2 Philly Men Charged With Ghost Gun Trafficking: Authorities

Philadelphia PA

01 September, 2021

1:53 PM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — Two Philadelphia men have been accused of running a ghost gun operation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck Wednesday Juan Enrique Fernandez, 29, and Ericknell Rivera-Mercado, 30, of Philadelphia were charged with numerous firearm related crimes. The pair, along with 26-year-old Eduardo T. Lazo Jr. of Camden, New Jersey, are accused of buying partially assembled firearms in Pennsylvania and then selling them fully assembled in New Jersey, without the serial numbers mandated by state and federal law to allow law enforcement to trace the weapons. Authorities said the trio sold six AR-style ghost assault rifles, nine ghost 9mm handguns, nine illegal large-capacity magazines, and one silencer. When arrests were made on Aug. 16 and search warrants were executed at locations in Camden and Philadelphia where the ring allegedly assembled the guns, additional weapons were seized. Authorities seized four more fully assembled ghost handguns (one of which was fully automatic), a fully assembled ghost assault rifle, parts for another ghost handgun, parts for five ghost assault rifles, many rounds of ammunition, and nine large-capacity magazines, including 50- and 60-round drum magazines, the AGs said. Lazo, Fernandez, and Rivera-mercado are each charged with various counts of conspiracy, transporting firearms into she state for sale or transfer, unlawful possession of an assault rifle, manufacture, transport, shipment, sale, disposition of an assault rifle, unlawful possession of firearms without a serial number, and transporting a manufactured firearm without a serial number. In addition, Lazo and Fernandez are charged with purchase of firearm parts to manufacture an untraceable firearm and unlawful possession of large-capacity magazines. Lazo and Rivera-Mercado are charged with unlawful possession of a silencer. Fernandez also faces the following fugitive from justice, and violation of uniform firearms act charges in Pennsylvania. Fernandez and Rivera-Mercado, who were arrested in Philadelphia, were released on bail.