MONMOUTH COUNTY — A former Middletown police sergeant was sentenced to five years in state prison after admitting to a conspiracy involving the removal of illegal firearm parts from a business under police surveillance, authorities said.
David Ringkamp, 45, formerly of Union Beach, was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday. Ringkamp pleaded guilty in March to second-degree conspiracy to commit official misconduct.
The case began in December 2021 when New York State Police investigators watching a Pennsylvania gun show saw Nicholas D’Ambrosio, 35, of Millstone, buy kits used to assemble untraceable firearms, commonly called ghost guns, prosecutors said.
Investigators followed D’Ambrosio to his Millstone vape shop, JR Vapors, and notified New Jersey State Police. Officers later saw Ringkamp and his then-wife, Amanda Ringkamp, arrive at the business. D’Ambrosio placed the firearm components in Ringkamp’s vehicle, authorities said.
When officers stopped the vehicle, Ringkamp identified himself as a Middletown police sergeant. Investigators determined he had agreed to help D’Ambrosio move the parts after the shop owner learned police were watching him.
A search of the vehicle uncovered ghost-gun kits, cocaine and dozens of methamphetamine pills, prosecutors said. Inside the shop, investigators found more than 25 pounds of marijuana and marijuana edibles, an assembled ghost gun and evidence of unlawful marijuana sales.
Officers searched Ringkamp’s home several days later and recovered cocaine, anabolic steroids and other illegal drugs, authorities said.
Investigators also found that Ringkamp had contacted New Jersey State Police after learning of the surveillance, using his position as an officer and false statements to obtain information about the investigation. He later erased text messages to obstruct investigators examining his and D’Ambrosio’s activities, prosecutors said.
Ringkamp also faced allegations that he used restricted law enforcement databases dozens of times over three years to look up D’Ambrosio and others without a legitimate police purpose.
D’Ambrosio was arrested again in February 2024 on charges involving the production of ghost-gun components with a 3D printer and drug offenses. He received an eight-year state prison sentence in August 2024 after pleading guilty to drug, ghost-gun and hindering apprehension charges.
Assistant Prosecutor Emily Cartmell handled the case. Ringkamp was represented by Shrewsbury attorney Kevin Buchan.
