TRENTON - Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman today announced a new round of indictments charging 51 defendants with illegally trafficking or possessing 67 guns under an aggressive initiative to target gun violence. Under the initiative launched last year, the New Jersey State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice are targeting gun violence in New Jersey through strategic investigations focused on seizing existing weapons in violent areas, disrupting the supply-chain of weapons trafficking into those areas, and prosecuting criminals involved in the illegal sale and possession of weapons.

A total of 122 defendants have been indicted in connection with 181 illegal guns since the initiative began in May 2012. Since the start of 2013, a total of 65 defendants have been indicted in connection with 94 guns, including the latest round of indictments, obtained in the two weeks from Sept. 16 to 30, which charge 51 defendants in connection with 67 guns. Last year, 57 defendants were indicted in connection with 87 guns. The latest indictments charge numerous defendants who were allegedly trafficking assault rifles and other illegal guns to gang members and criminals in New Jersey. Most of the defendants are subject to the strict sentencing requirements of the Graves Act, stipulating mandatory terms of parole ineligibility of up to five years. The cases include “Operation Ohio,” in which 11 men from Ohio and New Jersey were charged with selling 18 guns on the streets of Newark and Irvington as part of a conspiracy to illegally traffic guns, including assault rifles, into New Jersey from Ohio.

“We are targeting those who rip apart communities by peddling murder and mayhem,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “We’ve bought back nearly 16,000 guns across New Jersey to ensure that unwanted guns don’t find their way into this black market. With these focused investigations, we also are taking back illegally trafficked guns that are the most likely to be used in violent crimes.”

“There are entirely too many illegal guns on the streets and in the hands of dangerous criminals, and we will continue to do everything in our power to take those guns back and to send those criminals to prison,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We will continue to partner with the State Police to utilize New Jersey’s tough gun laws, and to send a clear message: if you illegally traffic or possess guns in New Jersey, you will go to prison.”

“There are no drive-by punchings. No innocent children are struck through the walls of their homes by a stray bat aimed at someone else. A carelessly wielded knife could not injure multiple people on the other side of the playground. Only guns used by criminals make such dangers reality. These seizures and arrests represent a true reduction of guns in the hands of those who would use them to do harm,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.

The Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau obtained the following indictments in cases involving investigations by the New Jersey State Police and certain other agencies. Most of the investigations were conducted by the State Police Weapons Trafficking North Unit, but certain investigations were handled by the Weapons Trafficking South Unit and other New Jersey State Police units. In addition, one investigation (Rivera) was conducted by detectives with the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau and one investigation (Edwards) was conducted by the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

1. Eleven men were indicted in connection with an alleged conspiracy to illegally traffic guns, including assault rifles, into New Jersey from Ohio and sell them on street. They allegedly sold 18 guns in Newark and Irvington between October 2012 and January 2013, including two assault rifles, eight handguns, three shotguns and five rifles. The defendants are Leonard King, 39, of Steubenville, Ohio; Andrew L. Estes, 21, of Steubenville, Ohio; Johnny E. Gilbert, 50, of Steubenville, Ohio; Kenneth E. Shepard, 28, of Steubenville, Ohio; John E. Bowles, 38, of East Liverpool, Ohio; Melvin L. Harrison, 49, of Newark; James D. Harrison, 45, of Newark; Jonathon J. Williams, 23, of Newark; Sharrif Patterson, 24, of Newark; Aaron Q. Kearney, 20, of Irvington; and Renard W. Kears, 44, of Irvington. All of the defendants face second-degree charges of conspiracy and unlawful disposition of firearms. Melvin Harrison, Patterson and Bowles face second-degree charges of unlawful possession of a handgun. King, Estes and Harrison face second-degree charges of unlawful possession of assault firearms in connection with their alleged sale of two assault rifles in December 2012. King, James Harrison, Bowles and Kears are charged with possession of guns as convicted felons. The second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, and the charge of possessing a gun as a convicted felon carries a mandatory period of five years of parole ineligibility. Indicted Sept. 30.

2. Raymond Rivera, 40, of Monmouth Junction, faces charges including unlawful possession and sale of a rifle, and possessing a gun as a convicted felon. It is alleged that Rivera illegally sold a rifle in New Brunswick in July 2012. He faces five to 10 years in prison, including five years of parole ineligibility if convicted of possessing a gun as a felon. Indicted Sept. 30.

