Man Sentenced To Prison For Gun Trafficking Scheme

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  FREEHOLD – A Monmouth County man was sentenced to five years in prison for selling cocaine and plotting to illegally sell firearms such as multiple handguns and a semi-automatic rifle, officials said.

  Enrique Quijada, 25, of Freehold, previously pleaded guilty to charges of one count of conspiracy to engage in firearms trafficking, one count of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and one count of distribution of cocaine.

  According to officials, Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria, Waldin Espinosa-Ozoria, Enrique Quijada, Javier Rodriguez-Valpais and Jacquelyn DeJesus were members of a gun trafficking conspiracy that spanned from Florida to New Jersey between May 2020 through September 2020.

  DeJesus allegedly assisted Espinosa-Ozoria, the alleged leader of the group, by acting as a “straw purchaser” of firearms in Florida. The two would transport firearms from Florida to Monmouth County where members of the group, including Quijada, sold the firearms to individuals working at the direction and supervision of the FBI,

  Rodriguez-Valpais sold a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle to Quijada, who in turn sold the rifle to someone working with the FBI, officials said.

  In addition to gun trafficking, Quijada admitted selling cocaine to an individual working with the FBI.

  Three other members of the gun trafficking conspiracy: Javier Rodriguez-Valpais, Waldin Espinosa-Ozori and Jacquelyn DeJesus, have previously pleaded guilty in connection with this case. The charges against Manuel Espinosa-Ozoria remain pending.

  In addition to the prison term, the judge sentenced Quijada to three years of supervised release.

  U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr., with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the FBI Tampa Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark and Tampa Field Divisions, and the Freehold Borough, New Jersey, police department for their assistance in the investigation.

  For the defendant whose charges remain pending, the charges and allegations are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.