WARREN COUNTY, N.J. – A three month undercover operation into drug distribution and gun trafficking, by the DEA New Jersey Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office- Narcotics Task Force, the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office, and the Independence Police Department, lead to the arrest of William T. Carter, 32, of Somerville, New Jersey, Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke said.
Carter was arrested on Thursday, September 15 in Hackettstown, NJ, delivering approximately two ounces of cocaine for the trade of an AR 15 rifle with a defaced serial number, a flash suppressor, a threaded barrel for a .45 caliber handgun and a brass catcher, Burke said.
Carter arrived on the day of the arrest with a loaded .45 caliber handgun and an extra gun magazine loaded with bullets. The .45 caliber handgun also had a defaced serial number, Burke said.
During several previous meetings with undercover personnel, Carter continuously expressed his interest in obtaining an AR 15 rifle with a defaced serial number, a flash suppressor, a threaded barrel for the .45 caliber handgun, and a brass catcher. Carter was placed under surveillance and observed distributing CDS throughout Warren and Hunterdon Counties during the course of the three month investigation, Burke said.
On the same date Carter was arrested, law enforcement executed three search warrants. One at a residence in Washington Borough, Warren County, one at a residence in Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County and one on Carter’s vehicle in Hackettstown, Burke said.
Carter was taken into custody with the assistance of the Warren County Tactical Response Team.
Carter was charged with third degree possession of CDS , third degree possession with intent to distribute CDS, third degree distribution of CDS, fourth degree possession of firearm silencer , two counts of fourth degree possession of a defaced firearm, Two counts of second degree possession of a firearm, third degree possession of firearm without a carrying permit, third degree possession of firearm without obtaining a purchasing permit, second degree possession of a firearm while distributing CDS, second degree possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon.
Carter was lodged in the Warren County Correctional facility in default of $150,000.00 bail without a ten percent option.
“A dangerous man was taken off the streets on Thursday evening. Anyone wanting to purchase an assault rifle with a defaced serial number has only bad intentions. The people of Warren County can be assured that Law enforcement is doing all it can to keep them safe,” Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division said.
Warren County Prosecutor, Richard Burke said, “This arrest is a great example of the cooperation between federal, state, and municipal agencies to eradicate illegal weapons and drugs from our community.”
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By: Jay Edwards
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