Three people have been arrested for gun and drug possession in Jericho.
On July 31 at 3:58 p.m., Nassau County police officers from the Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Team (CIRRT) , while on routine patrol, observed three unknown males allegedly exit their vehicles in the parking lot of 86 Jericho Turnpike. The males then opened a large wooden crate and allegedly transferred numerous rifles into their vehicles. Officers conducted an investigation and placed Gilberto Rivera Lopez, 45, of New Cassel, Rudi W. Rivera Lopez, 30, of Central Islip and Manuel Gutierrez Pineda, 33, of New Cassel, under arrest without incident. Further investigation revealed the defendants were allegedly in possession of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, a forged Social Security card, several knives, three machetes and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Gilberto Rivera Lopez, Gutierrez Pineda and Rudi W. Rivera Lopez are charged with six counts of Failure to Safely Store Firearms in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Loitering in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree. Gilberto Rivera Lopez was also charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree.
Rudi W. Rivera Lopez and Gilberto Rivera Lopez were arraigned on August 1 at First District Court in Hempstead.
Gutierrez Pineda was released on an Appearance ticket. Further investigation revealed the defendant is illegally in the United States and is subject to removal proceedings. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents (ICE) took custody of him.