Swords, brass knuckles among items seized in Suffolk County gun trafficking busts

HAUPPAUGE (WABC) -- Two men, one currently and one formerly from Long Island, have been arrested in separate gun trafficking investigations in Suffolk County.

District Attorney Thomas Spota announced the indictments of 40-year-old Terry Byrd, of Bladenboro, North Carolina, formerly of Wyandanch, and 36-year-old Frederick Miller, of Lake Grove.

The charges stem from two separate gun trafficking investigations by police detectives and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Authorities say Byrd purchased guns in North Carolina and returned to Suffolk County to sell them, while Miller is accused of buying guns from sellers he met in forums on firearms-related websites and then illegally selling them and ammo for cash.

Spota said more than 50 handguns, ammunition including high-capacity magazines and clips, swords, switchblades, an illegal stun gun and sets of brass knuckles were recovered.

Byrd and Miller are both facing dozens of charges, including the criminal possession and criminal sale of firearms.

Miller, who authorities said has mental health problems, was allegedly getting the weapons in pieces through online chatrooms, assembling and then selling them.