Savion Clyburn, 20, of Paterson, New Jersey, is one of four men charged in a sprawling underground operation that manufactured and sold untraceable firearms known as ‘ghost guns.’ The network, which operated across Passaic and Hudson counties, allegedly flooded the streets with personally made firearms (PMFs), bypassing federal licensing and background checks, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in Newark federal court.
Clyburn’s alleged co-conspirators include Corey Jenkins Jr., 30, also of Paterson; Richard Mullane, 26, of Bayonne; and Julian Santiago, 26, of Jersey City. All four are charged with conspiracy to engage in unlicensed firearms dealing and manufacturing. Santiago faces an additional charge for transferring a firearm to a felon—a violation that carries a maximum 10-year sentence and a $250,000 fine.
From December 2022 through January 2023, federal and local law enforcement executed at least nine controlled buys, recovering 12 firearms—including 11 PMFs and one serialized Kel-Tec SUB-2000 Rifle. Clyburn and Jenkins were involved in multiple transactions, including a Jan. 9 purchase where two ghost guns were handed over. Santiago, Mullane, and Jenkins were tied to sales on Jan. 7 and Jan. 25. The Kel-Tec rifle, sold by Clyburn alone on Jan. 17, bore serial number EGN69—law enforcement’s rare link to a traceable weapon in the operation.
Investigators found that some of the ghost guns were customized with colored casings and threaded barrels designed to accept silencers—features that amplify their lethality and stealth on the streets. These weapons, assembled from kits and often undetectable by metal detectors, have become a growing threat in urban crime networks. The ATF, leading the probe, said the ring operated under the radar, selling guns to individuals with no questions asked.
Each defendant faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the first two counts. Santiago’s third charge could double his potential sentence. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger emphasized that while the charges are allegations, the evidence gathered—including video, communications, and the firearms themselves—paints a damning picture of an organized trafficking ring exploiting legal loopholes.
The investigation was a joint push by ATF Newark, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, Passaic and Paterson police, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ICE, New Jersey State Police, and several local departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Belgiovine is prosecuting the case. The defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Edward S. Kiel. They remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Related Federal Cases
- Daniel Allen Days Gets 9 Years for Gun Trafficking · New Jersey
- Ghost Gun Traffickers Slammed with Prisons Terms · New Jersey
- Joshua Jackson Gets 70 Months for Gun Pipeline to Camden Drug Crew · 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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