Career Criminal Charged with Weapons Possession, Trafficking Fentanyl, Heroin, Meth

Defendant Faces Minimum of 20 Years in Prison Under Federal Indictment

An Essex County man, identified as Michael Weaver, 38, of Irvington, New Jersey, has been charged with illegal firearms possession and drug trafficking, including fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine distribution, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced today.

Weaver, who has a history of violent offenses, was charged under a superseding federal indictment with:

• Being a felon in possession of a firearm,
• Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, and
• Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Due to his extensive criminal record, which includes convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful weapons possession, and drug offenses, Weaver was charged under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). This federal statute imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years for repeat offenders with prior violent or drug-related convictions. Combined with other charges, Weaver faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Each offense also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Newark Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.

Weaver’s arraignment will be scheduled before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court. The charges in the Superseding Indictment remain allegations, and Weaver is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.