A 19-year-old Bordentown man is facing firearms trafficking charges after law enforcement allegedly seized 11 firearms in his possession.
Dominic Maloney was arrested on June 9 in Salem County. He was charged in a three-count criminal complaint with conspiracy to engage in firearms trafficking; unlawful transportation of firearms in interstate commerce while under felony indictment; and unlawful transportation of firearms obtained in another state into Maloney’s state of residence, according to a press release by the United States Attorney District of New Jersey.
According to the criminal complaint and statements made in court:
On Feb. 22, Maloney was indicted in Mercer County Superior Court on felony charges of unlawful possession of a handgun; possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose; aggravated assault; and making terroristic threats, according to the press release.
As a result of Maloney’s pending felony indictment, federal law prohibits Maloney from transporting firearms in interstate commerce. Law enforcement’s review of Maloney’s Instagram account and an associate’s Instagram account indicated that, as of June 1, Maloney was in the state of Georgia to allegedly obtain firearms with the intention to transport those firearms to New Jersey to distribute them to others for profit.
On June 8, law enforcement officers identified a silver 2007 Nissan Armada driving northbound on Interstate 95 in Maryland. Maloney was a passenger, along with three other occupants. Officers stopped the vehicle on Interstate 295 in New Jersey. A search of the vehicle allegedly recovered 11 firearms from the trunk, including eight semiautomatic pistols, one semiautomatic rifle and two shotguns, according to the press release.
The conspiracy count and the two unlawful transportation counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest, according to the press release.