39 COUNT INDICTMENT UNSEALED CHARGING HOMELESS MAN WITH POSSESSION OF EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER DANGEROUS WEAPONS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a former soldier in the Hungarian army has been charged in a 39 count indictment with the possession of hand grenades, homemade explosives, a handgun, sword and knuckle knife, among other offenses including assaulting a police officer.

32 year old Zsolt Racz (a.k.a. George Buko) was charged in the multiple count indictment with Criminal Possession of a Dangerous Weapon in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Degrees, Assault in the 1st and 2nd Degrees, Assault on a Police Officer, Attempted Robbery in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degrees, Attempted Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree, Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Degrees, Unlawful Wearing of a Body Vest and Resisting Arrest.

Racz is being held without bail and was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Bernstein. Racz is facing a maximum sentence of up to 40 years imprisonment if convicted of the most serious charges stemming from two separate incidents.

Racz was arrested on March 2, 2002 while riding a bicycle in Co-op City at the intersection of Co-op City Boulevard and Bellamy Loop. The defendant allegedly tried to flee when New York City police officers attempted to question him because his behavior had aroused their suspicion. Racz. according to court papers, was wearing a green camouflage body vest and was found to be in possession of a non functioning .380 caliber Mac-10 semi-automatic weapon that was loaded with ten live rounds, with a second magazine containing twenty two live rounds recovered from the body vest. Another twenty six live rounds of .380 caliber ammunition allegedly were found in the defendant’s knapsack. Also recovered at the time were a loaded .38 caliber revolver allegedly found in the defendant’s waistband as well as an additional fourteen live rounds for the handgun in one of the defendant’s pockets. It is also alleged that Racz was in possession of two live hand grenades, three live homemade explosive devices, one metal knuckle knife with a four and a half inch blade and a second knife with a fourteen inch blade.

Racz was taken to Jacobi Hospital’s Emergency Room for observation where he allegedly assaulted a police officer and grabbed the officer’s service revolver while attempting to escape from custody.

Racz, an electrical engineer who also was trained by the Hungarian Army, has been in the United States illegally ever since his application for asylum was rejected.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Todd Sherman of the Investigations Divisions’ Rackets Bureau.