Bergen man faces more than 1,000 felony, misdemeanor counts of weapons charges in Yates, Shelby
ALBION – A Genesee County man is facing more than 1,000 felony and misdemeanor charges for illegal weapons and accessories, the State Police reported on Tuesday.
Peter S. Celentano
Peter S. Celentano, 35, of Bergen has been charged with first-degree criminal possession of a weapon for possessing 10 or more firearms, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
He faces 1,016 charges in all after being arrested by the New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit and Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
He faces the following charges:
In the Town of Yates –
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon (CPW) 1st – Possesses ten or more firearms (B Felony)
- CPW 3rd – possesses a large capacity ammo feeding device (517 counts) (D Felony)
- CPW 3rd – possesses a firearm silencer (D Felony)
- CPW 4th – possesses a ghost gun (26 counts) (A Misdemeanor)
- CPW 4th – possesses a ghost gun (2 counts) (A Misdemeanor)
- CPW 4th – possesses an unfinished frame (114 counts) (A Misdemeanor
In the Town of Shelby –
- CPW 3rd – possesses a large capacity ammo feeding device (191 counts) (D Felony)
- CPW 3rd – possesses a firearm silencer (D Felony)
- Unlawful wearing of body armor (E Felony)
- CPW 4th – possesses a ghost gun (77 counts) (A Misdemeanor)
- CPW 4th – possesses an unfinished frame (85 counts) (A Misdemeanor)
Celentano was charged on Tuesday following a month’s long joint investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit. State Police reported that search warrants were executed on Sept. 29 and items were located in several locations in Genesee and Orleans counties.
Photo from State Police: Law enforcement many firearms and accessories belonging to Peter S. Celentano of Bergen.
Celentano was also arraigned last month on federal charges in the Western District of New York for possession of machine gun conversion devices and lower receivers containing automatic sear pin holes. These items were also seized as a result of investigation by the State Police and Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Celentano has been held since the federal arraignment.
Celentano was arraigned at Orleans County Centralized arraignment and ordered held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Sept. 29 at Celentano’s Rochester Street apartment in Bergen.
During the search, investigators recovered two 3D printed pistol frames, firearm parts and accessories, ammunition reloading equipment, an AR 80% style Jig and drill, a drill press, and various other tools related to the manufacturing of firearms, according to an Oct. 22 press release from U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross of the Western District of New York.
In addition, investigators also searched two properties associated with Celentano in Lyndonville and an apartment on East Avenue in Medina, recovering numerous AR-style lower receivers, 3D printed handguns, and additional firearm parts and accessories. Approximately 59 of the AR-style receivers contained a “third pin hole,” qualifying them as machine guns, Ross said in the press release.
On Oct. 9, a dive team searched the Erie Canal beneath the Beals Road bridge in Medina. A cardboard box was located and retrieved from the bottom of the canal. Inside were 10 AR-style receivers, an unmarked handgun, magazines, and additional firearm parts, Ross stated.
The State Police Community Stabilization Unit, Special Investigations Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation that resulted in the charges on Tuesday.
