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On March 16, Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a North Carolina man was convicted of numerous weapons possession charges Friday following a jury trial in Westchester County Court.
Justin Arjani, 43, of Rocky Point, N.C., was convicted of two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, and related traffic infractions.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 22 before Judge Anne Bianchi.
DA Cacace said: “Police officers conducting simple traffic stops put themselves in enormous peril, as exemplified by this case, where the defendant, after being pulled over, was found to be in possession of two loaded, unlicensed firearms.
“That the guns were operable and loaded with large-capacity magazines is especially concerning. Thanks to the officer’s intuition and quick-thinking, two illegal guns were taken off the street, and the people of Peekskill are safer today for it.”
On March 9, 2025, the defendant was driving a 2017 Mercedes-Benz in the area of Highland Ave. and Orchard St. A Peekskill Police Officer on patrol noticed that the vehicle did not have a front license plate. When the officer got behind the vehicle, he noticed that the numbers and letters on the rear license plate, a temporary North Carolina license plate, were obstructed by a plastic covering. After conducting a traffic stop, the officer determined that the defendant did not have a valid driver’s license and had an active bench warrant.
The defendant was arrested, and an inventory search of the vehicle revealed a semiautomatic pistol with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition in the pistol’s magazine. A further search revealed a second semiautomatic pistol with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition in the pistol’s magazine. The defendant did not have a license to possess either firearm.
The investigation was conducted by the Peekskill Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Luis Felix and Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief Jonathan Strongin.
