Luiz Vargas, Firearms Trafficking, New Jersey 2025

TRENTON, N.J. – Luiz Vargas, a/k/a, “El Biggie,” 25, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was arrested and charged with trafficking in firearms in Ocean County, New Jersey, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Vargas made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court on August 11, 2025 and was detained.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, beginning in January 2025, law enforcement began investigating Vargas for trafficking firearms into New Jersey from, among other places, Texas and Maryland.

Using a confidential source acting at the direction and supervision of law enforcement, officers conducted four controlled purchases of firearms, which yielded a total of eight firearms: two semiautomatic rifles and six handguns.

Two of the handguns were reported stolen out of Texas and Colorado, respectively, and the two semiautomatic rifles had no serial numbers or other identifiable markings on them.

On at least one occasion, Vargas provided cocaine to the confidential source after being unable to follow through with a promised sale of firearms.

Vargas has never held a federal license to deal or manufacture firearms. The firearms trafficking charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/maryland-man-charged-firearms-trafficking