Peter Celentano, a 36-year-old resident of Bergen, New York, has pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of machineguns. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola detailed that on September 29, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Celentano’s home in Bergen. The operation involved the New York State Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). They discovered several items including 3D printed pistol frames, firearm parts and accessories, ammunition reloading equipment, tools for constructing privately made firearms, a drill press, and two 3D printed machinegun conversion devices.
Further searches were conducted at properties in Lyndonville and Medina, New York. These efforts led to the seizure of numerous AR-style lower receivers, 3D printed handguns, and additional firearm parts and accessories. In totality, over 200 firearms linked to Celentano were confiscated by law enforcement.
The investigation revealed that Celentano had provided another individual with nine lower receivers; two of these contained the “third pin hole,” which classifies them as machineguns. An associate of Celentano disposed of these firearms by throwing them off the Beals Road Bridge into the Erie Canal. A dive team from the New York State Police later recovered a cardboard box from beneath the bridge in Medina containing ten AR-style receivers along with an unmarked handgun, ammunition magazines, and other firearm components.
This case is part of an investigation carried out by multiple agencies: the New York State Police under Major Kevin Sucher; the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office led by Sheriff Joseph M. Graff; and ATF under Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller from the New York Field Division.
Celentano’s sentencing is set for October 6, 2025 before Judge Vilardo.
