North Castle NY: Family charged with illegal weapon possession

WHITE PLAINS - Three North Castle residents who are family members from the same household have been arraigned on an indictment alleging they illegally possessed 48 guns.

Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah and North Castle Police Chief Peter J. Simonsen announced the arraignments Tuesday.

They said the illegal weapons included semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, machine guns and a ghost gun that were found in the defendants' home.

North Castle police arrested the three defendants at approximately 11:25 a.m. on Jan. 25, 2022, and seized 48 guns found in several rooms throughout the house. At least 15 of the guns were loaded. Rocah and Simonsen said they had no permits to legally purchase or possess firearms.

Their arrests were a result of an investigation by North Castle police, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and its Real Time Crime Center, the FBI and Rocah's office.

"What is most notable is that this investigation was proactive in nature and thankfully did not come as the result of a tragic incident," Simonsen said in a statement.

The defendants were arraigned Tuesday after a Westchester County grand jury indicted them on the following charges:

Theodore Brois, 68: first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, nine counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (one count related to allegedly possessing five or more firearms and eight counts related to allegedly possessing loaded assault weapons) and 12 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies.

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Brandon Brois, 25: four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (one count each for alleged possession of a loaded pistol and the alleged possession of five or more firearms, and two counts related to the alleged possession of loaded assault weapons); and four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies; and nine counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor. Brandon Brois has a previous conviction for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which prohibits him from possessing any firearm, prosecutors said.

Helene Brois, 63: criminal possession of a firearm, three counts of second-degree criminal possession a a weapon (one count for alleged possession of five or more firearms and two counts for alleged possession of loaded assault weapons) and three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies.

The names of their defense attorneys were not immediately available.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter @mikerandall845.