Editors Note: The following press release is directly from ATF. Regular readers of AmmoLand News know our stance on the unaccountable Federal Agency: No comment. We invite our readers to leave their hard-hitting insights in the comments below.
NEWARK, N.J. – -(AmmoLand.com)- A South Carolina couple made their initial court appearance today on charges of trafficking firearms into New Jersey, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Fuquan Haafiz Ali Bowers, 37, and Christina Lanette Williams, both of Newberry, South Carolina, were arrested Nov. 3, 2021, and are charged by complaint with conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, dealing firearms without a license, and transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident. Bowers was additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. They appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald in South Carolina federal court and were each released on $25,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
This summer, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Elizabeth, New Jersey, police officers recovered several firearms in separate investigations in the city of Elizabeth. One of the recovered firearms was at the scene of a shooting; another firearm was recovered from a juvenile; and the third firearm was recovered from a convicted felon. The ATF later discovered that the recovered firearms were purchased by Williams in South Carolina before they were subsequently recovered by law enforcement in New Jersey. The ATF then obtained documents and other evidence revealing that Williams and Bowers traveled from South Carolina to New Jersey to sell the firearms in Elizabeth.
The firearms dealing charges each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. The felon in possession of a firearms charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the ATF, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; and the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Director Earl J. Graves and Chief Giacomo Sacca, with the investigation leading to these charges.
This arrest was made by a firearms trafficking strike force, part of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the spring of 2021, the violent crimes reduction initiative is a comprehensive strategy to deploy federal resources in the most effective way, disrupt the most dangerous threats and support ground-level efforts of local law enforcement. Within the initiative, firearms trafficking strike forces have been launched to reduce violent crime by addressing illegal gun trafficking in significant firearms trafficking corridors.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. Shaughnessy of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating violations of the federal firearms and explosives laws and regulations. More information about ATF and its programs can be found at www.atf.gov.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. That is the second amendment, that is THE law of the land. Per Mayberry vs Madison, a case of the supreme court, SCOTUS, any law that goes against the constitution is null and void. That pretty much wipes out the atfe’s and any other law enforcement’s claim of legal standing or jurisdiction with reference to firearms and anything else a militia could/would use. The atfe is a rogue, illegal, unconstitutional, want to be branch of government… Read more »
And we can all take that to the bank… Very fine post, sir.
I have said it for years. It is unconstitutional for the BATF to charge a fee to get a “covered” device or firearm. That was a leftover of the democrat Jim Crow voting laws that were ruled unconstitutional. It is the only right in the Bill of Rights that a fee is charged for. They want to collect the data, then they cover the fees for it. The same holds true for concealed carry permits. Should not be any fee. So many of these laws need to get fixed.
enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the spring of 2021, How about enforcing the Constitution ? SHALL NOT INFRINGE ! You only want to pick & choose what to enforce. What no cash seizure this time ? LMAO
mine is booby trapped ,safe is great decoy
“Treason is punishable by death in this country.”
It appears to be punishable by handing them the presidency.
I see the government thugs are bragging about armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and violation of rights again.
If “the jewish (laughing) masonic mafia bankers” are so powerful, why did they let Hitler kill 6 million Jews? 10D chess?
How can Trump be down on them when half his family & managers are Jews?
Doesn’t add up.
Don’t get Rittenhouse. They went PC and trashed Kyle.
Merry Christmas
News flash: that shot to “prevent” da WooFlew can not in any way be the “mark of the besat” Jesus foretold. For multiple reasons. but it cannot possibly be that.
atf ATtacking Freedom
how can unconstitutional bullies be here shall not be infringed , if rights are restored all rights are restored ,
Restore the Republic! MC and a Happy New set of moral standards in Washington, DC.
Just like Prohibition, make something (firearms) forbidden and people will flock to obtain and supply it.
F**k batfagots!
publish their home addresses NOT their press releases!!!!
Go away!
I read through these comments and it’s stunning the different takes and bizarre tangents the comments diverge into… anyway…> First of all, this is a statement released by the Propaganda Division of the BATFE. This pretty much sums up their prosecution without any details from the defense. I haven’t really seen details so I figure these folks are destined for a deep dark dungeon where they will only be disturbed for feeding and beatings. Selling legally purchased firearms to felons hurts us all. They get their day in court. We will see.
What kind of felons?
What if the definition of a felon continues to change in more and more states?
that is a valid ppint. Many things charged as “felonies” these days should not be. HOWEVER it does seem thse guys were supplying a criminal element.. one recovered at a robber, another in the hands of another convicted “felon” whatever that hppend to be. And the one in the hands of a jvenile.. well, depends on whoat HE was doing with it. We all know about the 14 year old used a handgun to defend his Mum’s life in an attmepted pizza burglary. This busienss of NOONE under `18/21 can posess a firearm. good grief, my Dad talked about bring… Read more »
I was commenting on this statement that warfinge made:
“Selling legally purchased firearms to felons hurts us all.”
There are a lot of felonies today that have nothing to do with violence and there are more laws on the way.
The “law and order” crowd should be careful what it wishes for or they are going to be in for a surprise.
Yes, many divergent theories, opinions, and impressions. Constitutional law and Constitutional statutes are the measuring stick. Merry Christmas and a Happy New firearm!
“Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the ATF, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; and the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Director Earl J. Graves and Chief Giacomo Sacca, with the investigation leading to these charges.”
https://noblenj.org/team/earl-graves/
Kinda funny credentials:
Director Graves is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he obtained a Bachelor’ Degree in Political Science and he also holds a Criminal Justice Education Certificate from the University of Virginia. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy #246 Session.
Amazing how these articles bring out hte criminal element to comment
Amazing how proficient you are at projection, Comrade.
You must be referring to AZ lefty’s comment as the criminal element ! I agree leftists are the largest criminal element in America today
someone who believes only they have rights; they dont want people in jails but they do want them under their jack boots. ???socialists???? most anti social people go figure