3. Thomas Torres, 29, and Alex Suarez Jr., 32, both of Camden, allegedly sold a rifle in Camden in May 2012, and Torres allegedly sold a handgun in Camden in April 2012. Both men face third–and–fourth degree charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of a rifle, and unlawful disposition of a rifle. Torres also faces a second-degree charge of unlawful possession of a handgun and a fourth-degree charge of unlawful sale of a handgun, while Suarez faces a second-degree charge of possession of a gun as a convicted felon. The second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, and the charge of possessing a gun as a convicted felon carries a mandatory period of five years of parole ineligibility. Indicted Sept. 30.

4. Balik Carter, 33, of Newark, faces charges of unlawful possession and sale of a handgun and unlawful possession and sale of a shotgun, as well as possession of a gun as a convicted felon. The second-degree charges of possession of a handgun and possession of a gun as a felon carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison, and the charge of possessing a gun as a felon carries a mandatory period of five years of parole ineligibility. It is alleged that Carter sold a revolver in Newark in April 2013, and sold a shotgun in Newark in March 2013. Indicted Sept. 30.

5. Al-Tariq Thomas, 27, of Irvington, faces a second-degree charge of unlawful possession of an assault weapon. The assault weapon was seized by police in May 2012 during execution of a search warrant at an apartment used by Thomas. Five other individuals, including Thomas’ brother, Almalik Thomas, were named in the indictment on charges related to heroin seized during the investigation. Thomas faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted of the assault weapon charge. Indicted Sept. 30.

6. Amber Higgins, 23, of Newark, faces charges including conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, defacing firearms and resisting arrest. It is alleged that she illegally trafficked three handguns in Newark in January 2013. A fourth handgun was recovered during the investigation. She faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted of the conspiracy and weapons possession charges. Indicted Sept. 26.

7. Sharod Saunders, 39, and Andre Cross, 39, of Newark, face charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful sale of a weapon, and possession of a gun by a convicted felon. They face five to 10 years in prison if convicted, including a mandatory five years without parole for possessing a gun as a felon. It is alleged that they illegally sold a handgun in Newark in October 2012. Indicted Sept. 26.

8. Shene Brown, 23, of East Orange, faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and resisting arrest. He allegedly was arrested in possession of a .38-caliber semi-automatic handgun in January 2013 in East Orange. He faces five to 10 years in prison on the weapons possession charge. Indicted Sept. 26.

9. Salaam D. Johnson, 21, of Newark, faces charges of unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of heroin and resisting arrest. He allegedly had a handgun and seven glassine envelopes of heroin in his possession when he was arrested following a foot chase in Newark in July 2013. He faces a prison sentence of five to 10 years if convicted of the handgun possession charge. Indicted Sept. 26.

10. Christopher McRae, 29, of Camden, faces second-degree charges including possession of an assault rifle, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and multiple counts of unlawful possession of a handgun. He is also charged with unlawfully selling such guns. Between April and May 2012, he allegedly sold three handguns and an assault rifle with a large-capacity magazine. He faces five to 10 years in prison on the gun possession charges, including five years of parole ineligibility if convicted of possessing a gun as a felon. Indicted Sept. 26.

11. Jamaal S. Swinton, 21, of Newark, faces multiple counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful sale of a weapon. The second-degree unlawful possession charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison. It is alleged that he illegally sold two handguns and an assault rifle with a defaced serial number in Newark. Indicted Sept. 26.

12. Jamique Dickens, 22, of East Orange, Kamil Hopkins, 26, of East Orange, Curtis Riggsbee, 22, of East Orange, Korey Smith, 28, of Newark, Kashmere Wade, 22, of East Orange, Omar Walker, 20, of East Orange, Tmar Walker, 22, of East Orange, and Lance Whitfield, 22, of South Orange, face charges including conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, and unlawful sale of a weapon. They are charged individually or together with selling a total of 10 guns in East Orange and Newark between August and October 2012, including an assault rifle, two shotguns, and multiple handguns, including a stolen handgun. Omar and Tmar Walker allegedly sold the assault rifle. All eight men face second-degree charges carrying a sentence of five to 10 years. Indicted Sept. 25.

13. Waleed Thomas, 39, of Perth Amboy, was indicted on charges of unlawful possession and sale of a handgun, and he and Roscoe Holloway, 46, of Camden, were charged in the indictment with conspiracy to sell a shotgun. Thomas faces five to 10 years in prison on the handgun possession charge, while the two defendants face three to five years on the conspiracy charge. Thomas allegedly sold a handgun in December 2011 in Perth Amboy, and Thomas and Holloway allegedly sold a pistol-grip 12 gauge shotgun in January 2012 in Newark.  Indicted Sept. 23.

