Richard Lowman, Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy, New Jersey 2017

NEWARK, N.J. – A South Carolina man is facing serious time after admitting he peddled a cache of illegal firearms onto the streets of New Jersey. Richard Lowman, 30, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed business of dealing in firearms, a scheme that saw 17 weapons – including five military-style assault rifles – hit the black market.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced the guilty plea, delivered before U.S. District Court Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court. Court documents reveal a calculated operation spanning from May 2017 to September 2017. Lowman, sometimes working alongside his uncle, Reginald Moultrie, repeatedly met with a contact in Newark, turning a quick profit off illegal gun sales.

The operation wasn’t small-time. In May 2017, Lowman personally offloaded an assault rifle directly onto a Newark street. A more substantial transaction in August 2017 saw Lowman travel from South Carolina to New Jersey, hauling multiple firearms across state lines. That trip culminated in the sale of six firearms inside a Newark residence. This wasn’t a one-off deal; it was a sustained effort to flood the area with weapons.

Federal authorities haven’t been shy about connecting the dots. Neither Lowman nor Moultrie possessed the required license to legally deal firearms. Moultrie is already facing consequences, having previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction and is currently awaiting sentencing. The pair worked in concert, exploiting loopholes and disregarding the law for financial gain.

Lowman now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for November 5, 2019. This case underscores the persistent threat of illegal gun trafficking and the commitment of federal agencies to disrupt these dangerous operations. The FBI, under Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, and the Newark Police Department, led by Department of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark is prosecuting the case. This conviction sends a clear message: those who profit from illegally arming our streets will be held accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of both Lowman and Moultrie.

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