By: Richard L. Smith
A coordinated six-month investigation involving local, county, and federal law enforcement agencies has resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of illegal firearms and narcotics in Plainfield, officials announced.
According to a statement released by Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Plainfield Police Director James T. Abney, the joint effort brought together the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force, the Plainfield Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, and the FBI to target the illegal trafficking of weapons into New Jersey.
The investigation culminated on July 22 with the arrest of 29-year-old Anthony Rogers (pictured) of Willingboro, who is accused of selling nearly two dozen illegal firearms—including three assault weapons and a machine gun—over the course of the probe.
Rogers faces a lengthy list of charges, including 15 counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, three counts of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, and one count involving a machine gun.
Additional charges include unlawful transport and sale of firearms, receiving stolen property, and possession of high-capacity magazines, hollow point bullets, and defaced firearms.
Authorities say Rogers was taken into custody without incident during a vehicle stop initiated on the basis of an active arrest warrant.
A passenger in the vehicle, identified as 34-year-old Quran Hannibal Edwards of Plainfield, was also arrested after officers discovered cocaine in his possession.
Edwards was charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Following the arrests, the Union County SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a home on the 800 block of East 6th Street in Plainfield, where two handguns and approximately three pounds of marijuana were recovered.
The investigation remains ongoing.