Chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation's Investigative Journalism Project. Recovering newspaperman, tactical shooter, Army vet, ex-LEO, 1*, Rum snob.
Sarasota
Joined February 2013
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Lee Williams retweeted
"We don’t like Bruen because it takes a lot of time and energy to find a 13th century ban on drunk Catholics carrying knives on Sunday while wearing white, just so we can use it as the foundational argument for banning possession of semi-auto rifles." - Jay Jones, roughly translated.
Lee Williams retweeted
Interesting note that different parties on the anti-gun side have very different, and often contradictory, arguments for why AR-15s should be banned.
Virginia takes this angle: AR-15s are NOT arms, so the 2nd Amendment doesn’t apply at all.
Cook County won’t go that far. Its brief grudgingly allows that AR-15s might be arms, but only because they’re military weapons, the kind it clearly thinks civilians shouldn’t have.
Not that parties having different angles is rare in a legal setting, but we hope SCOTUS notices that the anti-gun parties can’t even agree on the foundational logic of WHY AR-15s can be banned, just that they should.
Lee Williams retweeted
Since taking office, @AGJamesUthmeier has gone to bat for gun owners again and again.
He has taken on unconstitutional gun control like waiting periods and the military-age ban on buying and carrying firearms, defended Open Carry, and even blocked localities from limiting our right to carry.
That record is why the National Association for Gun Rights-PAC endorsed him.
Reach out to Attorney General Uthmeier, thank him for standing up for our gun rights here in Florida, and urge him to keep it up.
Lee Williams retweeted
"...The general public, such as many of the people that were involved, like jurors and things like that. They just kind of take the government's word.
They the government can literally present a toy, say it's a machine gun, say it's a destructive device, classified as a firearm, and they'll buy it.
And that's the big disparity in my case. It's something that should be objective, not subjective..."
@TateAdamiak and Lee Williams (@HT_GunWriter) at GRPC 2026.
Watch the full video here: youtu.be/IncDEO6Q7Ho?si=kY8a…
Lee Williams retweeted
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown , by @HT_GunWriter thegunwriter.substack.com/p/…
Lee Williams retweeted
She hates guns, however she has given felons who committed crimes with guns much lighter sentences recently. One who shot a car with a child in it. She released him the first time and while out he commuted another crime—then she give him 6 years. Another case involving an 18 year old who was arrested after a police chase and threw a loaded gun in a ditch (his intention was to shoot someone but gun hot jammed), she give him 60 days. I’m sure there are more but these two are the most recent.
Lee Williams retweeted
This can be any gun owners nightmare if you live in a blue State.
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown
“I should be on my way to court right now to be sentenced,” Demetrio Daga said Monday morning.
In September, Daga was convicted after a seven-day trial of violating 15 New York State criminal charges. However, County Court Judge Andra Ackerman, who oversaw Daga’s trial, delayed his sentencing until Nov. 30. The judge did not say why the delay was needed.
Daga, his attorney and even his father-in-law strongly suspect why the judge did not want to sentence the 44-year-old, married, father of two this week.
She’s awaiting a new pre-sentence investigation report, known as a PSI.
Even though Daga is technically facing decades behind bars, the last PSI, which was prepared by the Albany County Probation Department, recommended that he receive no jail time, only probation.
Judge Ackerman—who has already admitted she may not follow her own probation department’s recommendations—hopes a new PSI will recommend that Daga serve time behind bars, Daga and his team firmly believe.
“I think you could certainly read into that—why the judge claims she wants to see an updated PSI,” said Daga’s trial attorney Kevin O’Brien. “I know it’s legally unnecessary, and it seems strange to me. The original PSI was done over the summer. There wouldn’t be much to update, technically speaking. She’s entitled to that, so that’s what she did.”
What frustrates Daga and his legal team is the judge’s timing.
“The even more bothersome part is that if she wanted this done, we’re unsure of why it wasn’t ordered right away,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, this is delaying him and his ability to appeal the sentence. It’s frustrating for sure. I don’t know that it’s calculated, but it certainly feels that way.”
