Monmouth County Man Had Illegal Firearm During Drive-By Shooting

A Monmouth County man on Tuesday admitted being a felon in possession of a firearm while serving as the driver in a drive-by shooting in Asbury Park, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Roosevelt Dante Harris, 39, of Asbury Park, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Harris admitted that despite having one or more prior felony convictions in Monmouth County he knowingly possessed a Taurus, model PT709 Slim, 9 mm pistol on Nov. 24, 2016, in Asbury Park. Harris admitted that three days earlier he accompanied another individual to a firearms dealer in South Carolina, where the other individual purchased three firearms—including the Taurus pistol that Harris possessed – on Harris’ behalf.

Harris transported the three firearms from South Carolina to New Jersey.

Harris admitted that on Nov. 24, 2016, while he was driving a black minivan in Asbury Park, he possessed the Taurus pistol, which was located behind the glove compartment of the black minivan. Harris admitted that another individual shot a firearm out of the black minivan while Harris was driving.

The count of being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 14, 2018.

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