Two Essex County Men Charged with Unlicensed Firearms Trafficking
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Essex County, New Jersey, men were charged today with unlicensed dealing in firearms and trafficking firearms in interstate commerce; one of the defendants was also charged with conspiracy to sell fentanyl, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division Cheryl Ortiz and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Carlo M. De Leon De Jesus, 26, and Victor Gonzalez, 36, both of Newark, are each charged by complaint with one count of dealing firearms without a license, one count of transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident, and one count of firearms trafficking. De Jesus is also charged with one count of conspiracy to contribute controlled substances. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and were detained.
De Jesus is charged with four counts—dealing firearms without a license, transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident, firearms trafficking, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl between about July and September, 2023.
From July 2023 to September 2023, De Jesus sold four firearms, including two rifles and a semi-automatic handgun, as well as a substance that tested positive for fentanyl. Gonzalez sold a firearm with no serial number in September 2023.
The counts of dealing firearms without a license and transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident are punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain to the defendant or twice the gross pecuniary loss to victim. The count of count of firearms trafficking is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain to the defendant or twice the gross pecuniary loss to victim. The count of conspiracy to contribute controlled substances is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, with the investigation leading to charges.
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