An Essex County resident, Michael Weaver, has been charged with several serious offenses including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced the charges which were made through a superseding indictment. Weaver, aged 38 from Irvington, New Jersey, will have his arraignment scheduled before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi at the federal court in Newark.
Weaver's criminal record includes convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful weapons possession, and drug trafficking in Essex County. Due to this history, he is charged under the Armed Career Criminal Act which imposes a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. In totality, the charges could result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and potentially life imprisonment if convicted on all counts. Each offense also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
The investigation was credited to special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office directed by Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Chief Mitchell G. McGuire; and the Newark Police Department under Director Emanuel Miranda.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern from the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark is representing the government in this case.
It should be noted that all charges are accusations at this stage, and Weaver is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
