A three-day, multi-agency investigation led to the seizure of numerous weapons, ammunition and destructive and explosive materials and arrests three area people over the  weekend, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced.

A total of 17 long guns, 13 handguns and more than 21 containers of ammunition were seized, the prosecutor added.

The case background … 

The investigation was launched on Thursday, Sept. 14, after the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office received information related to an individual storing explosives and destructive materials in a residence.

A joint investigation conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Howell Township Police Department led detectives from the two agencies to a residence at 191 Ford Road in Howell.

On Friday night, Sept. 16,, investigators executed a search warrant at the home with the assistance of the NJ State Police Arson/Bomb Unit and a K-9 unit from the Bradley Beach Police Department and seized numerous firearms and ammunition, as well as marijuana.

The investigation continued, leading to a residence at 204 Route 33, Freehold Township, and a known member of the Pagan’s Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

A search warrant was executed and a significant amount of explosive materials, capable of and designed to create destructive devices was found.

Police also recovered six long guns, 10 handguns, a homemade flame thrower, and 13 containers of live ammunition amounting to thousands of rounds of ammunition, including hollow nose and armor piercing cartridges.

In addition to the Prosecutor’s Office, the search was conducted with the assistance of the Freehold Township Police Department, Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT), New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit, Gang Unit Central and Arson/Bomb Unit, as well as representatives of the Monmouth County Haz-Mat Team, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and a K-9 unit from the Bradley Beach Police Department.

As a result of the investigation, Anthony Corraro, 49, of Freehold, a member of the Pagan’s Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, was arrested and charged with: the 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.

Corraro’s detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21,  at 1:30 p.m. before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Leslie-Ann M. Justus.

As a result of the firearms seized from 191 Ford Road, David Tash, 53, and Christopher Tash, 49, both of that address, were charged with: the 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 the fourth-degree crime of possession of over 50 grams of marijuana.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detectives Wayne Raynor or Daniel Newman of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443.

If convicted of any of the second degree offenses, the three men each face a sentence of five to ten years in prison.

If convicted of the fourth-degree offenses, each man faces up to 18 months in state prison.

— Edited press release from Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office