STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An Eltingville man whose home was raided by a firearms task force has settled his case in state Supreme Court, St. George.
John Raia, 59, of the 200 block of Beach Road, pleaded guilty two months ago to criminal possession of a semi-automatic handgun in connection with the 2024 arrest.
In exchange for his plea, Raia was sentenced Monday by Justice Alexander B. Jeong to five years of probation.
Raia, who was working as an electrician at the time of his arrest, is an avid hunter who purchased many of the guns in Pennsylvania where they are legal, according to defense attorney Michael Vitaliano.
His client — a stocky, gray-haired man who appeared well-groomed and well-mannered in court — was asked Monday by Jeong if he wanted to say anything prior to his sentencing. He declined.
Early morning raid
Homeland Security Investigations New York’s El Dorado Task Force conducted a raid May 8, 2024, at a home on the 200 block of Beach Road in Eltingville.(Staten Island Advance)
The morning raid at Raia’s house turned up a small arsenal of guns and high-capacity magazines, authorities said at the time.
Raia was indicted weeks later by a grand jury on nearly 30 counts of illegally possessing guns and ammunition, including a ghost gun.
Generally speaking, ghost gun parts can be produced using a 3D printer and assembled without a serial number, essentially making them untraceable.
Multi-agency task force
The law-enforcement operation was overseen by Homeland Security Investigations New York’s El Dorado Task Force, a multi-agency task force that includes NYPD personnel.
Homeland Security Investigations New York’s El Dorado Task Force conducted a search May 8, 2024 on the 200 block of Beach Road in Eltingville.(Staten Island Advance)
“There are multiple agencies on that task force, all of who contribute something to any type of these investigations, including today’s seizure,” said NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force Det. Michael McCaffrey at the time of the arrest.
“This is yet another fine example of how federal and local state partnerships create synergy and are able to make cases such as these, arrests such as these and seizures such as these.”