A Jersey City man was among three busted with stolen handguns during a drug and weapons investigation, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On March 24th, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force and Moonachie Police Department surveilled Abdel Shileh as he met with gun buyers Turron Ward and Michael Hayes at his residence at 93 Moonachie Ave. and at his job, located at 92 Moonachie Ave., Musella said in a statement.
A motor vehicle stop and subsequent search warrant on Ward’s vehicle revealed an aftermarket hidden compartment that contained two stolen handguns, one of which contained a large capacity ammunition magazine.
Ward, 43, of Irvington, and Hayes, 41, of Jersey City, were each charged with two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, two counts of third-degree receiving stolen property, and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine.
Both were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearances in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Then, on March 28th, in continuance of this narcotics and firearms distribution investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, Moonachie Police Department and the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team executed search warrants at Shileh’s residence and his place of employment in Moonachie.
A search of the residence revealed crystal methamphetamine, 18 stolen handguns, 12 stolen rifles, a stolen assault rifle, a stolen grenade launcher, and drug paraphernalia.
He was apprehended in his apartment and n additional search of Shileh’s place of employment revealed two stolen rifles and stolen sports memorabilia.
Shileh was placed under arrest without incident and charged with second-degree armed burglary, two counts of second-degree unlawful sale of a firearm, 17 counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, 30 counts of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second-degree possession of a destructive device for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, third-degree burglary, third-degree theft by unlawful taking, third-degree possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, 13 counts of third-degree unlawful possession of a rifle, 18 counts of fourth-degree receiving stolen property, and fourth-degree unlawful sale of an extended ammunition magazine.
He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Musella thanked the Moonachie Police Department, Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team for their assistance in this investigation.
