A suspected jihadist from Queens who was arrested armed near LaGuardia Airport has been charged with more than a dozen weapons-related offenses, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Judd Sansone, 27, was pulled over a few blocks from the airport on June 12 for allegedly driving a vehicle with concealed license plates, and police said he had a frightening array of weapons and bulletproof vests hidden in his car.
Prosecutors on Tuesday released a long list of weapons found in the defendant’s car, including guns, knives, axes and a black baton inscribed with the words “I have no choice” and “Today you will learn” as well as Arabic words meaning “I ask God for forgiveness.”
A bulletproof vest with a NYPD patch was also found in the car.
“Queens is home to two large airports that must be kept secure at all times,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “We are deeply concerned when police pull over people and recover batons, loaded weapons, ammunition and NYPD paraphernalia with inflammatory language written on them.”
Police stopped Sansone at the intersection of 86th Street and 23rd Avenue in East Elmhurst around 1:30 a.m. They noticed the rear license plate of his 2013 Ford Explorer was covered with black film.
According to prosecutors, when officers approached the vehicle they observed Sanson carrying a knife in a holster in his right pant leg and ordered Sanson to remove the knife and place it in the center console of the vehicle, which Sanson did.
Police found a loaded Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun under the driver’s seat, as well as nine loaded magazines and 127 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a bag on the back seat.
Also found hanging from the roof of the car were a black baton with a silver blade taped to it, a whip, handcuffs, another baton with writing on it, a stun gun, a machete, a switchblade knife, a butterfly knife, a hatchet, a Guy Fawkes mask and an NYPD bulletproof vest.
Prosecutors said at the arraignment that investigators found “disturbing photos” on Sanson’s Facebook page but did not provide details.
“The fact that he was located just a few blocks from the airport is concerning,” Katz said after his arraignment last month. “You have to ask about intent.”
He is charged with two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, four counts of third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, 10 counts of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a handgun and ammunition, unlawful use of a police uniform or insignia and two counts of operating or parking a motor vehicle without a proper license plate.
If convicted, Sanson faces up to 15 years in prison.
He is due to appear in court again on July 22.
