Medford Man charged in 'the largest ghost gun seizure' in Suffolk history indicted, held on $3M bond

A Medford man arrested last month in what authorities called "the largest ghost gun seizure in Suffolk County history" was ordered held on $3 million partially secured bond Wednesday after being arraigned on a weapons indictment in Suffolk County Supreme Court, the Suffolk District Attorney's Office said.

Daniel Probeck, 35, was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his home on June 12, when Suffolk police recovered more than 100 firearms, including assault weapons equipped with cosmetic and accessory features banned in New York, the district attorney's office said. Those features included threaded barrels, pistol grips, telescoping stocks, collapsible stocks, flash suppressors and "other aftermarket components."

That search also recovered ammunition, as well as 67 silencers, 12 three-dimensional printers and "an assortment of unfinished gun components and tools used to manufacture weapons" — those, the district attorney's office said, being parts used in untraceable ghost guns.

The new indictment against Probeck charged him with one count each of first-degree and second-degree criminal sale of a firearm and first-degree and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Records indicate acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz ordered Probeck held on $3 million partially secured bond, $2 million bond or $500,000 cash bail. It was not immediately clear Thursday if Probeck was able to post bond or bail.

Court records show during a June 13 arraignment on arrest charges, Probeck entered a plea of not guilty.

John LoTurco, who represents Probeck, said his client "is a 35-year-old father of two children, who has been with his wife for 17 years. He has no criminal convictions, he is a lifelong Suffolk resident and has been a member of the steamfitters union for 12 years."

LoTurco said his office will "meticulously scrutinize the evidence by reviewing the discovery to assess our strategy going forward."

The district attorney's office said, in conjunction with Suffolk police, it launched an investigation of Probeck in March focused on his alleged illegal sales of "un-serialized illegal guns in Suffolk County."

During that investigation, the district attorney's office said, Probeck is alleged to have sold "four firearms, three of which were assault rifles, to an undercover police officer on multiple occasions in exchange for cash."

"This defendant was not simply a firearms collector, he is alleged to have manufactured and sold illegal firearms," Suffolk District Attorney Ray  Tierney said in a statement, adding: "This defendant is alleged to have been building and selling illegal weapons for profit."

Due back in court on Aug. 5, Probeck is facing 25 years in prison — as well as 5 years of post-release supervision — if convicted on the top count.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”