Two New York brothers face 130 charges after an “arsenal” of ghost guns and homemade explosives were found in their apartment, prosecutors say

(CNN) — Two New York City brothers have been charged with 130 counts of illegal possession, handling and sale of firearms after an “arsenal” of ghost guns, assault rifles and improvised explosive devices was found, prosecutors said in a raid on the defendants. Apartment in Queens.

Brothers Angelo and Andrew Hatziagelis are under investigation by the Queens District Attorney’s Office for the questionable purchase of firearms components and accessories and the manufacture of illegal ghost guns, a type of untraceable homemade firearm. The prosecutor’s office made the announcement in a press release Monday.

During a Jan. 17 search of his apartment, officers found instructions on how to make bombs, anarchist propaganda and a written “hit list” of “police, judges, politicians, celebrities” and “banker scum,” the office said. District Attorney.

Angelo Hatziagelis, 51, and Andrew Hatziagelis, 39, shared an Astoria apartment with their mother and another brother, prosecutors said.

A search of the apartment turned up eight “fully powered” improvised explosive devices (IEDs), two loaded AR-15-style ghost guns, more than 600 rounds of ammunition and three sets of body armor, according to the district attorney. Office

The apartment building, which is located across the street from the power plant, was evacuated after improvised explosive devices were found by the New York City Police Department’s bomb squad, according to the statement. The US Department of Homeland Security and state police also assisted in the search.

“This stockpile of weapons, including explosives and an untraceable 3D-printed ghost gun, has the potential for horrific carnage,” the city’s police commissioner, Edward Caban, said in a statement.

New York City officials are among local, state and federal authorities cracking down on the proliferation of ghost guns, which do not have serial numbers and can be extremely difficult to track and regulate. Queens has the most ghost gun recoveries of any New York City borough since 2021, with more than 30% of the 359 such weapons recovered in the city last year, according to Katz’s office.

“The city is safer today,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “The Office of Crime Intelligence and Strategies launches investigations every day so that we find illegal weapons, including firearms and in this case explosive devices. We cannot quantify the number of lives that have been saved, but we know that these weapons were never there. I do not intend to harm anyone. No.”

According to the indictment, charges against the brothers include criminal possession of a weapon or firearm, reckless endangerment, criminal sale of a firearm and illegal possession of dangerous fireworks.

Angelo Hatziagelis pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to court filings. CNN has contacted an attorney for her brother.

The brothers are awaiting arraignment on the 130-count charges and are scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 15, according to Katz’s office.

If convicted, each could face up to 25 years in prison, according to prosecutors.

— CNN’s Josh Campbell contributed to this report.