Gun Dealers Arrested

200 Handguns Recovered From Jamaica Dealer
Two New York City firearms dealers — including one from Queens —were arrested on misdemeanor charges and their gun inventories seized for failure to require purchasers to produce valid pistol licenses.
The arrests stemmed from evidence developed by the City of New York in its civil lawsuits filed in Federal court against gun dealers for selling guns in violation of Federal statutes.
Investigators in the city lawsuit targeted gun dealers who sold guns later recovered in crimes. As part of that investigation, two New York City dealers were found in violation Penal Law 400.00(12), which states, “Before delivering a firearm to any person, the licensee shall require him to produce either a license valid under this section to carry or possess the same, or proof of lawful authority as an exempt person pursuant to section 265.20.”
In each instance, a male investigator, who failed to produce a pistol permit, handled and paid for the gun, while a female accompanying him produced a Suffolk County pistol license. The transactions were captured on video.
Arrested were Jack Togati, 40 of DF Brothers Sport Center located at 7919 New Utrecht Avenue, Brooklyn; and Michael Spallone, 43, of Woodhaven Rifle and Pistol Range, located at 74-16 Jamaica Avenue.
Both individuals’ handgun licenses and gun dealers’ licenses were suspended as a result of their arrests.
A total of 86 handguns and 161 rifles were removed for safekeeping from the DF Brothers Sport Center. A total of 200 handguns and 34 rifles were removed for safekeeping from the Woodhaven Range.