14. Christopher Anderson, 21, of Newark, and Tagi Earving, 23, of Newark, face third-degree charges of conspiracy and unlawful possession of a rifle, and a fourth-degree charge of unlawful sale of a rifle. They allegedly sold a .22-caliber rifle in Newark in March 2013. They face three to five years in prison if convicted of the third-degree charges. Indicted Sept. 23.

15. Cordeiro Edwards, 26, of Somerset, faces third-degree charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, and unlawful disposition of a weapon for allegedly selling a sawed-off shotgun to undercover ATF agents in December 2011. Indicted Sept. 23.

16. Woodley Francois, 22, and Christo Jeune, 23, of Irvington, are each charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun. Each of the men allegedly had a handgun in his possession when the two were arrested in a vehicle in Irvington in April 2013. Jeune allegedly had a stolen gun loaded with illegal hollow-point bullets. They face five to 10 years in prison if convicted of the handgun possession charges. Indicted Sept. 23.

17. John Muyeka, 38, of Sayreville, faces charges including conspiracy, unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful sale of a handgun and sale of a defaced firearm. He allegedly sold a defaced handgun in Irvington in August 2012. He faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted of the possession charge. Indicted Sept. 23.

18. Frank Pisano, 70, of Florham Park, faces charges including unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a gun as a convicted felon. He faces five to 10 years in prison on the gun possession charges, including five years of parole ineligibility if convicted of possessing a gun as a felon. He allegedly sold a handgun in Montclair in February 2013. Indicted Sept. 23.

19. Shonda Willis, 34, of Orange, and Teshon Harper, 38, of East Orange, face second-degree charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of the designer drug known as “bath salts. Willis also faces second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a handgun, and Harper faces third-degree counts of unlawful possession of a shotgun. Both are also charged with unlawful sale of guns. It is alleged that, in April 2013, Willis sold two handguns in Orange, and, in October 2012 and March 2013, Harper sold two shotguns, including a sawed-off shotgun, in East Orange. They face a sentence of five to 10 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree charges. Indicted Sept. 23.

20. Khalif Williams, 29, of Newark, and Freddie Simmons, 20, of East Orange, face charges including second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense. The two men were arrested in June 2012 while allegedly in possession of a handgun, a “brick” of heroin, and several vials of crack cocaine. They face five to 10 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree charges. Indicted Sept. 20.

21. Ibnabdu Muhammed, 40, of East Orange, faces charges including unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a gun as a convicted felon, and possession of heroin and crack cocaine. He faces five to 10 years in prison on the gun possession charges, including five years of parole ineligibility if convicted of possessing a gun as a felon. He allegedly possessed the handgun and narcotics when he was arrested in June 2012. Indicted Sept. 20.

22. Shariff H. Robinson, 25, of Irvington, faces charges including second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense. He allegedly sold a revolver, six hollow-point bullets, and a “dime” bag of marijuana during a single transaction in Irvington in October 2012. He faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree charges. Indicted Sept. 16.

23. Marcus Ross, 36, of Irvington, faces charges including unlawful possession of an assault rifle, unlawful disposition of an assault rifle, and possession of a gun by a convicted felon. He faces five to 10 years in prison on the possession charges, including five years of parole ineligibility if convicted of possessing a gun as a felon. He allegedly sold an assault rifle with a large-capacity magazine in Irvington in August 2012. Indicted Sept. 16.

24. Angelo Devereaux, 34, of Newark, faces fourth-degree charges of conspiracy and unlawful sale of a weapon for allegedly selling a handgun in Newark in September 2012. Indicted Sept. 16.

25. Bobby Vaughn, 48, and Castordell Johnson, 60, of Newark, face third- and fourth-degree charges of conspiracy and unlawful possession and sale of a weapon for allegedly selling a shotgun in Newark in November 2012. Indicted Sept. 16.

26. Monte Wilson, 27, of Newark, faces charges including unlawful possession of an assault rifle, unlawful disposition of an assault rifle, and possession of a gun by a convicted felon. He faces five to 10 years in prison on the possession charges, including five years of parole ineligibility if convicted of possessing a gun as a felon. He allegedly sold an assault rifle with a large-capacity magazine in Newark in July 2012. Indicted Sept. 16.

The cases were presented to multiple state grand juries for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau by Deputy Attorneys General Andrew C. Fried, Cassandra Serentino, Rachel Weeks, Philip Mogavero, Amy L. Sieminski, Jacqueline M. Weyand, Darryl K. Richardson, Brandy T. Malfitano, Michael A. Klein, Annmarie Taggart and Ray Mateo, under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Lauren Scarpa Yfantis, who is Bureau Chief.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

####