Greenwich Man Faces Federal Weapons Charges

A Greenwich man who was and, as a result, found to be in possession of numerous machine guns has reportedly been released from federal detention after posting $500,000 bond.

According to a Greenwich Time report, Thomas Belluci, 50, was released July 30 after spending more than two months in federal custody in connection with his arrest for possession of numerous machine guns.

Among the vintage automatic weapons seized from Belluci's home were three World War II-vintage German MP40 submachine guns, three Chinese copies of the popular AK-47, a Thompson M1A1 submachine gun and a World War II U.S. M1/M2 carbine, according to the report.

As reported on Greenwich Patch, police responded to Belluci's Cutler Road home on Aug. 22, 2011, after receiving reports of gun shots.

Officers were met on arrival by Belluci, who reportedly told them he did not hear any gunshots, nor had he discharged any firearms.

Police said Belluci granted officers permission to look around the house. Police said while officers were conducting a visual search of the residence, Belluci went into a room and closed the door. When officers asked him to open the door, Belluci reportedly failed to comply, whereupon officers opened the door and saw him leaning over two long gun cases inside the room.

Police said upon further questioning, Belluci admitted that he had fired a handgun into a wooded area behind the house from inside the residence, through a sliding back door that opens from the kitchen to the backyard.

Police said Belluci was uncooperative when questioned about the location of the handgun. He was subsequently placed under arrest.

Police said when officers tried to cuff Belluci, he resisted and attempted to pull away from officers. Police said a physical struggle ensued and Belluci had to be Tased in order to subdue him.

Police found the handgun — as well as the large cache of weapons — in the residence.

Belluci was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, interfering with an officer, breach of peace and reckless endangerment.

Subsequently federal authorities indicted Belluci in May for possession of a machine gun.

Belluci is scheduled to appear in in U.S. District Court in New Haven on Oct. 10 to answer to the federal charges — and state Superior Court in Stamford on Nov. 11 for the state charges, according to the report in the Greenwich Time.

For more, check out the Greenwich Time report.