We treat you like family, we're here for you.

Grand Larceny Weapon Lawyers

Here’s a nightmare scenario that unfolds in New York courtrooms daily – someone gets caught with a stolen firearm, and suddenly their facing decades in prison. Unlike other states where weapons charges might be negotiable, New York treats firearm theft as an automatic felony, regardless of the weapon’s value. This isn’t your typical case, and that’s why hiring specialized weapons defense counsel isn’t just recommended – it’s crucial for your freedom, your family’s security, and your future.

The Harsh Reality of NY’s Zero-Tolerance Weapons Policies

Let’s be honest here – in 2025 alone, the NYPD has already removed more than 2,200 illegal firearms from city streets, and prosecutors are looking to make examples out of every single case. The Manhattan DA’s office, under Alvin Bragg, has made it crystal clear: if you traffic illegal firearms into Manhattan, or use guns to commit violence against fellow Manhattanites, you will be held accountable. This aggressive stance means that anyone caught with a stolen firearm faces the full weight of the prosecutorial machine.

What makes firearm theft different from regular theft? Everything. While stealing property under $1,000 typically results in a misdemeanor petit larceny charge, stealing any firearm automatically escalates the charge to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree—a Class E felony carrying up to four years in state prison. There’s no wiggle room here – the automatic escalation reflects New York’s unforgiving approach to gun crimes.

Understanding the Charges: From Bad to Catastrophic

The Baseline: Fourth Degree Grand Larceny

Even the “minimum” charge for firearm theft is a felony. When you’re charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for stealing a firearm, you’re looking at:

• Up to 4 years in state prison
• A permanent felony record that follows you forever
• Federal firearms disability (you can never legally own a gun again)
• Immigration consequences that could result in deportation
• Professional licensing revocations that destroy careers

But here’s where it gets worse – and it always gets worse.

When Charges Escalate: The Domino Effect

The severity of charges can skyrocket based on various factors. A new bill introduced in 2025 seeks to classify certain crimes related to the possession, use, and sale of stolen firearms as class B violent felonies, which carry mandatory prison sentences of up to twenty-five years. This proposed legislation shows where the wind is blowing – harsher penalties are coming.

Currently, the escalation works like this:

Third Degree (Class D Felony)

• When the stolen firearm’s value exceeds $3,000
• Maximum sentence: 7 years imprisonment
• Mandatory minimum sentences apply

Second Degree (Class C Felony)

• Property value exceeding $50,000 (think collectible firearms)
• Maximum sentence: 15 years imprisonment
• No possibility of probation

First Degree (Class B Felony)

• The most serious grand larceny charge
• Maximum sentence: 25 years imprisonment
• Your life is essentially over

The Loaded Gun Enhancement That Ruins Lives

Here’s something that catches everyone off guard – Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree (P.L. 265.03) is a class C felony with a minimum sentence of 3.5 years and a maximum sentence of 15 years. If that stolen firearm happens to be loaded, you’re facing a Class C violent felony with:

• Mandatory minimum of 3.5 years (no exceptions)
• Maximum of 15 years
• Zero chance of a probation-only deal
• Classification as a violent felon for life

The Prosecution’s Arsenal: Multiple Charges from One Incident

Prosecutors in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx don’t just charge you with one crime – they pile on every possible charge to maximize leverage. Individuals charged with firearm theft rarely face that charge alone. You’re typically looking at:

Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree

• Class A Misdemeanor (the “lightest” charge)
• Up to 1 year in jail
• Often charged alongside the grand larceny

Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree

• Class C Violent Felony
• Charged when prosecutors allege intent to use
• Mandatory minimum 3.5 years
• Maximum 15 years

Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree

• Class B Violent Felony
• If he/she is caught with an explosive device and intends to use it or if he/she is in possession of 10 or more firearms
• Maximum 25 years imprisonment

The strategic implications? Your exposure multiplies exponentially. Plea negotiations become a minefield. Trial strategy must address multiple theories of prosecution. And the collateral consequences compound until your entire life unravels.

Five Critical Reasons You Need Specialized Weapons Defense Counsel NOW

1. New York’s Weapons Laws Are a Labyrinth of Complexity

New York’s firearms statutes aren’t just complex – they’re among the nation’s most convoluted, with overlapping state regulations, city ordinances, and federal implications. New York has the second-strongest gun laws in the country, and prosecutors know every angle. A specialized attorney understands not just the statutory framework, but the entire regulatory scheme governing licensing, registration, and lawful possesion – knowledge that’s essential for identifying viable defenses.

General criminal attorneys? They’re playing catch-up while your freedom hangs in the balance.

2. Understanding How Prosecutors Think and Operate

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg increased resources for gun trafficking enforcement, working closely with the NYPD and federal partners. Specialized counsel knows which ADAs handle gun cases, their negotiation patterns, what arguments resonate in plea discussions – insights gained only through focused practice in weapons cases.

