An Essex County man has been sentenced to 135 months in prison and three years of supervised release for multiple firearms offenses, including possession of a ghost gun, a machine gun, and a high-capacity magazine. The sentencing was announced by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
Kaiyir Green, 23, from Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in July 2025 before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to a four-count indictment. The charges included two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a machine gun, and possession of an unregistered firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement responded on March 1, 2023 to a report involving a stolen vehicle. Officers observed Green attempting to enter the stolen car. When approached by law enforcement, Green fled but was apprehended after a chase. Officers recovered from him a ghost gun loaded with five rounds of ammunition.
After his arrest, Green attempted to obstruct justice by making several phone calls from the detention center instructing another individual to remove “everything,” including a “black bag,” from his home. Law enforcement later observed someone taking the black bag from Green’s residence. A search revealed that the bag contained a firearm modified with a switch to function as a fully automatic machine gun, loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition in an extended magazine. Authorities also found a drum magazine capable of holding 50 rounds.
Further investigation determined that Green had trafficked dozens of firearms—including AR-style pistols and machine guns equipped with extended or drum magazines—from out-of-state into New Jersey for sale to third parties.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited members of law enforcement for their work on the case: "Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited law enforcement members with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Kalogiros; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Lieutenant Colonel David Sierotowicz, and Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, with the investigation leading to the charges."
The case is part of Operation Take Back America: "This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime."
Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro represented the government in this matter. Defense counsel for Green was Claressa Lowe.
