In a significant legal development, an Orlando-based gun dealer finds himself at the center of a legal storm, facing more than 70 firearm-related charges in New York. The charges arise from allegations by the New York Attorney General that the dealer shipped firearms, including “ghost guns” and various gun components, to buyers within the state.

On Wednesday, the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James made public the indictment of 65-year-old Lawrence DeStefano. DeStefano, who ran a website called Indie Guns, is now dealing with a hefty indictment comprising 71 charges, highlighting the seriousness of the case.

Visitors to the Indie Guns website would find it offering a range of items, including frame and build kits as well as parts for “ghost gunners.” These offerings raised red flags for law enforcement, given their potential use in evading federal firearm regulations.

In an earlier move in 2024, Attorney General James secured a significant legal victory against Indie Guns. Her office obtained a $7.8 million judgment along with a permanent injunction to halt their New York sales, marking a decisive blow against illegal gun distribution.

A statement from the attorney general’s office sheds light on the severity of the allegations, asserting that “the company knowingly sells its products directly to consumers without adhering to federal laws that mandate background checks, recordkeeping, and the use of serial numbers.” It further criticizes Indie Guns for promoting the notion that assembling one’s own firearms could place them “beyond the reach of government,” a message prominently displayed on their website.

Indie Guns website

In 2024, James announced that her office had secured a $7.8 million judgment and permanent injunction against Indie Guns for its New York sales.

“The company knowingly sells its products directly to consumers without following federal laws requiring background checks, recordkeeping and serial numbers, and boasts on its website that self-assembling guns allows customers to ‘put personal firearms beyond the reach of government,” a release from her office reads.

But a criminal complaint obtained by News 6 argues that DeStefano continued to sell and ship firearms, parts, and ammunition to New York customers between January and May last year.

As a result, he now faces the following charges:

• Fourth-degree conspiracy

• First-degree criminal sale of a firearm (2 counts)

• Third-degree criminal sale of a firearm (39 counts)

• Transport of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances (28 counts)

• Second-degree criminal sale of a frame or receiver

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An arrest affidavit shows that DeStefano was arrested in October by the Florida Highway Patrol, and jail records reveal that he was extradited to New York on Wednesday.

“Untraceable ghost guns put New Yorkers in danger and enable those who are barred from owning guns to obtain deadly weapons,” James said. “Lawrence Destefano and his company Indie Guns are accused of flooding New York with illegal firearms, and we are determined to bring him to justice. I will not tolerate illegal and dangerous weapons in our communities, and I thank our partners in law enforcement for their work to shut down this ghost gun supplier.”

If convicted on all counts, DeStefano faces a maximum prison sentence of over 520 years.

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You can read the full complaint below: