HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. – Investigators seized 100 firearms, including assault rifles, machine guns and a grenade launcher, from homes of two men with previous weapons convictions, authorities said Thursday.
It was unclear how the pair had acquired the weapons, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said, calling the collection of firepower “a police officer’s worst nightmare.”
John Acompora, 46, and Gregory Brozski, 57, were charged with criminal weapon possession and pleaded not guilty.
Investigators said they were acting on a tip from an informant when they went to Acompora’s home in the Long Island town of West Islip on Sunday and found about 50 weapons spread among his van, basement and an unlocked shed. Among the firearms were six AK-47s, shotguns and two .44 Magnum pistols with the serial numbers defaced.
Another 50 weapons were seized Tuesday from Brozski’s home in New York City’s Queens borough, said spokesman Robert Clifford. Among them were four AK-47s, four Uzi submachine guns and a grenade launcher.
Ammunition also was found at both homes, prosecutors said.
The investigation was continuing and more charges could be filed, Clifford said.
Acompora’s attorney, Frank Panetta, declined to comment on the specific charges, but said his client has cooperated with investigators and did not believe he was doing anything wrong. Prosecutors did not immediately have information on who represents Brozski.
Acompora was released on $5,000 bail and was due back in court today. Brozski was released on his own recognizance and was due back in court on Aug. 9.
Both men, whom Clifford described as friends, were arrested in 1996 in Farmingdale following reports that they were shooting weapons in an abandoned lot. After each pleaded guilty, Brozski received 45 days in jail and Acompora was sentenced to probation, Clifford said.
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