GOSHEN – Carlos Martinez, 49, of Chester, has been arrested after a three-month investigation into the sale of drugs and possession of illegal firearms in the Chester area. A search warrant was executed on Friday at a Chester residence that resulted in the seizure of two 9mm ghost guns, equipment used to assemble ghost guns, ammunition, $5,190 of cash, and scales typically used for the packaging of narcotics.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and Sheriff Paul Arteta said Martinez was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, arraigned, and remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail. The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Orange County Drug Task Force (OCDTF), Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Special Operations Group, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
“Ghost guns, which by their nature are illegal to possess, fuel and aid violence in the narcotics trade,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Our law enforcement partners, working together with the dedicated prosecutors in my office, will continue to pursue offenders who illegally possess these dangerous firearms. I commend the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved in this investigation and arrest. Enforcement actions like this one are intended to keep our streets safe from the scourge of gun violence.”
Sheriff Paul Arteta praised the work of the OCDTF, saying “This coordinated joint effort between our local county agencies has successfully removed illegally possessed firearms from the streets and out of our community. We remain committed to providing our Orange County Drug Task- Force with all the resources they need to continue battling illegal gun possession and drug sales in Orange County. I am proud of the work our investigators have been doing for the citizens of our county. There is no place for illegal guns or drugs in our neighborhoods.”
