Today, an Essex County man admitted firearms and marijuana distribution offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Honig, Shatuwan McCall, 20, of Newark, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On December 4, 2020, at approximately 11:00 p.m., law enforcement officers were patrolling locations that had been the site of recent shootings and homicides while conducting a narcotics investigation in the vicinity of South 17th Street in Newark.
They observed a vehicle occupied by McCall and another individual engaged in traffic violations.
As the officers approached the vehicle and illuminated the occupants with their flashlights, they observed a large plastic bag containing a green leafy substance, suspected to be marijuana, on McCall’s lap.
Law enforcement officers also observed McCall moving his right arm and hand as though adjusting something in the vicinity of the passenger-side floorboard and noticed a handgun in McCall’s right hand.
Law enforcement ultimately recovered approximately 15 bags of suspected marijuana, narcotics proceeds, and a .22 caliber Llama revolver loaded with six rounds of ammunition.