HOMELESS MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR POSSESSING EXPLOSIVES AND ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a homeless, former soldier in the Hungarian army, Zsolt Racz, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for possessing explosives, other dangerous weapons, and assaulting a New York City Police Officer.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett sentenced Racz (aka George Buko) 32, to eight years in prison and five years post release supervision. However, as a condition of the plea agreement, the defendant also agreed to waive his right to contest deportation after serving his sentence in state prison. Racz remained in the country illegally after his application for asylum was rejected by the U.S. State Department.

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. His behavior had aroused the suspicion of New York City Police Officers who approached Racz to question him. Racz, who was wearing a green camouflage body vest, attempted to flee but was unsuccessful. He was found to be in possession of a non-functioning .380 caliber Mac-10 semi automatic weapon that was loaded with ten live rounds. A second magazine containing twenty two live rounds was recovered from the body vest. An additional twenty six live rounds of .380 caliber ammunition were found in the defendant’s knapsack. A loaded .38 caliber revolver was retrieved from Racz’ waistband and fourteen live rounds for the handgun were found in his pockets. Also recovered were two live hand grenades, three live homemade explosive devices, a metal knuckle knife with a four and a half inch blade, and a second knife with a fourteen inch blade.

Following his arrest, Racz was taken for observation to Jacobi Hospital’s Emergency Room where he assaulted a police officer and grabbed the officer’s service revolver in an attempt to escape from custody.

Assistant District Attorney Todd Sherman of the Investigations Division’s Rackets Bureau prosecuted the case.