When the original PSI report was issued, which only the attorneys have access to, it caused quite a bit of consternation.
“No one had ever seen a report like it. It recommended probation only. It floored everybody, including the judge,” said Jim Googas, Daga’s father-in-law. “From what everyone has told me, it was the cleanest probation report ever seen.”
He strongly hopes his son-in-law will be released soon.
Said Googas: “I’m 71 and I’ve become the acting father of his two young boys.”
Daga had no criminal history prior to his arrest and has been a model prisoner. He has no idea why the judge asked for a new PSI.
“My attorney has asked several times for a reason,” he said. “He was told they’ll let him know when the report is done. I don’t even know what a new PSI will tell them. The charges are all the same. The old PSI said no incarceration—probation only. I haven’t had a single issue in the jail. I don’t want to believe it’s to make me suffer more, but we’re in Albany. They call Albany ‘The Machine.’ It’s a very political city. One attorney thinks they have someone rewriting the PSI report with results that will be more favorable for them. We have the original PSI. Nothing’s changed. I’ve been in jail. If they now recommend prison, what changed? What’s the difference?”
His incarceration has been hardest, he said, on his two young boys.
“My one son said it’s the end of October, when are you coming home?” Daga said. “I’m so mad … I can’t make them understand because they don’t understand politics. They’re not alone. Even people who aren’t conspiracy-minded are asking what’s going on.”
Case history
Daga’s case was investigated solely by the New York State Police. No other agency—federal, state or local—was involved in the investigation, search warrant or arrest.
Daga was convicted of 15 state weapon charges: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
He was not charged or convicted of making firearms, even though his prosecutor accused him of it in court.
“Demetrio Daga was buying and producing gun parts and building weapons in his home,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis told the jury during closing arguments. “And he wasn’t just someone who builds guns, he was building an arsenal.”
What she referred to as Daga’s “arsenal” consisted of 13 handguns, which she called “ghost guns,” 22 “AR-style assault rifles,” which she also said were “ghost guns,” 18 “AR-style assault rifles” with serial numbers, and two pump-action shotguns.
Blain-Lewis has never shied away from the media. In 2016, she was a contestant on the popular CBS show “Survivor.”
None of what Braga possessed is even considered illegal in a free state.
His plight is drawing attention from those who faced similar predicaments.
“I’m doing everything I can for Demetrio. Let’s hope for a surprising outcome, but if not, we’ll continue pressing onward. Let’s hope for another victory like mine,” said Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, who was recently pardoned by President Donald L. Trumpafter he was convicted of federal weapons charges.
Demetrio Daga’s family has established a GiveSendGo page for those who are able to help.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
@2AFDN
Lee Williams retweeted
This is outrageous.
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown
“I should be on my way to court right now to be sentenced,” Demetrio Daga said Monday morning.
In September, Daga was convicted after a seven-day trial of violating 15 New York State criminal charges. However, County Court Judge Andra Ackerman, who oversaw Daga’s trial, delayed his sentencing until Nov. 30. The judge did not say why the delay was needed.
Daga, his attorney and even his father-in-law strongly suspect why the judge did not want to sentence the 44-year-old, married, father of two this week.
She’s awaiting a new pre-sentence investigation report, known as a PSI.
Even though Daga is technically facing decades behind bars, the last PSI, which was prepared by the Albany County Probation Department, recommended that he receive no jail time, only probation.
Judge Ackerman—who has already admitted she may not follow her own probation department’s recommendations—hopes a new PSI will recommend that Daga serve time behind bars, Daga and his team firmly believe.
“I think you could certainly read into that—why the judge claims she wants to see an updated PSI,” said Daga’s trial attorney Kevin O’Brien. “I know it’s legally unnecessary, and it seems strange to me. The original PSI was done over the summer. There wouldn’t be much to update, technically speaking. She’s entitled to that, so that’s what she did.”
What frustrates Daga and his legal team is the judge’s timing.
“The even more bothersome part is that if she wanted this done, we’re unsure of why it wasn’t ordered right away,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, this is delaying him and his ability to appeal the sentence. It’s frustrating for sure. I don’t know that it’s calculated, but it certainly feels that way.”
