Police find arsenal of weapons, ammunition at Queens man’s apartment

A Queens man is facing more than two decades behind bars after authorities found a stockpile of weapons, ammunition, drugs and much more inside his apartment earlier this week.

Lee Bergman, 43, of Rockaway was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a forged instrument, unauthorized possession of pistol/revolver/ammunition, permits for possession and purchase of rifle and shotgun and unlawful use of a police uniform or emblem.

According to prosecutors, Bergman had allegedly ordered fake NYPD identification cards, which caused police to launch an investigation. On March 8, a court-authorized search warrant was executed at his Shore Front Parkway home where police seized 18 high-capacity magazines; about 16,993 rounds of ammunition; a loaded .38-caliber revolver; a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol; three .22-caliber revolvers; a .24-caliber revolver; numerous rounds for various caliber weapons; an AK-47 assault weapon with numerous rounds of 7.62-millimeter ammunition; a pistol grip AR-15 (which was reported stolen); a .30-30-caliber rifle; two .22-caliber rifles; and five 12-gauge shotguns.

“The defendant is accused of turning his apartment into an arsenal of deadly weapons. It is very disturbing to find the amount of guns and ammunition stockpiled in an apartment in a residential community,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “Illegal firearms pose an extreme risk to the general public and will not be tolerated in Queens County.”

Brown added that police also allegedly discovered six flare guns with sub-caliber devices that allow the flare gun to fire various rounds of ammunition; a 20-inch expandable baton, pair of metal knuckles and a Jersey City Police Department bulletproof vest.

Bergman is also alleged to have four forged NYPD identification cards, a fake NYPD shield, a NYC Corrections Department forged identification car, six police scanners and $42,800 in cash. In addition, he allegedly had in his pocket a bottle which contained 18 Alprazolam tablets — which were sold under the brand name Xanax.

According to the New York Post, Bergman shared his Queens apartment with his wife and 2-year-old son. His wife told the Post that she was “shocked” and had never seen the weapons before.

The 43-year-old is currently hospitalized and if convicted on the charges, he faces up to 25 years in prison.