A Burlington County man is expected to make his initial appearance today after being charged with trafficking over three kilograms of methamphetamine and illegally possessing unregistered firearms as a previously convicted felon, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Federal authorities said Mr. Nicholas Layton, 41, of Mount Holly, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more methamphetamine, three counts of unlawful possession of unregistered firearms and one count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
Layton is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in Court:
In December 2018, Layton and an unnamed conspirator drove separate vehicles from Arizona back to New Jersey.
Both vehicles were the subject of a motor vehicle stop in Crawford County, Arkansas.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the conspirator’s vehicle contained four wrapped bundles of suspected narcotics, later confirmed to be approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine.
According to receipts located in both vehicles, Layton rented both cars and the cars traveled together through multiple states before being stopped in Arkansas.
The State of Arkansas charged both Layton and his conspirator in connection with the methamphetamine; Authorities released Layton.
In May and June of 2019, Layton sold methamphetamine on three separate occasions to confidential informants under law enforcement surveillance in Pemberton and Mount Holly, New Jersey.
On July 17, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Layton’s residence in Mount Holly, where they located:
1) a black “AR” style, 5.56 x 45mm semi-automatic rifle, having no visible serial number, which law enforcement later determined was a Privately Made Firearm (“PMF”);
2) a 9mm semi-automatic rifle, having no visible serial number, which law enforcement later determined was a PMF;
3) a firearm silencer, having no visible serial number, which law enforcement later determined was a PMF; and
4) eight “M-Class” explosive devices
On July 17, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at another residence associated with Layton in Southampton, New Jersey, where they located:
5) a Norcino, SKS type, 762 calibers, semi-automatic rifle (the “Norcino”), bearing serial number 244931DUP;
6) a 12-gauge caliber Browning shotgun (the “Browning”), bearing serial number 13324 S69; and
7) nine “M-Class” explosive devices
Layton was not found at either location during the execution of the search warrants.
On or about Aug. 4, 2019, Layton was found at a residence in Marlton, New Jersey.
At the time of his arrest, Layton was found in possession of approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine and an additional explosive device.