Port Jervis Man Previously Pled to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for Illegally Possessing Home-Made Handgun
Defendant Was Creating “Ghost Guns” with No Serial Numbers Using a 3-D Printer
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, October 30, 2023, Noah James McCagg, 22, of Port Jervis, was sentenced in Orange County Court to ten (10) years in state prison and five (5) years of post-release supervision in relation to his guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
After conducting a joint narcotics investigation with the Orange County Drug Task Force, members of the City of Port Jervis Police engaged in a foot pursuit with McCagg on March 25, 2023 on Front Street in Port Jervis. There, they recovered a loaded 9mm pistol and arrested McCagg. Investigation revealed that McCagg had created the pistol inside his Prospect Street, Port Jervis, residence using a 3-D printer. In addition to the loaded pistol which McCagg possessed, Port Jervis Police also recovered a 3-D printer that McCagg was apparently using to create operable firearms similar to the one he was possessing on Front Street. These home-made guns, which bear no serial numbers, are commonly referred to as ghost guns and are increasingly found during the course of narcotics investigations. The lower part of the pistols can be created out of nylon and plastics using the 3-D printer. Those creating the illegal ghost guns add other gun components including barrels and trigger assemblies which are purchased separately. When combined these create fully functional pistols. The printer and gun components were recovered during the execution of a search warrant at McCagg’s residence by the Port Jervis Police, who were aided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group, and Town of Deerpark Police Department.
“Untraceable ghost guns, illegally possessed by drug dealers, contribute to violent crime in our County,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Our dedicated pursuit of violent offenders does not include the vast majority of gun owners who lawfully and safely possess legal firearms. Instead, those who carry weapons to further their illicit other crimes deserve punishment like the sentence imposed in this case. I commend the collaborative work of law enforcement in this case, including the City of Port Jervis Police Department, the Orange County Drug Task Force, the Town of Deerpark Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who illegally create and sell ghost guns in order to keep our communities safe.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory.
Criminal charges are merely allegations that a defendant has committed violations of the criminal law, and as such they are not evidence of guilt. All defendants have a presumption of innocence and are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the burden of the State of New York to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
