Press Release

QUEENS MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION FOR STASH OF FIREARMS FOUND IN HOME

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Ashram Lochan, who resides next door to the house where 10-year-old Justin Wallace was shot and killed June 5, has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon. As alleged, police found several illegal firearms in his Edgemere, Queens, home after the execution of a search warrant.

District Attorney Katz said, “Enough is enough. Illegal guns are the scourge of our city. We must get as many guns as possible out of circulation to keep our Queens families safe. The defendant in this case will be prosecuted for hiding a stash of weapons and ammunition.”

Ashram “Kevin” Lochan, of Beach 45th Street, was arraigned late Friday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Frances Wang on a complaint charging him with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. Judge Wang ordered the defendant to return to Court on June 17, 2021. Lochan faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Pursuant to an investigation related to the death of Justin Wallace, police executed a Court-authorized search warrant for Lochan’s home late yesterday. During the search, law enforcement allegedly found a loaded 9mm pistol, a .380 pistol and a .410 caliber revolver.  Police also recovered a tub containing various calibers of ammunition, including bullets for the .380 caliber and .410 caliber pistols.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Andre Figueiredo of the 101st Precinct Detective Squad of the New York City Police Department, under the supervision of Lieutenant Courtney Cummings.

The case is being prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau under the supervision of supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Peter J. McCormack III, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief, John W. Kosinski and Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.

**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.