Two south carolina men admit to transporting stolen handguns and assault rifles into new jersey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
July 30, 2012 |
NEWARK, N.J. – Two South Carolina men admitted today that they transported into New Jersey 22 firearms that were stolen from gun shops in Tennessee and North Carolina, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Cedric Reddick, 19, and his father, Bevan Holston, 40, both of Columbia, S.C., each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an Information charging him with one count of transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On March 7, 2012, Bassir Baxter, 39, of Columbia, S.C., Reddick and Holston allegedly drove from South Carolina to the apartment of Terrell James, 22, of Newark, to illegally sell the firearms. All four were charged by Complaint with transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce.
The four men allegedly entered the apartment, where there were approximately10 other individuals, and displayed firearms on the floor for the potential buyers. In total, 22 guns were recovered, including semi-automatic handguns and assault rifles. Twenty had been stolen March 1, 2012, from a gun shop in Bristol, Tenn. Two of the guns had been stolen Feb.16, 2012, from a gun shop in Boone, N.C. Police arrested James and Baxter inside the apartment. Reddick and Holston were arrested after jumping to a rooftop from the kitchen window.
The transporting firearms charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 5, 2012.
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; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray; and the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Samuel DeMaio and Police Chief Sheilah Coley, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney José R. Almonte of the U.S. Attorney's Office Narcotics/OCDETF Unit.
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Defense counsel:
Baxter: Thomas Ashley Esq., Newark
Holston: Stephen Dratch Esq., Livingston
Reddick: Anna Cominsky Esq., Newark
James: Michael Calabro Esq., Newark
