Police: Broadalbin man had ghost gun

HAGAMAN – A Broadalbin man is facing weapons charges after police said they found a ghost gun in his vehicle.  

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a vehicle on South Pawling Street at about 8:45 p.m. on Monday in the Village of Hagaman for multiple traffic infractions. Police determined that the driver, 29-year-old Justin J. Staufenberg, was operating the vehicle while impaired by a drug, according to a news release.  

Staufenberg was transported to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for further valuation. A second sheriff’s deputy searched Staufenberg’s vehicle and found a loaded Ruger EC9S 9mm handgun along with ammunition. Also, Staufenberg allegedly had tampered with and removed the serial number, which classifies the weapon as a ghost gun.

Staufenberg has a previous conviction for weapons possession. He was charged two felony and one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanor driving while ability impaired and violations of consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, unregistered and uninspected motor vehicle and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Staufenberg was held in Montgomery County Correctional Facility pending arraignment.