Authorities have seized more than 550 guns at two Southern California homes and made one arrest after getting a tip that a convicted felon was storing an arsenal.
Sixty-year-old Manuel Fernandez was arrested last week after Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and state and federal investigators raided his Agua Dulce home.
Officials Monday say the searchers found 432 rifles and handguns - some decades old - at his home on the 34700 block of Caprock Road Thursday morning. When they returned the following day, they found another 91 hidden weapons.
Finally, 30 guns were seized at another home in Agua Dulce believed linked to a female associate of Fernandez, who hasn't returned to the home.
Investigators also seized computers, cellphones and hard drives used to purchase the guns,
Sources familiar with the investigation told the Los Angeles Times that Fernandez appeared to be more of a gun collector than a person plotting an attack.
Fernandez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and illegally possessing an assault rifle and large-capacity magazines.
He was ordered held on $35,000 bail. He posted that amount on Friday and was released from the Los Angeles County Medical Center's jail ward, where he was being held.
A call to his listed phone number rang unanswered Monday.
It's unclear what felony he was previously convicted of. He was sentenced to 486 days in jail in February 2017, and was released in August 2017, according to jail records.
Fernandez is due back in Antelope Valley Superior Court on July 9.
'This case is a testament to the community's involvement in reducing crime and taking guns out of the hands of criminals,' Sheriff Jim McDonnell said. 'We are proud of the relationship we have built in the Antelope Valley area as we continue to build trust with the communities we serve.'
'The swift response of our Palmdale Sheriff's Station personnel and the assistance provided by our partners at the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms,' McDonnell said in a statement, adding that the effort 'showed the positive result of our campaign, "See Something, Say Something."'
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is helping investigators determine the history of all 553 weapons.
Sixty-year-old Manuel Fernandez was arrested last week after Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and state and federal investigators raided his Agua Dulce home.
Officials Monday say the searchers found 432 rifles and handguns - some decades old - at his home on the 34700 block of Caprock Road Thursday morning. When they returned the following day, they found another 91 hidden weapons.
Finally, 30 guns were seized at another home in Agua Dulce believed linked to a female associate of Fernandez, who hasn't returned to the home.
Investigators also seized computers, cellphones and hard drives used to purchase the guns,
Sources familiar with the investigation told the Los Angeles Times that Fernandez appeared to be more of a gun collector than a person plotting an attack.
Fernandez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and illegally possessing an assault rifle and large-capacity magazines.
He was ordered held on $35,000 bail. He posted that amount on Friday and was released from the Los Angeles County Medical Center's jail ward, where he was being held.
A call to his listed phone number rang unanswered Monday.
It's unclear what felony he was previously convicted of. He was sentenced to 486 days in jail in February 2017, and was released in August 2017, according to jail records.
Fernandez is due back in Antelope Valley Superior Court on July 9.
'This case is a testament to the community's involvement in reducing crime and taking guns out of the hands of criminals,' Sheriff Jim McDonnell said. 'We are proud of the relationship we have built in the Antelope Valley area as we continue to build trust with the communities we serve.'
'The swift response of our Palmdale Sheriff's Station personnel and the assistance provided by our partners at the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms,' McDonnell said in a statement, adding that the effort 'showed the positive result of our campaign, "See Something, Say Something."'
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is helping investigators determine the history of all 553 weapons.