Five individuals have been convicted and sentenced for trafficking illegal ghost guns, assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and ammunition in Queens, New York. The convictions follow an investigation led by the New York Attorney General’s Office Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), with support from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Authorities recovered 86 firearms, including 55 ghost guns and 25 assault weapons, as well as over 90 high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
The investigation focused on Satveer Saini and his associates: Mateo Castro-Agudelo, Hargeny Fernandez-Gonzalez, Adam Youssef Senhaji-Rivas, and Milanjit Sidhu. According to officials, the group trafficked firearms by transporting 3D-printed ghost guns assembled in Nassau County and serialized firearms purchased in Indiana into Queens for storage and sale.
Attorney General Letitia James stated: “Gun traffickers who specialize in selling illegal and untraceable weapons undermine our commonsense gun safety laws and put all New Yorkers at risk. With this investigation, we put a dangerous gun trafficking ring out of business and brought its members to justice. My office will continue to use all the resources at our disposal to take illegal guns off our streets and protect New Yorkers from gun violence.”
The joint investigation began in 2023. In July 2024, Attorney General James announced a 625-count indictment against the five defendants. Investigative methods included controlled firearm purchases, covert video surveillance, social media monitoring, and analysis of financial and telephone records.
Investigators found that Saini, Fernandez-Gonzalez, and Senhaji-Rivas purchased firearms from Indiana due to its less restrictive gun laws compared to New York. Fernandez-Gonzalez also bought 3D-printed ghost guns in Nassau County for resale in Queens. Saini sold firearms at various locations including Louis C. Moser Playground in Jackson Heights during a weekday afternoon and the parking lot of Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst.
Castro-Agudelo and Fernandez-Gonzalez stored weapons in a garage in Elmhurst; twelve firearms—including seven ghost guns—and numerous high-capacity magazines were hidden inside a guitar case there. Castro-Agudelo used this case to transport weapons to customers; one sale occurred outside a smoke shop where he worked.
The five convicted individuals are:
– Mateo Castro-Agudelo (21), Long Island City
– Hargeny Fernandez-Gonzalez (20), Richmond Hill
– Satveer Saini (20), East Elmhurst
– Milanjit Sidhu (20), Greenwood, Indiana
– Adam Youssef Senhaji-Rivas (20), Astoria
Castro Agudelo pleaded guilty to Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree—a Class B violent felony—and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree—a Class E non-violent felony—receiving nine-and-a-half years’ state prison with five years’ post-release supervision.
Fernandez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree—a Class B violent felony—and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree—a Class E non-violent felony—receiving five-and-a-half years’ state prison with five years’ post-release supervision.
Saini pleaded guilty on July 7, 2025 to Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree—a Class B violent felony—and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree—a Class E non-violent felony—also forfeiting $11,925 from undercover sales; he was sentenced September 10 to nine years’ state prison with five years’ post-release supervision.
Sidhu pleaded guilty March 7 to Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree—a Class E non-violent felony—and received time served: about sixteen months.
Senhaji-Rivas pleaded guilty November 2 to Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree—a Class B violent felony—and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree—a Class E non-violent felony—receiving five years’ state prison with five years’ post-release supervision.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch commented: “The NYPD’s strategy for driving shootings to historic lows is simple: identify the guns, identify the people moving them, and build the cases that take them off our streets. This investigation is that strategy in action. The women and men of the NYPD helped seize 86 firearms… before they could ever be used to harm New Yorkers. And today, the five individuals behind this gun-trafficking pipeline are off the streets for good.”
HSI New York Special Agent Ricky J. Patel said: “The convictions and sentencings of these individuals mark a decisive victory… The defendants’ criminal enterprise… fueled the cycle of gun violence… HSI New York remains resolute… I commend [all partners] for their unwavering dedication.”
Multiple agencies contributed expertise or assistance during this operation including federal law enforcement bodies such as ATF’s Indianapolis III Field Office; local offices like Manhattan District Attorney’s Ghost Gun Initiative; police departments across several states; district attorneys’ offices; U.S Attorneys’ Offices from Southern District of Indiana/Eastern District of New York; U.S Customs & Border Patrol; among others.
Prosecution was led by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Amanda Fix along with former assistant deputies Ann Lee & Joseph Marciano under Downstate OCTF Deputy Chief Lauren Abinanti’s supervision.