When the original PSI report was issued, which only the attorneys have access to, it caused quite a bit of consternation.
“No one had ever seen a report like it. It recommended probation only. It floored everybody, including the judge,” said Jim Googas, Daga’s father-in-law. “From what everyone has told me, it was the cleanest probation report ever seen.”
He strongly hopes his son-in-law will be released soon.
Said Googas: “I’m 71 and I’ve become the acting father of his two young boys.”
Daga had no criminal history prior to his arrest and has been a model prisoner. He has no idea why the judge asked for a new PSI.
“My attorney has asked several times for a reason,” he said. “He was told they’ll let him know when the report is done. I don’t even know what a new PSI will tell them. The charges are all the same. The old PSI said no incarceration—probation only. I haven’t had a single issue in the jail. I don’t want to believe it’s to make me suffer more, but we’re in Albany. They call Albany ‘The Machine.’ It’s a very political city. One attorney thinks they have someone rewriting the PSI report with results that will be more favorable for them. We have the original PSI. Nothing’s changed. I’ve been in jail. If they now recommend prison, what changed? What’s the difference?”
His incarceration has been hardest, he said, on his two young boys.
“My one son said it’s the end of October, when are you coming home?” Daga said. “I’m so mad … I can’t make them understand because they don’t understand politics. They’re not alone. Even people who aren’t conspiracy-minded are asking what’s going on.”
Case history
Daga’s case was investigated solely by the New York State Police. No other agency—federal, state or local—was involved in the investigation, search warrant or arrest.
Daga was convicted of 15 state weapon charges: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
He was not charged or convicted of making firearms, even though his prosecutor accused him of it in court.
“Demetrio Daga was buying and producing gun parts and building weapons in his home,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis told the jury during closing arguments. “And he wasn’t just someone who builds guns, he was building an arsenal.”
What she referred to as Daga’s “arsenal” consisted of 13 handguns, which she called “ghost guns,” 22 “AR-style assault rifles,” which she also said were “ghost guns,” 18 “AR-style assault rifles” with serial numbers, and two pump-action shotguns.
Blain-Lewis has never shied away from the media. In 2016, she was a contestant on the popular CBS show “Survivor.”
None of what Braga possessed is even considered illegal in a free state.
His plight is drawing attention from those who faced similar predicaments.
“I’m doing everything I can for Demetrio. Let’s hope for a surprising outcome, but if not, we’ll continue pressing onward. Let’s hope for another victory like mine,” said Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, who was recently pardoned by President Donald L. Trumpafter he was convicted of federal weapons charges.
Demetrio Daga’s family has established a GiveSendGo page for those who are able to help.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
@2AFDN
Lee Williams retweeted
This claim has been repeated for decades, and still shows up in amicus briefs from the gun control side. It's basically taken as gospel by them.
To get there, they rely on exclusively 20th century sources, acting like history started after World War 2.
If they took the time to look at pre-1900 commentary, they'd know how wrong they are.
Lee Williams retweeted
So she is hoping for cover knowing how unconstitutional the law is and how she now looks. Maybe just follow the constitution in the first place. Don't be an activist, be a judge following the laws of the nation instead.
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown
“I should be on my way to court right now to be sentenced,” Demetrio Daga said Monday morning.
In September, Daga was convicted after a seven-day trial of violating 15 New York State criminal charges. However, County Court Judge Andra Ackerman, who oversaw Daga’s trial, delayed his sentencing until Nov. 30. The judge did not say why the delay was needed.
Daga, his attorney and even his father-in-law strongly suspect why the judge did not want to sentence the 44-year-old, married, father of two this week.
She’s awaiting a new pre-sentence investigation report, known as a PSI.
Even though Daga is technically facing decades behind bars, the last PSI, which was prepared by the Albany County Probation Department, recommended that he receive no jail time, only probation.
Judge Ackerman—who has already admitted she may not follow her own probation department’s recommendations—hopes a new PSI will recommend that Daga serve time behind bars, Daga and his team firmly believe.
