Essex County Man Faces 10 Years for Ammunition Possession

Lamar McCullough's Conviction for Ammunition Possession Follows a Violent 2021 Shooting Incident

NEWARK, N.J. - An Essex County man, Lamar McCullough, 30, has been convicted of unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, as announced by Attorney Philip R. Sellinger on June 10, 2024. The conviction was secured by a federal jury on June 7, 2024, after a trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Katherine Hayden in Newark federal court.

The conviction stems from an incident on March 5, 2021, where McCullough was identified on surveillance footage shooting a victim four times at close range on Isabella Avenue in Newark. The Newark Police Department's quick response to the shooting victim at University Hospital led to the recovery of four 9-millimeter shell casings at the scene, directly tying McCullough to the crime.

McCullough now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, with sentencing scheduled for October 8, 2024.

The investigation was a collaborative effort under the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), involving multiple agencies including the FBI, ATF, DEA, and local police departments. The VCI, established in August 2017, aims to reduce violent crime in Newark and surrounding areas through federal and local cooperation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Ecker of the Healthcare Fraud Unit and Katherine Calle of the Special Prosecutions Division, highlighting the ongoing commitment to addressing violent crime in the community. The efforts of Newark Police, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, and other agencies have been pivotal in bringing McCullough to justice.