An Essex County man has been sentenced to 85 months in prison for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, as announced by U.S. Attorney John Giordano. Ramad Moultrie, a 23-year-old resident of Newark, had previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to charges stemming from his status as a convicted felon.
The incident that led to Moultrie's arrest occurred on August 2, 2021, when members of the Newark Police Department responded to a shooting at the Grace West Manor Complex. Upon arrival, officers found two victims with gunshot wounds. Surveillance footage showed Moultrie moving people out of his way before firing a weapon at the victims. Three .45 auto caliber casings were retrieved from the scene. A subsequent search at Moultrie's residence uncovered two handguns—a .45 caliber and a 9 mm—along with ammunition and drugs.
In addition to his prison sentence, Moultrie will serve three years of supervised release after completing his term.
U.S. Attorney Giordano acknowledged the efforts of special deputies from the U.S. Marshals Service and officers from the Newark Police Department for their roles in investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht represented the government in this matter.
Defense counsel for Moultrie was Christopher D. Adams from Newark, New Jersey.
