3 Monmouth County Men Charged In Interstate Gun Trafficking Ring

Freehold NJ

30 September, 2020

2:53 PM

Description

FREEHOLD, NJ - Three New Jersey men have been charged with conspiring to illegally sell firearms in and around Monmouth County, the U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Wednesday. Enrique Quijada, 23, also known as "El Enano 13" or "Kike" of Freehold, Javier Rodriguez-Valpais, 31, also known as "Broly," of Morganville and Waldin Espinosa-Ozoria, 31, also known as "Manin," of Freehold, were charged by criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria, 30, also known as "Chino," and Jacquelyn Dejesus, 41, both of Bartow, Florida, were also charged with the same offense. Espinosa-Ozoria and Rodriguez-Valpais were each additionally charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria and Dejesus were also charged with one count of unlawfully selling a firearm to an individual that they knew did not reside in their state of residence. Between May 2020 through September 2020, Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria, Waldin Espinosa-Ozoria, Quijada, Rodriguez-Valpais, and Dejesus were members of a gun trafficking conspiracy that spanned from Florida to New Jersey, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Dejesus reportedly assisted Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria – the alleged leader of the conspiracy – by acting as a "straw purchaser" of firearms in Florida. Espinosa-Ozoria and Dejesus then transported the firearms from Florida to Monmouth County, where Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria, assisted by Waldin Espinosa-Ozoria and Rodriguez-Valpais, allegedly sold the firearms to someone working under the FBI. In addition, Rodriguez-Valpais allegedly sold a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle to Quijada, who then allegedly sold the rifle to an individual working under the FBI. The counts of conspiracy to engage in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing and unlawfully selling a firearm to an unlicensed resident of another state each carry a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. The counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case serves as part of Project Guardian, a new initiative from the Department of Justice aimed at reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws. Started by the Attorney General in 2019, the project enhances coordination of federal, state, local and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes and improving information sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). For more information about Project Guardian, click here. Have a news tip? Email [email protected] here to get Patch email notifications, or get breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app, download here. Follow Freehold Patch on Facebook.