A federal jury has convicted David Reams, 37, of Paterson, New Jersey, on charges related to drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. The verdict was delivered on January 27, 2026, after a three-day trial in Newark federal court before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler.
Reams was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. His sentencing is scheduled for June 30.
Court documents and statements indicate that on May 6, 2024, officers from the Paterson Police Department observed Reams acting in a manner consistent with carrying a firearm. When detectives tried to stop him, he attempted to flee but was apprehended. Officers recovered a loaded 9-millimeter pistol with an extended magazine and more than 450 individual doses of fentanyl and crack cocaine from Reams.
The charge for being a felon in possession of a firearm carries up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances can result in up to 20 years’ imprisonment and up to $1 million in fines. The conviction for possessing a firearm during drug trafficking carries at least five years in prison—served consecutively—and could lead to life imprisonment as well as an additional $250,000 fine.
Reams had previously been convicted in 2017 for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He received a sentence of over eight years (103 months) for that offense.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), led by Acting Special Agent Thomas Kalogiros, along with the Paterson Police Department under Officer Patrick Murray’s direction for their roles in the investigation.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and addressing violent crime through coordinated efforts involving Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Kober (Organized Crime/Gangs Unit) and Daniel H. Rosenblum (Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit) are representing the government. John McMahon serves as defense counsel.
