CAMDEN, N.J. - A Locust Grove, Virginia, man was convicted today of conspiring to traffic 35 guns from Virginia into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Shawn K. Harvey, 52, was convicted of all four counts in an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms and three counts of trafficking firearms. He was convicted following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court. The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before returning the verdict.
Shawn K. Harvey and his son, Shawn M. Harvey, a/k/a “Munchy," 28, also of Locust Grove, were originally arrested in August 2016.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents directed and supervised a sting operation using a confidential informant who purchased firearms from the Harveys on multiple occasions at a parking lot in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The operation yielded 35 firearms -including assault-style rifles, revolvers, shotguns and semi-automatic handguns - over the course of 11 separate transactions spanning several weeks. One of the firearms was reported stolen in Virginia and many of the guns were brand new and came with ammunition.
The trafficking and conspiracy charges are each punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2018. Shawn M. Harvey pleaded guilty prior to trial and awaits sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited ATF special agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John B. Devito, Newark Field Division, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Carle and Sara A. Aliabadi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Defense counsel: Megan J. Davies Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
