A 34-year-old felon was in custody Thursday after Long Beach police said they seized more than 30 firearms, more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition and body armor from his home.
Roger Alexander Triplett of Long Beach was arrested Sept. 18 after detectives and a SWAT team served a search warrant at his home in the 100 block of East 23rd Street, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
The search followed an investigation by detectives into the alleged possession and sale of illegal firearms.
Detectives believe Triplett was purchasing firearm parts online, assembling firearms at his home and illegally selling them, police said.
Investigators recovered 17 rifles or shotguns, 15 handguns, more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition and body armor, according to the department.
“The arrest of this individual and the recovery of over 30 firearms is a reminder of the important work our LBPD specialized units are able to do,” Police Chief Wally Hebeish said in a statement. “Through this investigation, detectives recovered numerous weapons that now cannot be used to harm or victimize our community. I want to commend our detectives for their dedication and focus on keeping Long Beach safe through the disruption of illegal gun sales in our community.”
Triplett was booked on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, importing a short-barreled rifle, illegally possessing an assault weapon, possessing a firearm silencer, selling a large-capacity magazine, selling firearms without a license, criminal storage of firearms, being a violent felon in possession of body armor, child endangerment and confining an animal without adequate care.
He was being held without bail at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department jail records.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators was urged to contact Societal Crimes Detective Martin Wysoki at 562-570-7221. Anonymous tips can be submitted to LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or lacrimestoppers.org.