NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A father and his son from Queens were charged with criminal possession of a weapon on Wednesday after investigators discovered ghost guns, like assault weapons, and silencers made with a 3-D printer, and other weapons, according to prosecutors.
Following an investigation into Hyung-Suk Woo's purchases of polymer-based gun components which can be easily assembled into an operable gun, police were able to obtain a search warrant into Woo’s residence.
Police conducted the search on Feb. 14. During the search, they found two loaded AR-15 style ghost guns, two 9mm semiautomatic ghost gun pistols with assault weapon characteristics, a loaded 9mm semiautomatic ghost gun pistol, 58 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, one ballistic vest, one ballistic helmet, and 15 unserialized lower receivers, including eight AR-15 style rifle lower receivers and seven semiautomatic pistol lower receivers.
Additionally, they discovered four firearm silencers, three of which were personally manufactured with 3D printing, a drill press, and other tools used to manufacture and/or assemble ghost guns, along with approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition, according to the indictment.
“Getting guns off our streets is my highest priority,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. “That commitment has made my office a leader in the fight against ghost guns. Last year, we recovered 31% of the 359 ghost guns seized citywide and we have led the city in ghost gun recoveries every year since 2021. We will keep fighting the gun plague with everything we have. Every gun seized is a tragedy averted.”
Hyung-Suk, 26, and his father, Ji-In Woo, 55, were arraigned on a 130-count complaint. The charges include 10 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, 67 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, 20 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, five counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree, and 17 counts of manufacture, transport, disposition, and defacement of weapons.
They also face five counts of criminal possession of a firearm, two counts of unlawful purchase of body armor, and four counts of unlawful possession of ammunition.
They each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.