A Jersey City man and a Bayonne man are among four charged for the manufacturing and trafficking of “ghost guns,” also known as personally made firearms (PMFs), U.S. Attorney Phillip Sellinger announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Richard Mullane, 26, of Bayonne, and Julian Santiago, 26, of Jersey City, are charged by complaint with conspiracy to engage in unlicensed firearms dealing and manufacturing and engaging in unlicensed firearms dealing and manufacturing, including by manufacturing and subsequently selling PMFs, Sellinger said in a statement.
Savion Clyburn, 20, and Corey Jenkins Jr., 30, both of Paterson, face the same charges, while Santiago is also charged with transferring a firearm to a felon.
Beginning in December 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with state and local law enforcement agencies, began investigating a firearms trafficking network, operating largely in Paterson and Bayonne, that included Clyburn, Jenkins, Mullane, and Santiago.
During December 2022 and January 2023, law enforcement conducted at least nine controlled purchases which resulted in the recovery of 12 firearms, including 11 PMFs and one serialized Kel-Tec SUB-2000 Rifle.
According to federal prosecutors, was involved in the sale of four PMFs, while Santiago is involved in the sale of three.
Law enforcement officials have recovered PMFs that were customized with different colors and designs, and two of which were threaded for silencers.
All four defendants face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of up to $250,000 on each of Counts 1 and 2.
Additionally, Santiago faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 on Count 3.
