T&T Tactical Owner and Son Arrested in Undercover Investigation

newhydepark.patch.com ^ | February 17, 2011 | Matthew Hogan

[neverdem]

Nine people arrested in total following an undercover investigation into the sale of assault weapons at gun shops throughout Nassau County.

The owner of a New Hyde Park business and his son were among nine people arrested following an undercover investigation into the sale of assault weapons at gun shops throughout the county, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced Thursday.

Bellmore residents Martin Tretola, 55, owner of T&T Gunnery in Seaford and T&T Tactical in New Hyde Park and his son Thomas Tretola, 24, who is also one of his father's employees, were both arrested as a result of the investigation.

Three other employees of Tretola's shops were also arrested.

During the 10-month probe, four Nassau County gun shops illegally sold assault weapons to undercover DA investigators and members of the New York State Police, Rice said. As a result of the investigation, Rice's office has arrested and charged four store owners and five of their employees.

Under New York State law, only police officers, peace officers, and duly authorized members of the military are legally permitted to possess assault weapons.

One category of an assault weapon is defined as a semi-automatic rifle with the ability to accept a magazine carrying more than five rounds of ammunition and that must also have at least two additional characteristics. These additional characteristics can include a folding or telescoping stock, a protruding pistol grip, a bayonette mount, a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor, or a grenade launcher.

Rice said that shop owners were breaking the law by temporarily modifying the weapons to appear as though they lacked the required characteristics of an assault weapon. However, the temporary modification was easily reversible, thereby making them full-fledged assault weapons. For example, a pin was placed in the stock of a weapon in an attempt to prevent its collapse. However, the pins were designed to be easily removable making the stock collapsible.

Rice said Martin Tretola went so far as to demonstrate to undercover officers how to remove the temporary pin from the fixed stock making it collapsible. Both T&T Gunnery and Hunter Sports were on notice that civilians who purchased these weapons from their stores had been arrested and charged with illegal possession of an assault weapon in both Nassau and Suffolk counties, but they continued to sell these weapons.

"The nine men arrested today were openly breaking the law, making a practice of putting profits before the safety of our citizens, and flooding our streets with dangerous assault weapons," Rice said. "Make no mistake, these are combat-specific weapons and not intended for hunting. They have no place on our streets or in the hands of civilians."

Martin Tretola, the owner of two gun shops in Nassau County, is charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the Second Degree, Unlawfully Disposing of an Assault Weapon, and a misdemeanor violation of the Firearms Licensing Provisions. T&T Tactical was charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First and Second Degrees. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Martin Tretola's Seaford business, T&T Gunnery, has been charged with Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First and Second Degrees. His New Hyde Park business, T&T Tactical, along with the following defendants and businesses are charged with Unlawfully Disposing of an Assault Weapon and a misdemeanor violation of the Firearms Licensing Provision. Each individual defendant faces up to seven years in prison and each business faces up to a $10,000 fine per felony or double the company's gain from the criminal conduct.

• Mark Wroobel, 40, of Smithtown. Wroobel and his business, Hunter Sports in Massapequa, are both charged with two counts of Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and two misdemeanor violations of Firearms Licensing provisions.
• Andrew Chernoff, 50, of Malverne. Chernoff and his business, Coliseum Gun Traders, LTD in Uniondale, are both charged with Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and a misdemeanor violation of Firearms Licensing provisions.
• Carmine Rotondo, 68, of Garden City. Rotondo, an employee of Coliseum Gun Traders, LTD, is charged with Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and a misdemeanor violation of Firearms Licensing provisions.
• Michael Marinello, 41, of East Meadow. Marinello and his business, South Shore Sportsman in Merrick, are both charged with two counts of Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and two misdemeanor violations of Firearms Licensing provisions.