“I think you could certainly read into that—why the judge claims she wants to see an updated PSI,” said Daga’s trial attorney Kevin O’Brien. “I know it’s legally unnecessary, and it seems strange to me. The original PSI was done over the summer. There wouldn’t be much to update, technically speaking. She’s entitled to that, so that’s what she did.”
What frustrates Daga and his legal team is the judge’s timing.
“The even more bothersome part is that if she wanted this done, we’re unsure of why it wasn’t ordered right away,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, this is delaying him and his ability to appeal the sentence. It’s frustrating for sure. I don’t know that it’s calculated, but it certainly feels that way.”
When the original PSI report was issued, which only the attorneys have access to, it caused quite a bit of consternation.
“No one had ever seen a report like it. It recommended probation only. It floored everybody, including the judge,” said Jim Googas, Daga’s father-in-law. “From what everyone has told me, it was the cleanest probation report ever seen.”
He strongly hopes his son-in-law will be released soon.
Said Googas: “I’m 71 and I’ve become the acting father of his two young boys.”
Daga had no criminal history prior to his arrest and has been a model prisoner. He has no idea why the judge asked for a new PSI.
“My attorney has asked several times for a reason,” he said. “He was told they’ll let him know when the report is done. I don’t even know what a new PSI will tell them. The charges are all the same. The old PSI said no incarceration—probation only. I haven’t had a single issue in the jail. I don’t want to believe it’s to make me suffer more, but we’re in Albany. They call Albany ‘The Machine.’ It’s a very political city. One attorney thinks they have someone rewriting the PSI report with results that will be more favorable for them. We have the original PSI. Nothing’s changed. I’ve been in jail. If they now recommend prison, what changed? What’s the difference?”
His incarceration has been hardest, he said, on his two young boys.
“My one son said it’s the end of October, when are you coming home?” Daga said. “I’m so mad … I can’t make them understand because they don’t understand politics. They’re not alone. Even people who aren’t conspiracy-minded are asking what’s going on.”
Case history
Daga’s case was investigated solely by the New York State Police. No other agency—federal, state or local—was involved in the investigation, search warrant or arrest.
Daga was convicted of 15 state weapon charges: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
He was not charged or convicted of making firearms, even though his prosecutor accused him of it in court.
“Demetrio Daga was buying and producing gun parts and building weapons in his home,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis told the jury during closing arguments. “And he wasn’t just someone who builds guns, he was building an arsenal.”
What she referred to as Daga’s “arsenal” consisted of 13 handguns, which she called “ghost guns,” 22 “AR-style assault rifles,” which she also said were “ghost guns,” 18 “AR-style assault rifles” with serial numbers, and two pump-action shotguns.
Blain-Lewis has never shied away from the media. In 2016, she was a contestant on the popular CBS show “Survivor.”
None of what Braga possessed is even considered illegal in a free state.
His plight is drawing attention from those who faced similar predicaments.
“I’m doing everything I can for Demetrio. Let’s hope for a surprising outcome, but if not, we’ll continue pressing onward. Let’s hope for another victory like mine,” said Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, who was recently pardoned by President Donald L. Trumpafter he was convicted of federal weapons charges.
Demetrio Daga’s family has established a GiveSendGo page for those who are able to help.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
@2AFDN
Lee Williams retweeted
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown , by @HT_GunWriter thegunwriter.substack.com/p/…
Lee Williams retweeted
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown
“I should be on my way to court right now to be sentenced,” Demetrio Daga said Monday morning.
In September, Daga was convicted after a seven-day trial of violating 15 New York State criminal charges. However, County Court Judge Andra Ackerman, who oversaw Daga’s trial, delayed his sentencing until Nov. 30. The judge did not say why the delay was needed.
Daga, his attorney and even his father-in-law strongly suspect why the judge did not want to sentence the 44-year-old, married, father of two this week.
She’s awaiting a new pre-sentence investigation report, known as a PSI.
Even though Daga is technically facing decades behind bars, the last PSI, which was prepared by the Albany County Probation Department, recommended that he receive no jail time, only probation.
