Federal Jury Convicts East Orange, NJ, Man of Illegal Firearm Possession
CAMDEN, N.J. – An East Orange, N.J., man was convicted today for illegal possession of a loaded handgun by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. The jury returned a guilty verdict against Rahim Gilbert, 27, following a four-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas in Camden federal court. Gilbert was convicted of the sole count of the Indictment against him: being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On the evening of Jan. 4, 2011, officers from the Newark Police Department were patrolling the area of the New Community Housing Complex located at 72 Hayes St., Newark. Upon seeing the officer, Gilbert ran into the center of the housing complex and the officers pursued him.
During the pursuit, the officers observed Gilbert running through the complex with a silver and black handgun. Gilbert discarded the firearm and attempted to flee from the officers again. The police recovered a loaded Taurus Millennium .45- cal. semi-automatic handgun from where Gilbert discarded it and then apprehended him.
At sentencing, Gilbert faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
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 in Newark as well as the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio, for the investigation leading to the conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gurbir S. Grewal and Jose R. Almonte of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Maggie F. Moy Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Camden