NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County man has been charged with being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. The weapon in question was found, along with a number of other firearms and ammunition, during a lawful search of a pawn shop and residence connected to one of the perpetrators of the Dec. 10, mass shooting in Jersey City.
Federal officials say Mr. Ahmed A-Hady, 35, of Keyport, is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was arrested by FBI agents early this morning and is expected to appear on Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court.
**According to the complaint, filed today**:
On Dec. 10, 2019, there was a mass shooting in Jersey City in which two individuals, a male (Individual 1) and a female (Individual 2), killed three civilians after earlier killing a law enforcement officer.
After the shooting, law enforcement recovered from Individual 1’s right rear pants pocket, a handwritten note that contained a telephone number ending in 4115, and a Keyport address. Law enforcement also recovered several weapons carried by Individuals 1 and 2, including an AR-15 rifle.
FBI agents determined that the phone number ending in 4115 contained on the note belonged to A-Hady. Law enforcement also decided that the Keyport address listed on the note was a storefront for a pawn shop.
Law enforcement obtained records of A-Hady’s history of firearm purchases. Those records indicated that around May 23, 2007, A-Hady purchased a Smith and Wesson .45 caliber handgun bearing serial number NHN5284 (the “.45 caliber”).
Records also indicate that on or about June 2, 2007, A-Hady purchased a Smith and Wesson .44 caliber handgun bearing serial number CEV4085 (the “.44 caliber”).
Subsequent to purchasing the firearms, A-Hady was convicted on April 2, 2012, in Monmouth County Superior Court, of attempting to obtain a controlled dangerous substance or analog by fraud, a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.As a result of that conviction, A-Hady is no longer permitted to possess a firearm.
On the evening of Dec. 13, 2019, law enforcement officers traveled to the pawnshop and interviewed A-Hady and two of his relatives.
During the course of A-Hady’s interview, he admitted to owning both the .45 caliber and the .44 caliber but falsely denied that they were on the premises.
After A-Hady was interviewed, one of his relatives (Relative-1) told law enforcement that there was a safe located inside Company A. Relative-1 further stated that the safe contained firearms, including A-Hady’s .44 and .45 caliber handguns. Relative-1 subsequently consented to a search of the safe located inside the pawnshop.
Law enforcement recovered three firearms: (i) a PK 380; (ii) a Ruger 9mm bearing serial number 33389546; and (iii) the Smith and Wesson .44 caliber handgun bearing serial number CEV4085 referenced above.
Law enforcement then lawfully searched both the pawnshop and A-Hady’s private residence. During the search of the pawnshop, law enforcement recovered six rifles (including three AR-15-style assault rifles), three handguns, and one shotgun. In addition, during the searches of the pawnshop and A-Hady’s private residence, law enforcement recovered over 400 rounds of ammunition, including a large number of hollow-point bullets.
The charge of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.