Pennsylvania Man Charged with Selling Thousands of Dollars Worth of Firearms to New Jersey Resident
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 22, 2012 |
NEWARK—A Pennsylvania man made his initial court appearance today after his arrest by special agents of the FBI for allegedly selling firearms illegally to a New Jersey resident, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Eduardo Velasquez, 62, of Reading, Pennsylvania, who was arrested October 18, 2012, is charged by complaint with one count of unlawfully dealing in firearms and five counts of illegally selling firearms to a New Jersey resident. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shwartz in Newark federal court.
According to the complaint:
Velasquez allegedly traveled from Pennsylvania to Jersey City on five separate occasions, between July 5, 2012 and October 18, 2012, for the purpose of selling firearms. Velasquez sold 11 firearms to a New Jersey resident for nearly $9,000, including: (1) an SKS 7.52 x 39 mm rifle; (2) a Mossberg Model 88 shotgun; (3) a Winchester Model 1300 12-gauge shotgun; (4) a Mossberg Model 190 16-gauge shotgun; and (5) an SKS 7.62 x 39 mm rifle.
He was ordered detained without bail.
If convicted, Velasquez faces a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison on each count and a fine of $250,000 or twice the loss caused by the offense or twice the gain derived from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the investigation leading to the arrest. He also thanked the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Jersey City Police Department, and the Newark Police Department for their roles.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.