Mercer County Man Arraigned On Charge Of Illegal Possession Of Weapon

TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Omar Kennedy, 38, of Trenton, is charged by indictment with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was arraigned today before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court and pleaded not guilty. He remains detained.

According to the indictment, returned Jan. 15, 2020:

On May 23, 2019, Kennedy possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

The charge of possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NCIS for mental health reasons; and ensured that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson, Newark Field Division, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charge and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Andrea Bergman Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton