminal possession of a weapon, has again illegally stockpiled numerous firearms, including what appear to be assault rifles and personally manufactured firearms, or ‘ghost guns,’ a significant amount of ammunition, and suspected materials
and paraphernalia consistent with suspected homemade and improvised explosive devices. Our investigation remains ongoing, and I thank the dedication and expertise of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office who are diligently investigating this case and working tirelessly to keep ‘ghost guns’ and homemade explosives out of our communities.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “James Neff allegedly amassed and stored an alarming collection of suspected explosives, materials for improvised explosive devices, and more than 30 firearms – some of which were assault rifles and unregistered ‘ghost guns.’ There is no reasonable explanation to justify the arsenal law enforcement discovered, and convicted felons with access to such armaments pose an incredible threat to public safety. The FBI will continue to confiscate weapons from criminals and ensure these devices are not used to inflict harm against our citizens.”
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court and statements made in court proceedings:[1]
On May 1, 2024, following an investigation, members of law enforcement executed search warrants on the residence of JAMES NEFF and two storage units known to be possessed and rented by him. After executing these searches, members of law enforcement discovered over 30 firearms, including firearms that appear to be personally manufactured and assault rifle-style firearms; a significant amount of ammunition; and suspected explosives-related materials, including multiple books on how to make homemade or improvised explosives, such as “The Anarchist Arsenal, Improvised Incendiary and Explosives Techniques,” “How to Bury Your Goods,” and multiple volumes of the “Improvised Munitions Black Book.” In addition, members of law enforcement also found suspected precursors to explosives, suspected low explosives or smokeless powders, and other items consistent with the preparation of homemade explosive devices, including what appears to be fuse that can be used to initiate a low explosive, cardboard containers with endcaps, a pipe with two endcaps, and grenade bodies, items which could be used to create readily assembled explosive devices.
NEFF, 61, of Dobbs Ferry, New York, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction, having previously been convicted on New York state charges of a crime punishable for a term longer than one year, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Westchester County Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force; the Dobbs Ferry Police Department; the FBI’s Philadelphia Division; the New York State Police; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Neff was previously arrested in 2000 on criminal possession of a dangerous weapon when Dobbs Ferry police found 150 weapons in his home. He received a 5-year prison term and was released in 2004 after serving two years.
In another unusual case for Westchester, US Attorney Williams announced the guilty plea of MARIO ELPIDIO CHAVEZ MILLAN, a human trafficker working with Mexican “coyotes,” for conspiring to transport illegal aliens throughout the United States. As part of his plea, CHAVEZ also admitted to his participation in a kidnapping conspiracy. CHAVEZ pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Mario Elpidio Chavez Millan and others like him are an integral cog in the human trafficking machine that preys on people who attempt to enter the United States through its southern border each year. The services that Chavez offers are what make it possible for coyotes, the cartels, and others to smuggle people throughout the country, often times for large fees. And in this case — as in many cases involving human traffickers — Chavez and those working with him sought to extort their victims for even more money. This Office will use every tool available to law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those involved in human trafficking.”
According to the Complaint previously filed against CHAVEZ, the Indictment, and other filings: “On about July 10, 2023, the New York State Police in the Town of Cortlandt, New York, received a report from an individual (“Individual-1”) that Individual-1’s relative (“Victim-1”) had entered the country illegally with the assistance of “coyotes” and was being transported by a man in the United States working with the coyotes, who was later identified as CHAVEZ. Individual-1 further informed the State Police that CHAVEZ had told Victim-1 that he was not going to release Victim-1 unless Victim-1 or his/her family paid $1,000 in addition to the money that Victim-1 had already paid to the coyotes.
“That evening, State Police executed a traffic stop of CHAVEZ’s vehicle in the Town of Cortlandt. At that time, there were approximately five people in the vehicle in addition to CHAVEZ. After those passengers and Victim-1 were brought to the State Police barracks, each reported that they had illegally entered the United States and that they were being driven by CHAVEZ from in or about New Mexico to other states throughout the country. Several of CHAVEZ’s passengers stated that CHAVEZ threatened them during the drive, telling them that they could not leave without paying him an additional $1,000 and that CHAVEZ told them he had previously killed someone for running away without paying.
CHAVEZ, 19, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to transport aliens throughout the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Hudson Valley Resident Agency and Safe Streets Task Force and the New York State Police.
