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Tag: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Ex-Con Kidnapper Gets 43 Years, No Parole, For Rape, Arson, Assault Rampage Through NJ, NY, PA
UPDATE: An ex-con who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend in Pennsylvania, then torched a used car dealership in Paterson and rammed a stolen SUV into police cars at both ends of the George Washington Bridge was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison.
Luis Figueroa, 42, first took a plea deal from the government that called for him to serve 26 years in a federal penitentiary.
Then he abruptly withdrew his plea, took his chances with a trial – and lost.
Federal jurors in Newark convicted Figueroa in May 2022 of kidnapping, criminal sexual abuse, illegal gun possession and assaulting…
PA Constable Purchased 22 Firearms For Felon: AG
A Pennsylvania court constable is accused of purchasing weapons— including straw purchasing 22 guns— for a convicted felony, Attorney General Josh Shapiro. says.
Sidney Snelling, 48, of Wilkes-Barre, was arrested on Thursday, April 28, by members of the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Section, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Luzerne County Detective Bureau, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Agents also searched Snelling’s car and residence, seizing nine firearms, as well as ammunition and outlaw motorcycle vests.…
Feds: 'Community Guns' Smuggled Into NJ Seized, Local Man, Georgia Woman Charged
A trio of “community guns” were brought into New Jersey by a Garden State man and a Georgia woman, a grand jury has charged.
Most used in crimes in New Jersey are smuggled in from out of state, most often from the South, after being bought or stolen, authorities say.
These include “community guns,” which two or more criminals stash somewhere – in a mailbox or a garbage can, under a rock or on the tire of a car, for instance -- for instant access and quick disposal by them and others.
A grand jury indictment returned in Trenton charges Marquise Peterson, 28, of Trenton, and Quaneisha Frost-…
8 Kids, 4 Adults Dead In 'Devastating' Philadelphia Fire
Eight children and four adults were confirmed dead in a fire that swept through a Philadelphia rowhouse early Wednesday morning, city officials said.
Had the smoke alarms in the N. 23 Street building been working properly, though, things might have turned out differently, Mayor Jim Kenney's office said in a news release.
“This is, without a doubt, one of the most tragic days in our city’s history,” said Kenney, the son of a firefighter, at a news conference Wednesday. “Losing so many kids is just devastating.”
Fire companies arrived at 6:40 a.m. and found heavy fire coming …
NJ, PA Trio Trafficked Dozens Of 'Ghost Guns,' Indictment Charges
Two Philadelphia men and one from Camden trafficked no fewer than two dozen untraceable “ghost guns” from Pennsylvania into New Jersey, a grand jury indictment alleges.
Even more guns, as well as parts, large-capacity magazine and ammo, were seized during the investigation, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said Tuesday.
According to the indictment returned in Trenton, Eduardo T. Lazo Jr., 26, of Camden, organized the operation and sold the illegal guns in Camden.
Juan Enrique Fernandez, 29, and Ericknell Rivera-Mercado, 31, both of Philadelphia, are accused of bringing th…
DA: 5 People Arrested For MontCo, Philly, Berks, Lancaster County Gun Trafficking Ring
Five Pennsylvanians were arrested for operating a straw purchase gun trafficking ring in Montgomery, Philadelphia, Berks, and Lancaster counties, authorities said Friday.
Daveese Smith, 21, of Norristown; Darell Smith, 25, of Philadelphia; Maliqa Jack, 25 of Pottstown; Donaya Williams, 22, of Philadelphia; and Tanisha Allen (AKA Tanisha Smith), 42, of Norristown are accused of illegally obtaining and reselling 14 firearms, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.
Some of the suspects were arrested and charged in February when DA Kevin Steele initially announced th…
DA: 3 PA Men Arrested For Trafficking 37 Firearms Across Philly, Bucks, MontCo
Three Pennsylvania men were arrested for trafficking 37 firearms across Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery counties, authorities announced.Tyron Gresham, 24, purchased the firearms from Dec. 19, 2019, through May 13, 2021, and attempted to buy another one on May 18, 2021, according to Montgomery County District Attorney's office.
Of the 37 firearms purchased by Gresham, 17 were purchased in Bucks County, 16 in Philadelphia, and four in Montgomery County.
Nasim Smalls, 24, and Aaron Walker, 20, who are brothers, are not legally allowed to purchase or possess firearms, authorities said…
AG: Lehigh County Man Forced Another To Illegally Buy 29 Firearms To Support Meth Habit
A pair of Lehigh County men were arrested for their roles in the illegal straw purchases of 29 firearms in an effort to make up for the debt related to one of the man's drug use, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office announced.
James Gleason, 38, of Emmaus, was instructed by Reynold Lewis, 37, of Allentown, to make straw purchases of firearms to pay back debt related to Gleason’s methamphetamine use, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.
Agents executed a search warrant on Lewis' hotel room and vehicle on May 3, and recovered one handgun, ammunition, firearm parts, and accesso…
Feds: NJ Man Facing Nearly 15 Years For Gunpoint Robbery Of 3 PA Convenience Stores
A New Jersey man is facing nearly 15 years behind bars for his alleged armed robbery of a Speedway gas station and convenience store in Allentown in 2017, federal authorities announced.
Brandon Garcia, 22, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty in 2019 to multiple felonies arising from the Mar. 28, 2017 robbery, including Hobbs Act robbery, and using, carrying, or possessing a machine gun during a crime, according to Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams.
During the robbery, it is alleged that Garcia used a long gun to threaten store employees and poked one employee with th…
