Louis Boggs, 32, of Newark, pleaded guilty today to first-degree possession of a gun and second-degree conspiracy to illegally possess and distribute firearms before Superior Court Judge Verna G. Leath in Essex County. Because he had a prior conviction for robbery, which falls under the No Early Release Act, Boggs was subject to first-degree gun possession charges. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Boggs be sentenced to 18 years in state prison, including nine years of parole ineligibility. Deputy Attorney General Amy Sieminski took the guilty plea for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. Sentencing for Boggs is scheduled for Oct. 13.
Boggs was indicted on Feb. 5, 2015 with 17 alleged associates. The investigation revealed that Boggs and his associates used his residence in the first block of 3rd Avenue and a residence in the 700 block of South 15th Street as bases of operation where they planned their crimes, met prior to gun sales and conducted some sales. The State Police executed search warrants at the two residences on Dec. 3, 2013. Most of the defendants were arrested on that day or soon after. The detectives seized a revolver in Boggs’ home and numerous bullets. Previously, from August to December 2013, State Police detectives orchestrated 22 controlled purchases of guns from ring members. In these transactions, ring members allegedly sold 11 illegal assault weapons – eight equipped with illegal large-capacity magazines – as well as a rifle and 12 handguns, some with illegal hollow-point bullets. Two of the handguns were stolen, and a third with a defaced serial number was linked by ballistic testing to a murder in Newark.
“This plea ensures that Boggs will be behind bars for many years and won’t be able sell his deadly wares in and around Newark,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “We’re doing everything in our power to lock up weapons traffickers like Boggs who are supplying the black-market handguns and assault weapons that have been killing and maiming our residents and threatening our police officers.”
“Boggs was the most dangerous type of profiteer, one who capitalized on the ready market for deadly firepower on the streets of New Jersey’s cities,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We’re partnering with the State Police to stop the flow of illegal guns into our communities.”
“The importance of keeping illegal weapons out of the hands of those who seek to circumvent the system cannot be overstated,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Illicit trafficking networks help fuel the violence that plagues communities nationwide. We will continue to work with our partnering agencies to aggressively target this black-market trade.”
Deputy Attorney General Sieminski is prosecuting the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Annmarie Taggart, Deputy Bureau Chief, and Deputy Attorney General Lauren Scarpa Yfantis, Bureau Chief. The investigation was conducted for the New Jersey State Police by Detective Sgt. Michael Gregory and the Weapons Trafficking North Unit, under the supervision of Lt. James Hollar.
Details about the indictment and the other defendants are contained in the Feb. 5, 2015 press release posted at www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases15/pr20150205a.html. The indictment itself is posted with that press release.
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