Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced a Hewlett pharmacist, who owns two pharmacies in Brooklyn, was arraigned today on a 122-count indictment for allegedly possessing 41 illegal weapons in his home.
Ilya Ostrovskiy, 38, was arraigned before Judge Howard Sturim on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree (a B violent felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony); 101 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a D violent felony); 18 counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (an E felony) and one count of Unlawful Purchase of Body Armor (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $200,000 cash and $400,000 bond with a passport surrender. He is due back in court on January 3, 2024.
If convicted of the top charge, the defendant faces a potential maximum of 25 years in prison.
“This defendant allegedly possessed an arsenal of assault weapons, unlicensed semiautomatic pistols, high-capacity magazines and body armor in his Hewlett home,” said DA Donnelly. “The flow of illegal weapons into New York is endangering countless lives. We’re working from across the state and country to stop these weapons from reaching Long Island.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the investigation and indictment, on July 14, 2023, at approximately 5 a.m., members of the Nassau County Police Department were dispatched to a home in Hewlett for a reported burglary in progress.
During the investigation into the burglary, it was learned that the homeowner, Ilya Ostrovskiy, allegedly fired a pistol three times toward the street in the direction of the suspected burglars.
Upon consent from the defendant, responding officers retrieved the firearm that was discharged and recovered four more additional unregistered pistols. After being placed into custody and given Miranda warnings, the defendant allegedly consented to a further search of his home. Shortly thereafter, an attorney for the defendant contacted the NCPD and withdrew his client’s consent. A detective applied for a search warrant, which was granted, and additional weapons and paraphernalia were recovered from the home.
In total, 41 operable weapons were recovered from the home – 18 semiautomatic pistols and 23 assault weapons – as well as 78 high-capacity magazines and body armor equipment.
The investigation into the burglary is ongoing.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Andrew Tripodi of the Narcotics, Firearms and Gangs Bureau. Ostrovskiy is represented by John Carman, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.