NEWARK, N.J. -A Ringwood, New Jersey, man will appear in federal court today to face charges that he possessed 17 machine guns, which are illegal under federal law, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Mariusz Cebula, 36, is charged by complaint with knowingly possessing machine guns, which are defined as weapons that can shoot more than one shot automatically, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. Cebula was arrested yesterday by federal agents and will appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.
According to the complaint:
On July 17, 2015, law enforcement officers arrived at Cebula’s residence to serve a temporary restraining order on Cebula. Law enforcement officers conducted a search of his residence in furtherance of the temporary restraining order, as well as pursuant to a search warrant and Cebula’s oral consent. The search revealed that Cebula was in possession of approximately 262 high capacity magazines for firearms, as well as dozens of other firearms components, ammunition, accessories and manufacturing tools.
Approximately 17 of the firearms and firearm components that Cebula possessed were later determined to be machine guns under federal law. Of the 17 machine guns recovered from Cebula’s residence, some were found to be operational as automatic weapons, including, but not limited to, the following:
1.
A 9mm Lugar caliber, STEN Mk II type firearm, assembled using a machine gun receiver of unknown origin and original STEN-type machinegun parts, bearing a mark of identification of “86939," but bearing no serial number.
2.
A C.G. Haenel 9mm caliber, MP-41 select-fire machine gun, bearing serial number 2108.
Cebula was also found to be in possession of two short-barreled rifles and one silencer.
The machine gun possession charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky, and the Ringwood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Walker, with the investigation leading to the charge. He also thanked the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, for its role in the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Wangenheim of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense Counsel: Miles Feinstein Esq., Clifton, N.J.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
