By: Richard L. Smith
A South Carolina man with ties to Paterson was sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey state prison for leading a gun trafficking operation that brought more than 120 firearms into the state for illegal sale, authorities announced.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice said Travis Thomas, 45, of Lamar, South Carolina, formerly of Paterson, previously pleaded guilty to first-degree racketeering.
His sentence includes an 85 percent period of parole ineligibility under the No Early Release Act.
Authorities said Thomas purchased guns cheaply in South Carolina, then arranged to transport them to Paterson, where middlemen helped find buyers.
Investigators said the weapons were often sold in New Jersey for as much as three times the price Thomas paid.
Three co-defendants were also sentenced for their roles in the scheme.
Yaquin Perry, 40, of Paterson, received seven years in state prison; Tyquan Evans, 41, of Paterson, received five years; and Marquetta Wilson, 36, was sentenced to non-custodial probation.
The case stemmed from an investigation by New Jersey State Police, with assistance from the ATF.
During the probe, detectives seized 12 firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, six semiautomatic pistols, three revolvers and two handguns.
Authorities said Thomas was arrested on December 10, 2021, after arriving in New Jersey from South Carolina with an assault rifle, semiautomatic pistol and revolver. 
Investigators later reviewed his cellphone and Facebook account and found years of messages connected to the gun trafficking operation.
Nine additional defendants who previously pleaded guilty are still awaiting sentencing, officials said.