A federal jury has convicted a Hudson County man of possessing three firearms and ammunition and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
According to Federal Officials, Justin A. Rodriguez, 29, of West New York, was convicted following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler on one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On July 2, 2020, while conducting surveillance, law enforcement observed an unknown individual place what appeared to be a handgun into Rodriguez’s vehicle.
A search of Rodriguez’s vehicle pursuant to a search warrant yielded one 9-millimeter handgun loaded with nine rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition; one .45-caliber handgun loaded with eight rounds of .45-caliber ammunition; one .38-caliber revolver; one clear plastic bag containing cocaine; and four bags containing marijuana.
The firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The cocaine trafficking charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million.