Joseph Triplett, 32, of East Orange, New Jersey, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 32 months for illegally possessing a loaded firearm. The sentence, handed down today in Newark federal court, marks the end of a case rooted in evasion, defiance, and a fanny pack stuffed with danger.
Triplett, a previously convicted felon, had no legal right to possess a gun—but that didn’t stop him from riding a bike through Newark with a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver strapped across his chest. On September 6, 2019, Newark Police spotted him weaving through pedestrians on South 8th Street, violating local ordinances. When officers identified themselves and ordered him to stop, Triplett pedaled the opposite way—straight into a federal indictment.
As he fled, Triplett ditched a black fanny pack. Officers recovered it moments later and found the loaded handgun inside—cocked, locked, and ready. Five live rounds meant this wasn’t just a weapon. It was a threat in motion. For a felon, that’s a one-way ticket to federal court under strict gun control laws.
Triplett pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, admitting his actions before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez. Today, Judge Vazquez delivered the sentence: 32 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release. No leniency. No second chances.
The investigation was a joint push by the FBI and Newark Police Department. Agents under Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. worked alongside officers led by Public Safety Director Brian O’Hara to build the case. Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig praised the collaboration, calling it a clear win in keeping illegal guns off the streets.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dong Joo Lee and Shontae Gray handled the prosecution. Their message was clear: felons with firearms don’t get passes in federal court. Triplett’s ride ended with a discarded fanny pack—but his choices landed him exactly where the law intended.
Related Federal Cases
- Shahouna Dutton Charged with Illegal Firearm Possession · New Jersey
- Joshua Jackson Gets 70 Months for Gun Pipeline to Camden Drug Crew · New Jersey
- Daniel Allen Days Gets 9 Years for Gun Trafficking · New Jersey
- Ringwood Gun Dealer Cebula Sentenced to Two Years for Machinegun Possession · New Jersey
- Roosevelt Dante Harris Admits to Gun Possession in Asbury Park Drive-By · South Carolina
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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