John Cottle, Gun Possession by Convicted Felon, New Jersey 2024

John Cottle, 47, of Essex County, New Jersey, stood in silence before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman today as he admitted to wielding a loaded .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun—despite being a convicted felon and still under federal supervision from a prior gun conviction. The Camden federal court hearing marked the second time Cottle has been caught with a firearm, sealing his fate with a 144-month prison sentence he agreed to in a plea deal.

Cottle pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of violating his supervised release stemming from a 2010 conviction for the same offense. Federal law bars anyone with a felony conviction from owning or carrying a weapon, a rule Cottle defied in December 2016 when Newark and Hillside police responded to a robbery call near South 13th Street and Avon Avenue. Officers found him in the area and discovered the loaded firearm during their investigation.

At the time of the 2016 arrest, Cottle was still on supervised release from his first felon-in-possession conviction, adding a layer of defiance to his criminal conduct. His criminal record is riddled with multiple felony convictions, making his possession of a deadly weapon not just illegal, but especially dangerous under federal sentencing guidelines. The loaded Glock he carried was fully operational and ready for use, authorities confirmed.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The supervised release violation adds up to 24 months. As part of his plea agreement, Cottle accepted the maximum penalty for both counts—totaling 12 years behind bars without parole. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, who announced the plea, called the case a clear example of repeat offenders endangering public safety.

Carpenito credited the FBI’s Newark Field Office, led by Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, with spearheading the investigation. He also acknowledged critical support from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office under Acting Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office led by Acting Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan, the Newark Police Department under Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, and the Hillside Police Department headed by Chief Vincent Ricciardi. Their joint efforts dismantled another link in the cycle of gun violence plaguing urban corridors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Intrater is handling the prosecution. With sentencing scheduled for a later date, Cottle remains in federal custody. His case underscores the federal government’s aggressive stance on illegal gun possession—especially when the offender has already been given a second chance and blew it.

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