New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a 625-count indictment charging five individuals for their involvement in a gun trafficking operation that sold ghost guns, assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in Queens, New York. The investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) recovered 86 firearms – including 55 ghost guns and 25 assault weapons – along with over 90 high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The operation involved transporting 3D-printed ghost guns assembled in Nassau County and serialized firearms purchased in Indiana into Queens for storage and sale.
“When gun traffickers flood neighborhoods with untraceable firearms, they fuel violence that tears communities apart,” said Attorney General James. “This investigation successfully stopped a dangerous gun trafficking operation by removing dozens of ghost guns and assault weapons from our streets. I will continue to use every available resource to stop illegal gun trafficking and protect our communities from the dangers of gun violence. I thank our partners in this investigation for their diligent work to keep New Yorkers safe.”
The takedown was the result of a joint investigation between OCTF, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The investigation included controlled firearms purchase operations, covert video surveillance, social media monitoring, and analysis of financial and telephone records.
The investigation began in late 2023 focusing on Satveer Saini and his associates Mateo Castro-Agudelo, Hargeny Fernandez-Gonzalez, Adam Youssef Senhaji-Rivas, and Milanjit Sidhu.
Saini, Fernandez-Gonzalez, and Senhaji-Rivas paid over $27,000 to purchase firearms from Indiana. Early in the investigation, Saini and Castro-Agudelo were stopped for speeding by the Ohio State Highway Patrol while driving from Indianapolis to Queens with nine unloaded serialized handguns. Subsequently, Fernandez-Gonzalez paid Sidhu to drive weapons from Indianapolis to Queens.
Fernandez-Gonzalez also bought 3D-printed ghost guns in Nassau County for other members of the trafficking ring to sell. Saini sold these firearms at various locations in Queens including Louis C. Moser Playground in Jackson Heights on a weekday afternoon and the parking lot of Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst.
Castro-Agudelo used a garage in Elmhurst to store weapons at one point hiding twelve firearms – including seven ghost guns – inside a guitar case. He transported firearms using this case to his customers. At least one firearm sale took place outside a smoke shop where he worked.
Images from Castro-Agudelo’s X (formerly Twitter) account displayed many guns along with significant amounts of cash.
The five individuals charged are:
- Hargeny Fernandez-Gonzalez (20), Richmond Hill
- Satveer Saini (20), East Elmhurst
- Adam Youssef Senhaji-Rivas (20), Astoria
- Milanjit Sidhu (20), Greenwood
- Mateo Castro-Agudelo (21), Long Island City
Each has been charged with Criminal Sale or Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree among other charges. If convicted on either count they face up to 25 years in prison.
“The defendants are accused of amassing a cache of illegal high-powered rifles…that could have undoubtedly been used to promote violence,” said HSI New York Special Agent Ivan J. Arvelo.
“These charges highlight law enforcement’s relentless efforts…leading to ongoing reductions in shootings,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban.
Attorney General James has previously announced similar indictments against individuals involved in selling ghost guns across Central New York earlier this year.
For HSI this investigation was led by HSI New York's LaGuardia Airport Border Enforcement Security Task Force which includes agents from multiple agencies under NYPD Detective Ronald Cruz's leadership.
For OAG it was led by OCTF Detective Michael Dealmeida supervised by several officials including Deputy Chief Andrew Boss.
The case is prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Ann Lee under supervision with assistance from OCTF Legal Support Analyst Alex DiGiacomo.