Four of Martin Tretola's employees were also charged as follows:

• Thomas Tretola, 24, of Bellmore. Thomas Tretola, an employee of T&T Gunnery in Seaford and Martin Tretola's son, is charged with two counts of Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and a misdemeanor violation of Firearms Licensing provisions. T&T Gunnery is also charged and is owned by Martin Tretola.
• Stuart Sansevino, 59, of North Babylon. Sansevino, an employee of T&T Gunnery, is charged with three counts of Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and 12 misdemeanor violations of Firearms Licensing provisions.
• Hank Greenberg, 32, of Oceanside. Greenberg, an employee of T&T Gunnery, is charged with three counts of Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and three misdemeanor violations of Firearms Licensing provisions.
• Morgan Owens, 22, of West Islip. Owens, an employee of T&T Tactical, is charged with one count of Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances and a misdemeanor violation of Firearms Licensing provisions.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

[RicocheT]

Idiot laws passed by idiot legislators and enforced by idiot police and DAs. Plus, these laws infringe on our Second Amendment rights as it covers all firearms and similar self defense weapons. Self defense includes the defense against a tyrant government.

These law enforcement assets would be better spent or directed against real criminals who rob, assault and kill we honest citizens.

[SJSAMPLE]

I like it.
Consider it, Sir, “appropriated” ;)

[JrsyJack]

What a complete load of BS. Where do the “journalists” get their info from because we all know that an adjustable stock or a flash suppressor makes a gun really, really dangerous.

The issue here is Nassau County’s post ban configuration requirements that adopt a specious definition of an assualt weapon. Did these shops sell full-auto, select fire weapons to unlicensed customers...no. Did they sell grenade launchers or RPGs to drug lords...no. They sold semi-auto guns under the law as it stands in 99.9% of the country.

[Travis McGee]

Another reason for folks to move to a free state.

[fella]

So where are the assault weapons?

[Sir Gawain]

When thugs strike, there should be retribution until they are afraid to strike again.

[Sir_Ed]

Not so...in most states a person can own a full-auto weapon by applying to the NFA branch of the ATF along with fingerprints, $200 and the serial number of the weapon you’re buying.

The ATF will conduct a background check, as will the local LEO’s, and in six months or so you’ll get a tax stamp showing you are the legal owner of the weapon.

You can then receive said weapon, and can take it and shoot it anywhere in your state where it’s legal, as long as you have copies of the tax stamp, and if you wish to take it across state lines, or send it to a Class III manufacturer to repair, you file a request with the ATF to do so.

Ed

[Renegade]

Cross over into a free state like PA and all those “goodies” are legal on weapons.AMAZING WHAT YOU SEE AT THE RANGE !

[E. Pluribus Unum]

“Did you really think we want those laws observed? We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against... We’re after power and we mean it... There’s no way to rule innocent men.

“The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.

“Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt.

“Now that’s the system, Mr. Reardon, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.” —Dr. Floyd Ferris (ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand, 1957)

[FourPeas]

So true. It’d make a good tagline, too.

[dusttoyou]

No one has spoke more thruth!

Was on a meth lab Fed Jury and the DEA was worse than Keystone Cops and made up shite with every breathe even though they didn’t need to as the hard evidence was plenty to convict.

[sargon]

"Make no mistake, these are combat-specific weapons and not intended for hunting. They have no place on our streets or in the hands of civilians."

Laughable, transparent propaganda from the DA's office.

Do New Yorkers actually believe this shit? Does anyone?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Thanks for the correction. I knew an FFL would put you in a position to own such but would, in fact, be be overkill if you do not intend to resell same.

Either way...it is an intrusive, onerous and if I might add...reprehensible process that goes against the very spirit and letter of the 2nd Amendment. Just sayin'.

[FreedomPoster]

At the top of the quotes on my FR profile page.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Thank you for posting my all-time favorite quote from any novel.

It is a cautionary tale for our times...but...I preach to the choir.

[SuperLuminal]

"One category of an assault weapon is defined..."

Therein we have the big lie! Probably this makes 80% of the long gun owners in the U.S. criminals in the eyes of NY.

Assault weapon definition soon to include the pickup truck and SUV...

[Munz]

>So in New York State we (the people) can purchase rifles that can be selectively switched to fully automatic?<

Absolutely not

[Munz]

No they were arrested for making cosmetic changes to weapons that are outlawed - to make them appear as though they were not the same. But the cosmetic changes could be taken away by the new owners without a problem. Thus reverting them to a gun that has been banned

[Munz]

>this is not accurate - Gander Mtn sells flat tops all day long<

I think what they meant was machine guns. But they confused the issue your right

[Munz]

>My God...New York has become an affront to the American way of life.<

Yup, NY has some of the strictest gun laws on the books. and the biggest problem is that they are never satisfied with them. They always want more