Two Men From Essex County Held On Trafficking Illegal Firearms And Drugs
Two individuals hailing from Essex County, New Jersey, have been formally indicted on charges related to engaging in unauthorized firearms sales and participating in the interstate trade of firearms.
Additionally, one of the defendants faces an extra charge connected to a drug conspiracy involving fentanyl, as stated by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.Carlo M. De Leon De Jesus, aged 26, and Victor Gonzalez, aged 36, both residents of Newark, have been accused of multiple offenses, including the illicit sale of firearms without the requisite license, transferring firearms to individuals residing out of state, and engaging in firearms trafficking.
De Jesus is also facing charges related to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Both individuals made appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in the federal court in Newark and have been detained pending further legal proceedings.
Details from court documents and statements presented in court proceedings indicate that from July to September 2023, De Jesus purportedly sold four firearms, comprising two rifles and a semi-automatic handgun. He is further alleged to have sold a substance that, upon testing, was found to contain fentanyl. In contrast, Gonzalez is accused of selling a firearm lacking a serial number in September 2023.
Regarding the legal ramifications, the charges of unauthorized firearms dealing and transferring firearms to out-of-state residents are associated with maximum penalties of five years of imprisonment and fines reaching up to $250,000. Firearms trafficking, on the other hand, carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison and comparable monetary fines. Additionally, the charge of conspiring to distribute fentanyl against De Jesus carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger praised the collaborative efforts of various agencies involved in the investigation, specifically recognizing the special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations in Newark.Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry O’Connell from the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)/Narcotics Unit in Newark is overseeing the prosecution.
For residents of Morris County and Morristown, these charges highlight the ongoing endeavors of law enforcement agencies to combat illegal firearms trafficking and drug-related activities that may have adverse effects on neighboring communities.
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