Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni has announced that a multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of three men and the seizure of weapons, ammunition and destructive and explosive materials.
Gramiccioni said the investigation led to the seizure of 17 long guns, 13 handguns and more than 21 containers of ammunition.
The investigation was launched on Sept. 14 after the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office received information related to an individual storing explosives and destructive materials in a residence, according to a press release.
A joint investigation by the prosecutor’s office and the Howell Police Department led detectives to a home at 191 Ford Road in Howell.
On the night of Sept. 16, investigators executed a search warrant at the home with the assistance of the New Jersey State Police Arson/Bomb Unit and a K-9 unit from the Bradley Beach Police Department. Firearms, ammunition and a quantity of marijuana were seized, according to the press release.
Authorities said two residents of the home in Howell were arrested. David Tash, 53, and Christopher Tash, 49, were each charged with second degree certain persons not to possess firearms, fourth degree possession of armor penetrating bullets and fourth degree possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine.
David Tash was also charged with fourth degree possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana, according to the press release.
The investigation continued and led authorities to a residence at 204 Route 33, Freehold Township, and an individual who authorities said is a known member of Pagan’s Motorcycle Club.
A search warrant was executed and resulted in the recovery of a significant amount of explosive materials capable of creating and designed to create destructive devices, according to the press release.
Police recovered six long guns, 10 handguns, a homemade flamethrower and 13 containers of live ammunition amounting to thousands of rounds of ammunition, including hollow nose and armor piercing cartridges, according to the press release.
Authorities said Anthony Corraro, 49, of Freehold Township, who was identified as a member of Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, was charged with second degree attempted possession of explosives for an unlawful purpose, second degree attempted possession of destructive devices for an unlawful purpose, third degree attempted possession of destructive devices, fourth degree possession of armor penetrating bullets and fourth degree possession of firearm silencers.
If convicted of any of the second degree offenses, the three men each face a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. If convicted of the fourth degree offenses, each man faces up to 18 months in prison.
In addition to personnel from the prosecutor’s office, the search of the Freehold Township home was conducted with the assistance of the Freehold Township Police Department, the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, the New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit, the Gang Unit Central and Arson/Bomb Unit, representatives of the Monmouth County Hazardous Materials Response Team, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and a K-9 unit from the Bradley Beach Police Department.
Gramiccioni said the investigation remains active and ongoing. He asked anyone who has information about these matters to contact Detective Wayne Raynor or Detective Daniel Newman at 800-533-7443.