Executive Summary
- State Police concluded a six-month investigation with a major raid in the Capital Region.
- Authorities seized 15 handguns, four assault-style rifles, and an automatic conversion device.
- Approximately 25 pounds of marijuana and cash were also recovered from the scene.
- Four men ranging in age from 21 to 31 face criminal possession of firearm charges.
New York State Police have arrested four individuals following a comprehensive six-month investigation into illegal weapons and narcotics trafficking in the Capital Region, authorities announced on Thursday. The operation resulted in the removal of a significant cache of weaponry and drugs from local circulation.
According to State Police reports, the execution of the search warrant yielded 15 illegal handguns and four assault-style rifles. Investigators also recovered a device designed to convert firearms into automatic weapons, along with numerous high-capacity magazines. In addition to the armaments, law enforcement officials seized approximately 25 pounds of marijuana and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Isaiah Foy, 21, of Albany; Bazeil Phoenix, 31, of Cohoes; and Troy residents Marcos Delgado, 22, and Harrie Shelbyshorter, 22. Following their arrests, the suspects were remanded to either the Albany County or Rensselaer County Jail.
Prosecutors have filed charges of criminal possession of a firearm against all four defendants. Law enforcement officials noted that Foy, Phoenix, and Delgado face additional weapons-related charges, while Phoenix has also been charged with drug offenses related to the narcotics seizure.
Public Safety Impact
The recovery of 19 firearms, particularly assault-style rifles and automatic conversion devices, underscores the scale of illicit trafficking networks operating within upstate New York. By concluding a six-month surveillance operation with these seizures, law enforcement aims to disrupt the supply chain of illegal weaponry that contributes to violent crime. As the judicial process begins, it is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
