Columbia Man Sentenced for Ghost Gun Manufacturing in Morris and Warren Counties

Joseph Palumbo Jr. sentenced to five years in state prison for illegal firearms production and sales.

MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. - Joseph Palumbo Jr., 34, of Columbia, NJ, has been sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison following his involvement in the unlawful manufacturing and sale of untraceable firearms, commonly known as ghost guns. The sentencing, delivered by Judge Claudia Jones on September 13, 2024, includes 42 months of parole ineligibility.

Palumbo Jr. had previously pled guilty on May 20, 2024, to two counts of second-degree Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm and two counts of third-degree Possession of a Firearm without a Serial Number. His criminal activities, conducted between December 2023 and February 2024, included the production and sale of ghost guns in Morris and Warren Counties.

The investigation revealed that Palumbo Jr. had illegally sold multiple homemade firearms, including one unmarked handgun, five AR-style assault rifles without serial numbers, and two large-capacity magazines. His arrest occurred after a motor vehicle stop on February 8, 2024, which led to further discoveries during searches of his residence and vehicle.

Law enforcement seized two additional AR-style ghost guns, 36 more firearms, firearm manufacturing components, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and three firearm silencers from Palumbo Jr.'s Columbia home.

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood praised the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies that contributed to Palumbo Jr.'s arrest and conviction. The investigation involved agencies such as the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit, local police departments, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF), and the New Jersey State Police.

This case highlights ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of ghost guns, which pose a significant threat to public safety due to their untraceable nature.