Passaic County Man Admits Trying To Bring Loaded Gun On Plane At Newark Liberty International Airport

NEWARK, N.J. – A Totowa, New Jersey, man today admitted knowingly possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and trying to bring a loaded gun onto a plane, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Laron L. James, a/k/a/ “Juelz Santana,” 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to both counts of an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and carrying a weapon on an aircraft. 

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

James admitted that on March 9, 2018, he knowingly possessed a loaded Derringer .38 caliber handgun despite the fact he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his December 2012 conviction in Bergen County Superior Court for manufacturing and distributing a controlled dangerous substance. James also admitted that on that date, he attempted to bring the loaded gun onto a flight from Newark to San Francisco. The gun was discovered during the X-Ray screening of James’s luggage before he could board the flight. 

Both charges in the indictment carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2018.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie in Newark, and officers of the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Edward Cetnar, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.   

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace Latzer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark. 

Defense counsel: Brian J. Neary Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey