QUEENS, N.Y. — Two brothers from Astoria have pleaded guilty to multiple weapons charges after a stockpile of improvised explosive devices, ghost guns, and 3D-printed firearms was uncovered in their shared apartment, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Friday.
Andrew Hatziagelis, 41, and Angelo Hatziagelis, 52, both residing on 36th Avenue, entered guilty pleas before Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino. Andrew pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal possession of a weapon and other related charges. Angelo pleaded guilty to lesser weapons-related charges.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 2, when Andrew is expected to receive 10 years in prison, and Angelo is expected to be sentenced to four years. Both will be subject to five years of post-release supervision.
The charges stem from a court-authorized search on January 17, 2024, when law enforcement officers recovered several operational IEDs, a partially built trip-wire device, ghost guns, over 600 rounds of ammunition, body armor, and a “hit list” containing names of police, judges, and politicians. The NYPD Bomb Squad evacuated the building upon discovering the live explosives.
“These defendants possessed untraceable weapons and improvised bombs capable of causing untold harm,” Katz said in a statement. “Thanks to the proactive investigative work of my Crime Strategies and Intelligence Bureau, lives were saved.”
Investigation began with ghost gun probe
The investigation began in September 2020 when analysts flagged suspicious purchases of firearm parts. A collaborative effort followed, involving the Queens DA’s Office, NYPD, Homeland Security Investigations, New York State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The search also uncovered 3D printers, anarchist propaganda, radios tuned to police frequencies, high-capacity magazines, and notebooks with bomb-making instructions.
The operation was led by the Queens DA’s Detectives Bureau and the NYPD Major Case Field Intelligence Team under the supervision of Deputy Chief Courtney Nilan. NYPD Bomb Squad members provided tactical support during the raid.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Bello is prosecuting the case, assisted by a team of intelligence analysts and supervised by senior officials in the Violent Criminal Enterprise and Crime Strategies Bureaus.