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Chatham,
New Jersey – Attorney General Anne
Milgram, New Jersey State Police Superintendent
Rick Fuentes and ATF Special Agent in Charge
Matthew Horace today announced the arrest
of a Chatham man for selling illegal guns
including three assault weapons. David Charles
Murray, 26, of Chatham, sold a total of
eight illegal guns, including three assault
weapons, to an undercover New Jersey trooper
over approximately one month.
Detectives from the NJSP
Street Gang Unit worked side by side with
agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol
Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
on the investigation that followed guns
purchased in Pennsylvania that were then
defaced and sold illegally in New Jersey.
Murray bought guns legally to transfer them
illegally to another person – using
a home address in Equinunk, Pa.
During the purchases, the
undercover trooper witnessed Murray grind
the serial numbers off each weapon with
machinery at the auto repair shop in which
he worked. At one meeting, Murray even sawed
off the barrel of a shotgun. All the weapons
sold came fully loaded with additional ammunition
supplied to the undercover trooper.
On October 16, 2008, troopers and ATF agents
arrested Murray at his place of employment,
Glenn’s Automotive & Towing located
in Chatham. In total, 10 weapons were seized,
along with high capacity magazines and ammunition.
Two AK-47 assault rifles were among the
guns purchased in the investigation, along
with approximately 600 rounds of hollow
point ammunition for these infamous weapons.
The other firearms were 2 shotguns, 5 semi-automatic
handguns and one Kel-Tech semi-automatic
pistol, which is an assault weapon.
“This investigation
led to the arrest of a brazen trafficker
who peddled assault weapons without regard
to the law or the public’s safety,’’
Attorney General Milgram said. “Clearly,
Murray’s stock in trade was the illegal
sale of deadly weapons to violent criminals.
We shut him down with strong detective work
and the close cooperation between the State
Police and ATF.’’
“Those who buy guns
in other states to sell them illegally in
New Jersey have their fingers on the triggers
every time those weapons are used in crimes.
We will vigorously pursue and arrest anyone
involved in the trafficking of illegal firearms,”
said Colonel Rick Fuentes.
“This is a classic
example of collaborative law enforcement
at every level. Our relationships with The
New Jersey State Police and the United States
Attorney’s Office support us fully
in our goal to protect the public. These
firearms will never be used in a crime,
or to victimize citizens in New Jersey,”
said ATF SAC Matthew Horace of the Newark
office.
The Honorable Vincent J.
McMann Jr. of the Chatham Borough Municipal
Court set bail at $250,000, full cash for
state charges and lodged in the Passaic
County Jail.
Murray was charged with
the illegal possession of firearms, including
assault weapons, and the illegal possession
of body armor penetrating bullets. He was
also charged with the illegal possession
and intent to distribute one kilo of cocaine.
Murray was arraigned this
afternoon in U.S. District Court in Newark
on federal weapons charges for illegally
selling firearms without a license and for
possessing firearms with serial numbers
that he obliterated or altered.
The New Jersey Office of
the Attorney General and the US Attorney’s
Office oversaw the investigation and will
handle the prosecution of Murray’s
charges.
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