MASSAPEQUA, NY (TIP): A Massapequa dentist was arraigned on July 7 on a 73-count indictment related to his possession of more than 30 guns, multiple high capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition and more than a dozen “ghost guns” that were found in a search of his house in February. Paul Carey, 62, was arraigned on charges including first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, 18 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, 36 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and 18 counts of criminal possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty and is currently out on bail. Carey is due back in court on Aug. 11. If convicted of the top charge, he could face up to 25 years in prison. “The surge we have seen in illegal and untraceable weapons into Nassau County since the new year is unlike anything I have experience in my more than 30 years as a prosecutor,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “This defendant’s alleged arsenal of assault weapons, ammunition, and even machinery to mill further ‘ghost guns,’ is truly shocking, and the source of the stockpile – inside of a home that also functions as a dental practice – is disturbing. The dedicated team of prosecutors in my Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit will continue to pursue these cases, find the suppliers of these dangerous weapons, and stop them from entering our county.”

According to Donnelly, on Feb. 16, police received a call from an employee at Carey’s in-home dental practice that he had brought a gun into the office, and that the employee feared for their safety.

When police arrived, Carey refused to leave the home, Donnelly said. His wife was able to talk to him over the phone and convince him to come out, at which point he was placed under arrest and taken to a hospital for evaluation, Donnelly said. Police searched the home with written consent from Carey’s wife and found 30 guns, 20 of which violated state law and are considered assault weapons, Donnelly said. Of those, 16 are “ghost guns” which have no serial number, according to Donnelly. Officers also recovered 61 high-capacity magazines, seven silencers and thousands of rounds of ammunition, officials said. On Feb. 18, police received a call from a neighbor who said that Carey had received a large package, which was sitting outside his home. Donnelly said police obtained a search warrant and found the package contained a drill that is usually used to assemble ghost guns. Police also recovered a shotgun, rifle and handgun magazines, laser sights, ghost gun parts, rifle bayonets and more high-capacity magazines, Donnelly said.