A Salvadorian national was busted in North Bergen with 70 machine gun conversion devices last week, U.S. Attorney William Frazer announced Tuesday.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Erick Marquez Cruz 21, of North Bergen was charged by criminal complaint with possession of machine guns, Frazer said in a statement.
Cruz had his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court Monday and was ordered detained.
On June 25th law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cruz’s residence in North Bergen.
Among other items, law enforcement found inside Cruz’s bedroom a 3D printer used to manufacture various firearm components, including approximately 17 3D-printed frames, multiple 3D-printed magazines, and approximately 70 MCDs, the criminal complaint says.
MCDs, which themselves are classified as machine guns by statute, are capable of converting semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons that release multiple rounds of ammunition with the single pull of a trigger.
The charge of possession of a machine gun carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
That also includes a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant as a result of the offense, or twice the gross loss to a person other than the defendant as a result of the offense – whichever is greatest.
Frazer credited the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and officers of the North Bergen Police Department with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shriram Harid of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
Sanctuary cities. That one just got caught because of the Feds alone. What are the chances local cops knew his other criminal deeds, but kept quiet for political correctness. How many more of these hide in NB?
DEPORT