Judge Ackerman—who has already admitted she may not follow her own probation department’s recommendations—hopes a new PSI will recommend that Daga serve time behind bars, Daga and his team firmly believe.
“I think you could certainly read into that—why the judge claims she wants to see an updated PSI,” said Daga’s trial attorney Kevin O’Brien. “I know it’s legally unnecessary, and it seems strange to me. The original PSI was done over the summer. There wouldn’t be much to update, technically speaking. She’s entitled to that, so that’s what she did.”
What frustrates Daga and his legal team is the judge’s timing.
“The even more bothersome part is that if she wanted this done, we’re unsure of why it wasn’t ordered right away,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, this is delaying him and his ability to appeal the sentence. It’s frustrating for sure. I don’t know that it’s calculated, but it certainly feels that way.”
When the original PSI report was issued, which only the attorneys have access to, it caused quite a bit of consternation.
“No one had ever seen a report like it. It recommended probation only. It floored everybody, including the judge,” said Jim Googas, Daga’s father-in-law. “From what everyone has told me, it was the cleanest probation report ever seen.”
He strongly hopes his son-in-law will be released soon.
Said Googas: “I’m 71 and I’ve become the acting father of his two young boys.”
Daga had no criminal history prior to his arrest and has been a model prisoner. He has no idea why the judge asked for a new PSI.
“My attorney has asked several times for a reason,” he said. “He was told they’ll let him know when the report is done. I don’t even know what a new PSI will tell them. The charges are all the same. The old PSI said no incarceration—probation only. I haven’t had a single issue in the jail. I don’t want to believe it’s to make me suffer more, but we’re in Albany. They call Albany ‘The Machine.’ It’s a very political city. One attorney thinks they have someone rewriting the PSI report with results that will be more favorable for them. We have the original PSI. Nothing’s changed. I’ve been in jail. If they now recommend prison, what changed? What’s the difference?”
His incarceration has been hardest, he said, on his two young boys.
“My one son said it’s the end of October, when are you coming home?” Daga said. “I’m so mad … I can’t make them understand because they don’t understand politics. They’re not alone. Even people who aren’t conspiracy-minded are asking what’s going on.”
Case history
Daga’s case was investigated solely by the New York State Police. No other agency—federal, state or local—was involved in the investigation, search warrant or arrest.
Daga was convicted of 15 state weapon charges: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
He was not charged or convicted of making firearms, even though his prosecutor accused him of it in court.
“Demetrio Daga was buying and producing gun parts and building weapons in his home,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis told the jury during closing arguments. “And he wasn’t just someone who builds guns, he was building an arsenal.”
What she referred to as Daga’s “arsenal” consisted of 13 handguns, which she called “ghost guns,” 22 “AR-style assault rifles,” which she also said were “ghost guns,” 18 “AR-style assault rifles” with serial numbers, and two pump-action shotguns.
Blain-Lewis has never shied away from the media. In 2016, she was a contestant on the popular CBS show “Survivor.”
None of what Braga possessed is even considered illegal in a free state.
His plight is drawing attention from those who faced similar predicaments.
“I’m doing everything I can for Demetrio. Let’s hope for a surprising outcome, but if not, we’ll continue pressing onward. Let’s hope for another victory like mine,” said Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, who was recently pardoned by President Donald L. Trumpafter he was convicted of federal weapons charges.
Demetrio Daga’s family has established a GiveSendGo page for those who are able to help.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
@2AFDN
Lee Williams retweeted
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown , by @HT_GunWriter thegunwriter.substack.com/p/…
Lee Williams retweeted
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown , by @HT_GunWriter thegunwriter.substack.com/p/… 😡😡😡😡😡
Lee Williams retweeted
Hmm... I don’t know, I think there are elections next week and giving an unfavorable sentence based on the previous PSI could impact the voting in a place like Albany.
Lee Williams retweeted
That's a good read.
Unfortunately, the world has a problem with people who cannot separate the concept of firearms and violence. They are not mutually inclusive.
You can be violent without guns, and you can have guns and never be violent
New York judge delays Demetrio Daga’s sentencing for reasons unknown
“I should be on my way to court right now to be sentenced,” Demetrio Daga said Monday morning.
