Camden Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Sales in Wharton

Antony S. Rodriguez-Santana Faces Ten Years in State Prison for Unlawful Firearm Transactions, Sentencing Scheduled for October

Morris County, NJ— Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Wharton Borough Chief of Police David Young announced that Antony S. Rodriguez-Santana, 30, of Camden, New Jersey, has entered a guilty plea on charges related to illegal firearm sales.

Background and Arrest

Rodriguez-Santana was arrested on August 23, 2021, and initially charged with a plethora of offenses, including Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm, Unlawful Sale of a Firearm, and Possession of a Defaced Firearm. The illegal transactions involved a Smith & Wesson MP .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and a defaced Raven Arms model P25 .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, among other items. The sales took place on two occasions: June 26, 2020, and September 18, 2020, in Wharton.

Guilty Plea and Upcoming Sentencing

On September 12, 2023, Rodriguez-Santana entered a guilty plea to the charge of "second degree certain persons not to have weapons or ammunition," before the Honorable Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C. The State is expected to recommend a ten-year prison term with a five-year parole disqualifier. During the plea, Rodriguez-Santana admitted to possessing an assault firearm despite having a prior conviction for aggravated assault.

Rodriguez-Santana remains in custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility. Sentencing is scheduled for October 13, 2023, and the State is represented by Assistant Prosecutor Noelle V. Fiorentino.

Acknowledgments

Prosecutor Carroll expressed gratitude to several agencies for their role in the investigation, including the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit, Town of Boonton Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morristown Bureau of Police, Wharton Police Department, Roxbury Police Department, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.

The case highlights the coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in Morris County to keep illegal firearms off the streets, thereby enhancing public safety.