A woman is facing federal gun trafficking charges after her illegal firearm was used in a botched home invasion on Staten Island that led to the death of an expectant mother and her boyfriend.
Gina Santoro, 54, allegedly made four trips to Pennsylvania in March and April last year to purchase eight handguns with a fake driver’s license from the state, according to an indictment unsealed Monday.
On May 11, her 45-year-old boyfriend, Philip Moreno, stormed an Arlington house and gunned down Ana Desousa, 33, and her partner, Alafia Rodriguez, 46.
Moreno used one of the .22-caliber Rugers Santoro had bought from Pennsylvania in the weeks prior, according to federal prosecutors.
The two-count indictment charges Santoro with firearms trafficking conspiracy and firearms trafficking.
Santoro, who appeared in the US Eastern District Monday afternoon, was not charged in the home invasion.
Moreno is facing murder charges over the home invasion.