Two people arrested and illegal firearms and parts confiscated

NANUET – Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced that two people have been arrested in an ongoing illegal firearms investigation in Rockland County.

In May 2024, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office received information regarding an illegal firearm component shipped to Nanuet, NY. Investigators from the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit, sworn against each other as officers of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Task Force, immediately began an investigation into the intended recipients of this item. In cooperation with Department of Homeland Security Investigations and with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Southern District of New York District Attorney’s Office, it was determined that numerous illegal firearm parts had been shipped to a home in Nanuet, NY.

It was also discovered that Vivian Wu and Tao Zhang, who was previously convicted of a crime in 2015, live at the residence.

On July 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed on a home in Nanuet by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations’ New York Special Response Team, United States Postal Inspections Services, Clarkstown Police Department, New York State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. As a result of the search warrant, two loaded and unserialized semi-automatic handguns, three high-capacity magazines, five major components of a firearm, and a large quantity of unserialized ghost gun parts were found. The firearms were not securely locked and were within reach of two children, ages 7 and 9, who live in the home. The following individuals were arrested:

• Tao Zhang, 35, of Nanuet, NY, was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all related to two 9mm semi-automatic pistols, three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (based on three high-capacity magazines: two 31-capacity 9mm Glock-style magazines and one 30-capacity 5.56/.223 caliber AR-15-style magazine), five counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for possession of major components of a firearm, sixty-five counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for non-serialized ghost gun parts, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

• Vivian Wu, 35, of Nanuet, NY, was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all related to two 9mm semi-automatic pistols, three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (based on three high-capacity magazines: two 31-capacity 9mm Glock-style magazines and one 30-capacity 5.56/.223 caliber AR-15-style magazine), 65 counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for non-serialized Ghost Gun parts, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II said, “This investigation is an important step in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal firearms in Rockland County. Working with our federal law enforcement partners, a search warrant was executed that resulted in the discovery of firearms and a large quantity of parts used to build firearms. The arrest of two individuals underscores my office’s focus on protecting the community from gun violence, and we will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure that illegal firearms are removed from our streets and that those who possess them are held accountable. I express my appreciation to Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of NY, New York State Police, ATF, Customs and Border Protection, and the Clarkstown Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.”

“This successful operation illustrates the power of collaboration between Homeland Security Investigations Hudson Valley and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office. Together with the assistance of ATF, the US Postal Inspection Service and the New York State Police, our efforts resulted in the arrest of these individuals, one of whom had a prior felony conviction and was receiving shipments of firearm parts to allegedly
“We have our own ghost guns,” said Ivan J. Arvelo, special agent in charge of HSI New York. “This operation sends the message that we will confront illegal firearms activity with the full force of our combined resources and expertise.”

The following agencies were involved in the investigation: Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, United State Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York, New York State Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Customs and Border Protection, and the Clarkstown Police Department.

Tao Zhang and Vivian Wu were both remanded to the Rockland County Jail in the City of Clarkstown before the Honorable Leslie Kahn on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 surety bond, and $200,000 partially secured bail.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Peterson and Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Reilly are prosecuting the case.

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.