In September, Daga was convicted after a seven-day trial of violating 15 New York State criminal charges. However, County Court Judge Andra Ackerman, who oversaw Daga’s trial, delayed his sentencing until Nov. 30. The judge did not say why the delay was needed.
Daga, his attorney and even his father-in-law strongly suspect why the judge did not want to sentence the 44-year-old, married, father of two this week.
She’s awaiting a new pre-sentence investigation report, known as a PSI.
Even though Daga is technically facing decades behind bars, the last PSI, which was prepared by the Albany County Probation Department, recommended that he receive no jail time, only probation.
Judge Ackerman—who has already admitted she may not follow her own probation department’s recommendations—hopes a new PSI will recommend that Daga serve time behind bars, Daga and his team firmly believe.
“I think you could certainly read into that—why the judge claims she wants to see an updated PSI,” said Daga’s trial attorney Kevin O’Brien. “I know it’s legally unnecessary, and it seems strange to me. The original PSI was done over the summer. There wouldn’t be much to update, technically speaking. She’s entitled to that, so that’s what she did.”
What frustrates Daga and his legal team is the judge’s timing.
“The even more bothersome part is that if she wanted this done, we’re unsure of why it wasn’t ordered right away,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, this is delaying him and his ability to appeal the sentence. It’s frustrating for sure. I don’t know that it’s calculated, but it certainly feels that way.”
When the original PSI report was issued, which only the attorneys have access to, it caused quite a bit of consternation.
“No one had ever seen a report like it. It recommended probation only. It floored everybody, including the judge,” said Jim Googas, Daga’s father-in-law. “From what everyone has told me, it was the cleanest probation report ever seen.”
He strongly hopes his son-in-law will be released soon.
Said Googas: “I’m 71 and I’ve become the acting father of his two young boys.”
Daga had no criminal history prior to his arrest and has been a model prisoner. He has no idea why the judge asked for a new PSI.
“My attorney has asked several times for a reason,” he said. “He was told they’ll let him know when the report is done. I don’t even know what a new PSI will tell them. The charges are all the same. The old PSI said no incarceration—probation only. I haven’t had a single issue in the jail. I don’t want to believe it’s to make me suffer more, but we’re in Albany. They call Albany ‘The Machine.’ It’s a very political city. One attorney thinks they have someone rewriting the PSI report with results that will be more favorable for them. We have the original PSI. Nothing’s changed. I’ve been in jail. If they now recommend prison, what changed? What’s the difference?”
His incarceration has been hardest, he said, on his two young boys.
“My one son said it’s the end of October, when are you coming home?” Daga said. “I’m so mad … I can’t make them understand because they don’t understand politics. They’re not alone. Even people who aren’t conspiracy-minded are asking what’s going on.”
Case history
Daga’s case was investigated solely by the New York State Police. No other agency—federal, state or local—was involved in the investigation, search warrant or arrest.
Daga was convicted of 15 state weapon charges: one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, and nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
He was not charged or convicted of making firearms, even though his prosecutor accused him of it in court.
“Demetrio Daga was buying and producing gun parts and building weapons in his home,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis told the jury during closing arguments. “And he wasn’t just someone who builds guns, he was building an arsenal.”
What she referred to as Daga’s “arsenal” consisted of 13 handguns, which she called “ghost guns,” 22 “AR-style assault rifles,” which she also said were “ghost guns,” 18 “AR-style assault rifles” with serial numbers, and two pump-action shotguns.
Blain-Lewis has never shied away from the media. In 2016, she was a contestant on the popular CBS show “Survivor.”
None of what Braga possessed is even considered illegal in a free state.
His plight is drawing attention from those who faced similar predicaments.
“I’m doing everything I can for Demetrio. Let’s hope for a surprising outcome, but if not, we’ll continue pressing onward. Let’s hope for another victory like mine,” said Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, who was recently pardoned by President Donald L. Trumpafter he was convicted of federal weapons charges.
Demetrio Daga’s family has established a GiveSendGo page for those who are able to help.
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
@2AFDN