Newark man sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for illegally dealing in firearms, including machine gun

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2011

 

NEWARK, N.J. – Cory Melvin was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison for offenses related to his illegal possession and sale of firearms, including the sale of a machine gun in Newark, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Melvin, 36, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful transfer of a machine gun, illegally dealing in firearms, unlawful possession of 11 firearms, and conspiracy before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph A. Greenaway. The case was later reassigned to Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh, who presided over today’s sentencing.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Melvin admitted that between September 2008 and February 2009, he, along with coconspirator Rashan Clark, sold multiple firearms on four separate occasions for profit and without a license. During this five-month period, he and Clark sold a total of 11 guns – including a machine gun, two shotguns, and eight handguns – in the city of Newark. Melvin also admitted that he possessed the firearms after having been convicted of a felony.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Cavanaugh sentenced Melvin to three years of supervised release.

Clark previously pleaded guilty to unlawful transfer of a machine gun and was sentenced to 36 months in prison by Judge Greenaway.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Horace, for the investigation of the case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Wolfe and John E. Clabby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

11-137                                                                                          

Defense counsel: Patrick McMahon, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark

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