Newark Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years for Illegal Firearm Possession Following 2021 Shooting

Court Hands Down 85-Month Sentence After Investigation by U.S. Marshals and Newark Police

An Essex County man has been sentenced to 85 months in federal prison for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, following a 2021 shooting in Newark. U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced the sentencing of Ramad Moultrie, 23, of Newark, who had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

The case stems from an incident on August 2, 2021, when the Newark Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at the Grace West Manor Complex on Irvine Turner Boulevard. Upon arrival, officers found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Surveillance footage captured Moultrie brandishing a firearm and firing toward the victims after moving members of a crowd, including small children, out of the way.

Authorities recovered three .45 caliber shell casings from the scene, linking Moultrie to the shooting. A subsequent search of his residence resulted in the seizure of a .45 caliber handgun, a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and illegal drugs.

Sentencing and Investigation

Moultrie was sentenced in Newark federal court by U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti. In addition to the prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

The investigation was led by special deputies of the U.S. Marshals Service, under Marshal Juan Mattos Jr., and officers of the Newark Police Department, under Director Emanuel Miranda. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division represented the government in the case.

Moultrie’s conviction is part of broader federal and local efforts to reduce gun violence in Newark and surrounding communities. The case underscores law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals with prior felony convictions who illegally possess firearms.