Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a North Massapequa man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for illegally possessing 18 firearms and one pound of cocaine that were found during a search warrant executed at his residence in 2023, after the defendant had fired dozens of shots out of his basement apartment, striking neighboring homes.
Steven Frigand, 58, pleaded guilty on July 29, 2024, before Judge Robert Bogle to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree (an A-I felony); two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony); and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (a D felony) in satisfaction of the indictment.
The defendant was sentenced today to 10 years in prison.
“Steven Frigand willfully ignored the safety of his neighbors when he fired a gun from his basement dozens of times in the middle of the night – with one of those shots buzzing just over a child asleep in his bedroom in the home next door,” said DA Donnelly. “This defendant’s actions were extremely reckless, and fortunately did not result in any injuries. The shots led investigators to an alarming trove of illegal weapons and a pound of cocaine. We continue to fight to take illegal guns off our streets so that Nassau County residents can always feel safe in their communities and their homes.”
DA Donnelly said that on August 20, 2023, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Frigand fired dozens of shots from his basement apartment at 2 Sussex Avenue in North Massapequa.
Several of the shots hit a home behind the address. Others went through a fence and hit a neighboring house. Two bullets entered the home next door, one of which narrowly missed a child who was asleep in his bed, as well as the homeowner who had gone to check on the child.
When police arrived at the scene, the defendant was in the basement and refused to come out for more than an hour despite police orders. Once he exited his home, the defendant was taken to Nassau University Medical Center.
A search warrant executed on the basement of the home later that day recovered:
- 18 weapons, including six assault rifles, seven additional rifles, four shotguns and a revolver
- 40 high-capacity magazines
- Hundreds of rounds of ammunition
- Multiple shell casings, bullets, and bullet fragments
- More than 27 ounces of cocaine and drug paraphernalia
Frigand was arrested in North Massapequa by members of the Nassau County Police Department on August 20, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rivka Shuter of the Narcotics, Firearms, and Gangs Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Nicholas Mauro and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Investigations Division Rick Whelan. The defendant is represented by Nicholas Ramcharitar, Esq.