Deputy sheriff stops vehicle with no plates, finds suspect with illegal gun

The incident occurred at approximately 8:45 a.m. when the deputy noticed the Range Rover traveling without its plates. The vehicle abruptly pulled over to the side of the road on Jersey Avenue.

The deputy pulled behind the Range Rover and contacted the driver, who identified himself as Lennie Ignacio. A records check revealed that Ignacio had an active $15,000 warrant issued from Kings County.

The deputy questioned the suspect and learned Ignacio had a handgun tucked inside his waistband.  The deputy took the gun and also located a 30-round magazine in the suspect’s pocket. The magazine contained 12 rounds of live 9mm ammunition. The deputy also found a small amount of methamphetamine and heroin in the vehicle.

A closer examination, the deputy discovered that the firearm had a mechanism that converted the firearm from a semi-automatic to a fully automatic firearm. This conversion allows the firearm to be fired similarly to a machine gun. Ignacio told the deputy the gun was homemade and that the gun did not have a serial number. The deputy also determined that the suspect had a felony conviction and could not possess firearms or ammunition.

The deputy arrested Ignacio and booked him into the Kings County Jail, charging the suspect with possession of a firearm by ex-felon, possession of machine gun, possession of large-capacity magazine, carrying a concealed weapon on his person, and possession of illegal drugs. Bail was set at $135,000.