A search warrant executed at a home in Chemung County led to the recovery of 20 illegal firearms, including several with defaced serial numbers. The three-month-long investigation conducted by State Police included the Troop E Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, New York State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team (CCSERT), Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), State Police Horseheads Uniform Force (UF) and Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Troop E Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU), and the Elmira Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit.
Seized Items
Narcotics and Currency:
- Approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine oil
- Approximately 1 ounce of crystal methamphetamine
- Scales and packaging materials for narcotics
- $4,700 in U.S. currency
Firearms:
- 20 firearms, several with defaced serial numbers, including:
- 1 AK-47 assault rifle
- 1 AR-10 assault rifle (Ghost Gun)
- 1 SKS assault rifle
- 2 sawed-off shotguns
- 8 bolt-action rifles
- 1 lever-action rifle
- 6 shotguns
- 11 high-capacity ammunition magazines
- Approximately 10,000 rounds of assorted ammunition
Explosive Materials:
- Approximately 20 pounds of binary explosive material (removed by BDU)
- Chemicals and equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine (removed by CCSERT)
42-year-old Robert Budnick, of Erin, is jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail or $1,000,000 bond on felony charges of criminal possession of a weapon and of a controlled substance. 40-year-old Buck Bates, of Elmira, was charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and was released on an appearance ticket.
This is an ongoing investigation.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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