Ocean Co. Man Had Fake Fed IDs, Illegal Rifle: U.S. Attorney

WARETOWN, NJ — An Ocean County man admitted to illegally having a privately manufactured rifle, silencer and five imitation badges of different federal agencies, the U.S. Attorney's office announced.

Jeffrey Backlund, a 57-year-old Waretown man, pleaded guilty in Trenton federal court to charges of unlawfully possessing firearms that were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and unlawful possession of an official badge or identification card.

Law enforcement officers investigated a domestic disturbance on Sept. 6, 2020, and executed a search warrant at Backlund's house, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Officers discovered a number of firearms, including a short-barreled, AR-style, .223 caliber rifle bearing no serial number and no branding, with a tan metal cylindrical device attached that was determined to be a silencer. The rifle and silencer should have been registered in the National Firearms Register and Transfer Record, but Backlund did not, authorities said.

Also located were two bi-fold wallets that had FBI Special Agent identification credentials with Backlund's picture and personal information, a United States Marshals Service badge, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent badge and a Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent badge, authorities said. Every one of them was fake, authorities said.

The charge of possessing firearms not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $10,000. The charge of unlawful possession of an official badge or identification card carries a maximum prison sentence of six months and a maximum fine of $5,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13, 2022.

The U.S. Attorney's office credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Messenger in Newark; special agents of the ATF Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; special agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark; members of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; detectives with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and officers of the Ocean Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michal J. Rogalski, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the Criminal Division in Trenton.