Florida Gunrunner Faces 71 Counts in NY Ghost Gun Pipeline

NEW YORK – Lawrence Destefano, a Florida man running guns to the streets of New York, is facing a staggering 71-count indictment, Attorney General Letitia James and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced today. The charges stem from a relentless investigation into Destefano’s operation, which allegedly flooded the city with illegal firearms, ghost gun kits, and high-capacity magazines. The bust recovered 12 firearms, two complete ghost gun kits, 28 high-capacity magazines, and a chilling 1,400+ rounds of ammunition destined for Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau County.

This isn’t Destefano’s first brush with the law. He’s the owner and operator of Indie Guns, a Florida-based retailer already under fire. James previously sued Indie Guns in June 2022 for peddling tens of thousands of illegal, unfinished firearm parts – the building blocks for untraceable handguns and assault-style weapons. In March 2024, James secured a $7.8 million judgment and court order against the company, attempting to halt their illicit sales in New York. Clearly, that wasn’t enough.

“Untraceable ghost guns put New Yorkers in danger and enable those who are barred from owning guns to obtain deadly weapons,” James stated bluntly. “Lawrence Destefano and his company Indie Guns are accused of flooding New York with illegal firearms, and we are determined to bring him to justice. I will not tolerate illegal and dangerous weapons in our communities.”

NYPD Commissioner Tisch echoed the sentiment, calling the case a “stark reminder of the threat that untraceable ghost guns pose.” She added, “Lawrence Destefano and his Indie Guns company showed a blatant disregard for public safety when they allegedly sold and deceptively shipped illegal firearms and components into our city. Now, because of the relentless work of NYPD investigators, this iron pipeline has been shut down and those responsible are being held accountable.”

Federal agencies joined the takedown, highlighting the widespread impact of Destefano’s alleged scheme. Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, emphasized the danger posed by ghost guns: “They are untraceable, easy to assemble, and can be deadly if they end up in the wrong hands.” Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, confirmed the U.S. mail was used to facilitate the illegal gun trafficking, vowing to aggressively pursue anyone exploiting the postal system for such purposes.

The joint investigation, involving the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), the NYPD, and HSI, signals a coordinated effort to combat the escalating threat of ghost guns and illegal firearms trafficking. Destefano’s 71-count indictment is a clear message: those who profit from arming criminals will face the full force of the law. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are possible as authorities continue to trace the flow of these illegal weapons.