Queens DA Targets Unregistered Mopeds, Gun Trafficking
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz outlined enforcement efforts against unregistered mopeds and illegal firearms at a Community Board 10 meeting.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz addressed Community Board 10 on November 5, 2026, describing her office's seizure of more than 1,400 unregistered, unlicensed, and uninsured mopeds in coordination with the NYPD. Her office also reported that its gun buyback program has collected more than 1,000 firearms through 14 events across Queens.
Why it matters
The seizure strategy was adopted after difficulty stopping riders during pursuits without putting officers or pedestrians at risk. Officials say the vehicles often lack license plates or other identifying information, complicating enforcement.
The Queens District Attorney's office secured a 10-year prison sentence for a man who trafficked firearms from Georgia to sell to an undercover officer in Rosedale, and Giuseppe Canzani is serving a 23-year sentence for the 2022 murder of an Ozone Park tarot card reader. Owners can potentially reclaim seized mopeds by proving ownership, but the number of reclaimed vehicles was not reported.
The players
Melinda Katz
Melinda Katz is the Queens District Attorney, responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in the borough of Queens.
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department is the largest municipal police force in the United States and partners with the Queens District Attorney on vehicle seizures.
The details
Katz's office works with the NYPD to seize mopeds when riders are inside restaurants or other businesses, and ghost guns, which lack serial numbers, were among the weapons targeted. The investigation involved 77 guns intercepted before they could reach Queens streets, and Katz also submitted a letter opposing parole for a man involved in the 1988 killing of NYPD Officer Edward Byrne.
Timeline
1988: NYPD Officer Edward Byrne was killed while guarding a witness's home.
2022: Giuseppe Canzani murdered an Ozone Park tarot card reader.
November 5, 2026: Katz addressed Community Board 10 at the Old Mill Yacht Club in Howard Beach.
Legal Context
The Queens office's campaign against untraceable ghost guns, which lack serial numbers, reflects a broader push by New York prosecutors to address firearms that evade standard tracing. Its gun buyback and trafficking cases fit a pattern of local district attorneys pursuing both supply-side interdiction and prosecution of illegal sellers.
Residents of Queens may see continued enforcement against unregistered mopeds, particularly on busy corridors and near businesses where riders have been found. Owners of seized vehicles can potentially reclaim them by proving ownership, which may matter to anyone who rides or buys a moped in the borough.
The takeaway
Unregistered mopeds and untraceable firearms are being targeted together as part of one enforcement push. Residents who buy or ride these vehicles should confirm registration, licensing, and insurance to avoid seizure.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Law Enforcement reporting on New York City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by QNS.
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