You want someone who’s been in the trenches, not someone learning on your dime.

3. Technical Defenses That Only Weapons Lawyers Know

Weapons cases involve technical defenses unavailable in other criminal matters:

• Operability challenges requiring ballistics expertise
• Antique firearm exemptions (yes, they exist)
• Interstate commerce implications
• Constructive possession defenses unique to firearms
• Chain of custody issues specific to weapons evidence

These aren’t defenses your average criminal lawyer even knows exist.

4. Mitigation Strategies Unique to Weapons Cases

Unlike drug treatment programs for narcotics offenses, weapons charges require creative mitigation approaches. There’s no “gun treatment program” to fall back on. Experienced counsel develops compelling narratives explaining how clients found themselves in possession of stolen firearms – narratives that mean the difference between state prison and alternative dispositions.

This takes experience, relationships, and credibility with prosecutors.

5. Navigating the Tsunami of Collateral Consequences

Beyond criminal penalties, weapons convictions trigger life-altering consequences:

• Federal firearms disabilities (permanent)
• Immigration ramifications (deportation for non-citizens)
• Professional licensing revocations (goodbye career)
• Housing restrictions (public housing bans)
• Employment barriers (background checks forever)

Only attorneys regularly handling these cases fully understand and can address these devastating consequences.

The Urgency of Early Intervention: Every Moment Counts

Pre-Arrest Representation: Your Critical Advantage

Waiting until arrest or arraignment to retain counsel? That’s a fundamental strategic error that could doom your case. Early intervention allows:

• Potential pre-arrest resolution (yes, it’s possible)
• Evidence preservation before it disappears
• Witness identification and interviews while memories are fresh
• Strategic surrender negotiations if arrest becomes inevitable
• Bail package preparation that keeps you out of Rikers

Investigation Phase Opportunities Most People Miss

During the investigation phase, skilled counsel can:

• Engage with prosecutors before charges are filed
• Present exculpatory evidence when it matters most
• Negotiate charge reductions before indictment
• Potentially avoid arrest altogether (it happens more than you think)

The Current Climate: Why 2025 Is Different

Out of the more than 20,000 guns seized since the beginning of the Adams administration, more than 1,400 of them have been identified as ghost guns. The proliferation of untraceable firearms has prosecutors on edge, and they’re taking it out on every weapons defendant.

Recent statistics paint a sobering picture:

• NYPD officers seized 339 illegal firearms across all five boroughs in April 2025 alone
• Prior to discovery reform, local district attorneys declined to prosecute or dismissed 32 percent of non-violent felony cases in New York City — that number increased to 51 percent in 2023
• But weapons cases? They’re prosecuting those with maximum force

Common Defenses That Actually Work (When Done Right)

Illegal Search and Seizure

The Fourth Amendment still matters – sometimes. If law enforcement violated your rights, any evidence obtained could be inadmissible. But here’s the thing: For example, if you are driving your car and the police stop you even though there were no signs that you had committed a crime such as speeding or driving while intoxicated, the stop would be unlawful.

Examples of potentially illegal searches:

• Searching without a valid warrant
• Stopping and frisking without reasonable suspicion
• Exceeding the scope of consent

Lack of Knowledge

The standard is not that you knew or didn’t know you possessed the firearm without the requisite permits in New York, but only that you knowingly possessed the physical revolver, pistol or gun. But if you didn’t know the firearm was stolen? That’s a different story entirely.

Constructive Possession Challenges

Constructive possession means that one or more people have control over the weapon. When multiple people had access to where the firearm was found, prosecutors face a harder burden proving you possessed it.

The Bottom Line: Your Future Hangs in the Balance

The stakes in weapons theft cases couldn’t be higher. A first-degree weapons possession charge is a Class B violent felony, which can result in time in prison ranging from 5 to 25 years. That’s not just potential imprisonment – it’s a lifetime of consequences affecting employment, housing, and fundamental rights.

In New York’s unforgiving legal landscape, where prosecutors pursue weapons charges with maximum force, only specialized defense counsel can level the playing field. The prosecutor assigned to your case handles weapons charges daily. They know every trick, every angle, every pressure point.

Shouldn’t your attorney possess equal expertise?

Take Immediate Action Before It’s Too Late

If you face investigation or charges for firearm theft in New York, every moment without proper representation weakens your position. The earlier you engage counsel, the more options remain available. Once charges are filed, once you’re processed through central booking, once that indictment comes down – your options shrink dramatically.

Don’t wait for the knock on your door. Don’t assume it will work itself out. In New York’s current climate, with Mayor Adams and the NYPD removing over 20,000 illegal firearms from city streets, prosecutors are under immense pressure to convict.

Your freedom, your family’s stability, your entire future – it all hangs in the balance. One wrong move, one missed opportunity, one inexperienced attorney, and you could spend the next decade behind bars.