Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a chilling revelation that sent shockwaves through New York City, the arrest and subsequent indictment of two brothers, Andrew and Angelo Hatziagelis, unveiled a sinister cache of weaponry and explosives concealed within their Astoria apartment, as was reported by USA Today. The discovery, made during a raid by the New York City Police Department on January 17, exposed a clandestine operation that included an arsenal of untraceable firearms, homemade bombs, and a disturbing “hit list” targeting law enforcement, judicial figures, politicians, celebrities, and individuals derogatorily referred to as “banker scum.”

The Queens District Attorney’s Office swiftly moved to press charges against the siblings, with Andrew aged 39 and Angelo aged 51, who collectively faced a staggering 130 criminal counts related to the possession and assembly of illegal weapons and explosives. According to the USA Today report, the investigation into the Hatziagelis brothers was sparked by intelligence gathering, which flagged their suspicious acquisition of components and accessories for so-called “ghost guns” — firearms that lack serial numbers and are often sold in kits for private assembly.

Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by authorities, Angelo Hatziagelis defiantly pleaded not guilty to all charges, as documented by the New York State court system website, while the legal status of Andrew’s case remained undisclosed at the time of reporting.

The raid on the brothers’ apartment, situated in the heart of Astoria, Queens, where they resided with their mother and another sibling, was a harrowing affair. According to information provided in the USA Today report, the discovery of explosives prompted the immediate evacuation of the entire building by the NYPD bomb squad, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Subsequent searches of the premises yielded a disturbing array of weaponry and tactical gear, including eight explosive devices, two AR-15 style ghost guns, body armor, over 600 rounds of ammunition, and smoke bombs.

In a resolute statement following the raid, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz underscored the significance of the operation, affirming that the city was undoubtedly safer with these dangerous weapons removed from circulation. As per the USA Today report she expressed a sentiment shared by many, stating, “We cannot measure the number of lives that were saved, but we do know that these weapons will never hurt anyone.”

The legal journey for the Hatziagelis brothers is far from over, with their next court appearance scheduled for February 15. If convicted on all counts, they face a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison, a consequence commensurate with the severity of their alleged crimes, as was noted in the USA Today report.

The arsenal seized from the brothers’ apartment shed light on the growing prevalence of ghost guns, a phenomenon that has alarmed law enforcement agencies nationwide. Assembled from kits available online or fabricated using 3D printing technology, ghost guns circumvent traditional gun control measures by lacking serial numbers and enabling buyers to evade background checks.

Alongside the weaponry, ammunition, and hit list, law enforcement confiscated a 3D printer owned by the brothers, emblematic of the technological advancements exploited by those seeking to subvert existing gun laws.

USA Today also reported that the Queens District Attorney’s Office has emerged as a vanguard in the fight against ghost guns, spearheading a citywide crackdown on manufacturers and traffickers. Since 2021, Queens has recorded the highest number of ghost guns recovered in the city.