Shoplifting bust leads to huge weapons cache, police say

Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Arsenal of weapons seized by police Ramadan Abdullah, of Johnson City, has been arrested after a large weapons cache was found in the Town of Union. Assault weapons and high-powered ammunition were seized.

The security alarm sounded at Gander Mountain on May 31, sending Johnson City police officers to investigate a shoplifting complaint. Nobody saw Ramadan Abdullah steal anything, police say, but he was found with suspected stolen ammunition.

Abdullah, 64, was taken into custody, and after officers asked "the right questions," Johnson City Police Chief Brent Dodge says the investigation by a team of agencies snowballed.

By June 2, police uncovered a sizable cache of illegal firearms — including about 10,000 rounds of ammunition ranging from .38-caliber to armor-piercing incendiary rounds.

On Wednesday, police announced the charges: four felony counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

If convicted of the second-degree weapons charge, Abdullah could spend up to 15 years in prison. He remains held in the Broome County jail, awaiting further court action.

"It's a tremendous blessing to take all of these high-powered weapons and high-powered ammunition off the streets," Dodge said Wednesday during a news conference at the New York State Police barracks in Kirkwood, the weapons and ammunition laid out on a long table in front of him.

Weapons seized through search warrants included:

Four loaded handguns

Eight assault weapons

64 high-capacity ammunition feeding devices

One loaded shotgun

Two rifles

Police say thousands of rounds of ammunition for rifles, pistols and assault weapons, including .50-caliber armor piercing incendiary rounds along with firearms parts, were also found by investigators.

The scope of the weapons bust was enough to shake longtime law enforcement veterans in the Southern Tier, who said they could not recall anything quite like this.

At Wednesday's news conference, New York State Police Maj. James Barnes said investigators are still working to answer two critical questions: Where did the guns come from and how did the defendant obtain them?

None of the firearms were registered to Abdullah, according to Barnes, and that alone made it illegal for him to possess them.

"There's no indications that there was a plan in place for him to commit any acts of violence," Barnes said, "but it begs the question of what was he doing with all of this and what were his intentions down the road?"

'Red flags'

Abdullah tripped the Gander Mountain security alarm on his way out of the store, according to Dodge, but officers had to thoroughly investigate in order to bring probable cause for a stolen property charge.

At the police station, officers questioned Abdullah about the suspected stolen ammunition and possible weapons it could be accompanied with.

"He gave (officers) some answers that were inconsistent with their in-depth knowledge of weapons, which set off further red flags," Dodge said Wednesday.

The state police Special Investigations Unit was brought in to assist Johnson City police with the case.

Search warrants were carried out on Abdullah's personal storage unit in the Town of Union, residence on Ackley Avenue in Johnson City, and a property in the City of Oneonta.

Among other items seized was a hardcover book with inside pages cut out to conceal a small handgun, as well as two bulletproof vests, .38-caliber ammunition and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Barnes said many of the guns are being considered assault weapons, which are illegal under New York State law.

Police are also exploring Abdullah's travel patterns; he is a United States citizen and investigators believe he has previously traveled overseas, according to Barnes.

As the investigation continues, police say, additional charges are not being ruled out.

On Twitter: @PSBABorrelli

List of weapons seized by police

PISTOLS:

H&K USP Compact Pistol, .357 SIG caliber, semi-auto pistol, with laser – LOADED

Browning Arms, 9mm caliber, semi-auto pistol w/laser – LOADED

Browning Arms Company , .22 caliber semi-auto pistol – LOADED

Glock Model 30, 45ACP caliber, semi-auto pistol w/laser – LOADED

COP Inc, Four barrel pistol, 38 Special / 357 Magnum caliber - LOADED

ASSAULT WEAPONS:

US Charter Arms AR-7 Explorer, .22 caliber, semi-auto rifle w/ Sightmark Holographic sight

Steyr-Daimler-Puch A6 AUG, .223 caliber, semi-auto rifle w/sling and scope

Kassnar Imports AK47, 7.62x39 caliber, semi-auto rifle w/folding stock

Springfield Armory M1A, 7.62 caliber, desert camo colored, semi-auto rifle w/scope

Armalite AR-180, 5.56 caliber, semi-auto rifle, w/sling

Armalite AR-180, 5.56 caliber, semi-auto rifle, with folding stock, Armalite scope, and sling

H&K SR9TC, 7.62x51 caliber, desert camo colored semi-auto rifle w/ Springfield Armory Scope

Bushmaster Model XM15-E2S, 223/5.56 caliber, Semi-auto rifle, w/ leather sling