A very dangerous incident, in which an Elmsford man was driving around Westchester with 10 swastikas painted on his car and a loaded gun inside, is being addressed by Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah’s office with the recent announcement that Hani Saleh, 47, has been indicted for the illegal possession of semi-automatic weapons, ammunition and gun paraphernalia, which were found in his car and seized from his home in accordance with an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO).
DA Rocah said: “This is an example of how New York’s strong gun safety laws can keep our communities safe by permitting law enforcement and prosecutors to take action when weapons are in the hands of individuals who should not have them. I commend our federal and local law enforcement partners for working swiftly to apprehend this defendant.”
It is alleged that at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 25, 2023, the defendant, who had no permit to legally purchase or possess firearms in New York, was in possession of a semi-automatic firearm and a large capacity ammunition feeding device, also known as an extended magazine, containing 10 .40 caliber rounds of ammunition, which were found under the driver’s seat of his vehicle.
White Plains police apprehended the defendant after he was observed around White Plains driving his car, which was covered in writing and images, including nearly a dozen swastikas, and allegedly had forged license plates.
Following the defendant’s arrest, law enforcement secured an ERPO–a court order that temporarily removes firearms from any individual who poses a risk of harming themselves or others–and seized from his residence in Elmsford an additional rifle, three semi-automatic pistols, six extended magazines (five of which were loaded), and a silencer.
In addition to the loaded semi-automatic weapon found in defendant’s car, red flag laws allowed police to seize additional firearms from defendant’s home
Saleh was arraigned on Mar. 8 before Judge Larry Schwartz in Westchester County Court on an indictment by a Westchester County Grand Jury for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, eight counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, five counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, all felonies, and two vehicle and traffic violations. The defendant’s next court date is April 10.
Saleh has been free on bail after being remanded to the Westchester County jail upon his October arrest. The defendant made a bail application and posted $50,000 cash bail. On March 8, prosecutors requested remand or increased bail at $150,000 cash. Citing the defendant’s willful and persistent failure to appear in court leading up to his arraignment and posing a significant flight risk, the Court set bail at $100,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $750,000 partially secured bond at 10%.
White Plains Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ciuffi of the Trials and Investigations Division.
The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
