North Brunswick Man Indicted On Charges Of Transporting Illegal Guns

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – A North Brunswick man was indicted after an investigation led to the seizure of five handguns and an assault rifle transported to New Jersey from Georgia, Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said Wednesday.

Barrett R. Griffin, III, 33, of North Brunswick, was indicted on charges of first- and second-degree Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm, first- and second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm; second-degree Transporting Firearms into the State for Unlawful Sale, second-degree Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm, fourth-degree Unlawful Possession of Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines.

The indictment by a State Grand Jury on May 6, alleges that between Feb. 5 and Feb. 7 Griffin illegally transported handguns from Georgia to New Jersey, for unlawful sale.

A motor vehicle stop was made on the car Griffin was driving on the New Jersey Turnpike in Mount Laurel on Feb. 7. Following a search of the vehicle, detectives seized five handguns, one assault rifle, and four large-capacity ammunition magazines from the vehicle’s trunk, authorities said.

“As gun violence continues to disrupt the peace of communities throughout New Jersey, the importance of keeping illegal guns from crossing our borders cannot be overstated,” Platkin said. “This indictment sends a clear message that anyone caught trafficking weapons into our State will face serious consequences.”

First-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Unlawful possession of a handgun carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater. Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of five years. Transporting a Firearm into the State for sale is a second-degree offense subject to the No Early Release Act requiring the person serve 85 percent of the sentence before release.

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