SerpApi.Org
GREENWICH — A Connecticut man is accused of selling guns and cocaine to a police informant in Westchester County on several occasions, according to court papers. Following his arrest, the authorities raided his home in Greenwich, where they uncovered a cache of illegal guns, police said.
Michael S. Larriuz, 49, is facing charges in both New York and Connecticut state courts. Greenwich police said the search of his home in the Glenville neighborhood turned up 14 unserialized ghost guns, 15 firearms classified as assault weapons under Connecticut law, 61 high-capacity magazines, numerous firearm components, unfinished receivers, firearm manufacturing tools and firearm accessories.
A photo of the seized guns released by Greenwich police showed multiple rifles, including what appeared to be several AR-15-style weapons, numerous magazines and firearms parts, as well as several handguns.
The felony complaint from Larriuz's New York arrest said Larriuz sold cocaine and various guns to a police confidential informant, or CI, between December and May.
It's unclear from the report whether the sales involved the same confidential informant or multiple people informing for investigators.
All of the deals were conducted at the Mobil Gas Station on the Hutchinson River Parkway in White Plains, the complaint said. The guns all were functional, the complaint said. In one instance, the complaint said Larriuz provided an informant with an "Assault-Rifle" in January that was missing a part. The CI met with Larriuz the following day and then delivered the weapon "with the appropriate piece," the complaint stated.
Larriuz was arrested June 15 in a sting operation that involved the Westchester County District Attorney's Criminal Investigators Squad, 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 Greenwich police.
Officials said investigators at the time seized 22 ghost guns — so called because they're assembled from unfinished parts kits or using 3D-printed components and lack a serial number. Investigators also seized six ounces of cocaine, large-capacity magazines and three firearms, the Westchester County District Attorney's office said.
Jail records show Larriuz remains in the custody in Westchester County, New York.
Larriuz's lawyer listed on the New York state case, Bruce Koffsky, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. It was not clear whether Koffsky also is representing Larriuz in the Connecticut case.
Larriuz's is charged in New York with first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, first-degree sale of a firearm and five counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. In Connecticut, he was charged with 14 counts of possession of an unserialized firearm, 15 counts of possession of an assault weapon and 61 counts of illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine.
Police officials highlighted Larriuz's initial arrest in June as an example of police cooperation.
"I am proud that we were able to get these illegal weapons off our streets,” Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey said in a statement.
