NEWARK, N.J. - A Jersey City, New Jersey, woman was charged today with possessing a weapon as a previously convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Shahouna Dutton, 24, is charged by complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dutton was arrested at her home by special agents of the FBI. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Feb. 22, 2018, investigators from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant at Dutton’s home to look for further evidence of Dutton’s witness tampering related to a homicide case pending in Hudson County, which was scheduled to begin on Feb. 27, 2018. Investigators found a loaded.22 caliber handgun in Dutton’s bedroom. Dutton has two prior felony convictions in the State of New Jersey and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited FBI special agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with the investigation leading to the arrest. He also thanked the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Department of Public Safety Director James Shea, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
