09-17-2003 -- Campbell, Roy -- Indictment -- News Release

East Orange Man Indicted for Trafficking 86 Handguns

NEWARK - An East Orange man was indicted today, charged with purchasing 86 handguns in Colorado and reselling them in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Roy Campbell, 29, left New Jersey for Colorado in 1999, to establish residency there for the sole purpose of becoming eligible to buy handguns in Colorado legally, according to the Indictment. Campbell then allegedly resold the handguns in New Jersey, for a profit of at least $100 each.

Over a three-month period between January and March 2000, Campbell purchased a total of 86 handguns on nine occasions. Campbell did not have a federal firearms license to deal in firearms, according to the Indictment and a criminal complaint filed when he was arrested in February.

Campbell remains free on $100,000 bail, secured by property, which was posted after his arrest. He will be arraigned on the Indictment sometime in the next two weeks.

The investigation is the product of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' continuing efforts to eradicate gun trafficking in New Jersey's inner city neighborhoods. In his reorganization of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Christie created the Violent Crimes Unit, staffed by 10 assistant U.S. attorneys devoted to handling gang and gun prosecutions. The unit works closely with ATFE, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other investigative agencies.

"This is one of the largest single instances of firearms trafficking in New Jersey prosecuted by this office," said Christie. "Invariably, these guns end up in the hands of gang members and drug dealers who infect our inner cities with drugs and violence."

Christie was in Washington D.C. today testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on New Jersey gangs, their structure and activities. His testimony is available on request to the Public Affairs Office.

Campbell faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, the U.S. District Judge to whom a case is assigned would, upon conviction, determine the actual sentence each federal defendant receives based upon a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and the defendant's criminal history, if any.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Under the Sentencing Guidelines, defendants that are given federal custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William McMahon, in New York, with developing this case.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Richard E. Constable, III.

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