Essex County Man Admits To Committing Firearms Trafficking And Narcotics Offenses

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man admitted to several firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.

Carlo M. De Leon De Jesus, 28, of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an Information charging him with one count of dealing firearms without a license, one count of transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident, one count of firearms trafficking, and one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. De Leon De Jesus’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2025.

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

On multiple dates between July 2023 and September 2023, De Leon De Jesus sold firearms and narcotics to law enforcement, including one pistol, one semiautomatic handgun, one short barrel rifle, one AK variant style rifle, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.

The count of dealing firearms without a license and transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The count of gun trafficking carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.  

U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Field Division, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, and Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Field Division, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Taj Moore of the Narcotics/OCDETF in Newark.