Shahouna Dutton, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, New Jersey 2024

Felon Caught with Loaded Gun

JERSEY CITY, NJ – A Jersey City woman was arrested and charged with illegally possessing a firearm, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Shahouna Dutton, 24, was arrested at her home by special agents of the FBI and made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court. She was detained.

The complaint charges Dutton with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, investigators from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant at Dutton’s home on February 22, 2018, as part of an investigation into witness tampering related to a homicide case pending in Hudson County.

During the search, investigators found a loaded .22 caliber handgun in Dutton’s bedroom. Dutton has two prior felony convictions in the State of New Jersey and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.

The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited FBI special agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with the investigation leading to the arrest.

Carpenito also thanked the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Department of Public Safety Director James Shea, for their assistance. The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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