A suspected jihadist was apprehended with a cache of weapons in his SUV near LaGuardia International Airport.
Judd Sanson, 29, was just blocks from the major New York airport when alert police officers stopped him early on Wednesday morning, June 12. He was ordered held without bail on Thursday, June 13.
Prosecutors revealed that during the initial tense moments of the stop, Sanson nervously reached under the seat of his SUV. Officers subsequently discovered a loaded 9mm Glock pistol under the driver’s seat.
“Sorry, there are a lot of drunk people nowadays,” Sanson allegedly told the officers after they stopped him for having obscured license plates on the vehicle. “I live in Jamaica. I was visiting my uncle.”
However, police had already noticed a knife strapped to Sanson’s leg, an MTA reflective vest, a makeshift axe hanging from the ceiling, and a makeshift sword inside the vehicle, according to Queens Assistant District Attorney Dylan Nesturrick in Queens Criminal Court.
In all, the prosecutor said nearly a dozen weapons, an NYPD bullet-proof vest and 179 rounds of ammunition were found inside the black Ford Explorer. He also said investigators found a “disturbing photo” on Sanson’s Facebook page but did not elaborate.
“This car stop averted what could have been a disaster for the citizens of Queens, New York City and potentially even the country,” Nesturrick said.
Sanson stood before Judge Julieta Lozano with his mane of long hair flowing over a black t-shirt that read, “Dreamer: Into reality” and had a rose next to it.
Prosecutors said he has addresses in Tennessee and Maryland, but lives with his father in the Hollis section of Queens and has a 1-year-old daughter.
His lawyer said Sanson works as a “self-employed mechanic” and supports his young daughter.
Thomas Montella of Queens Defenders asked Lozano to set reasonable bail for his client.
“This is, at the end of the day, a gun case,” Montella said. But the judge sided with prosecutors, who asked that he be held at Rikers Island without bail pending a return court appearance on Monday.
“It is concerning that he was a few blocks way from the airport,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said after the arraignment.
“You got to ask about the intent.” Sanson was arrested around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, and was questioned at the 110th Precinct stationhouse until he was led out in handcuffs earlier on Thursday for his date in court.
He smiled as he was questioned by reporters and broke into a wide grin when one asked if he had purchased his weapons arsenal on Amazon.
