TRENTON — Police say it was a one-stop shop: a black market emporium of guns, stolen cars and fake IDs hidden behind the storefront of an I.T. company in Roselle. State officials announced today the arrests of six people allegedly operating a gun-trafficking ring in Essex and Union counties. The network transported firearms including handguns and assault rifles from...
TRENTON — Police say it was a one-stop shop: a black market emporium of guns, stolen cars and fake IDs hidden behind the storefront of an I.T. company in Roselle.
State officials announced today the arrests of six people allegedly operating a gun-trafficking ring in Essex and Union counties. The network transported firearms including handguns and assault rifles from the Fayetteville, N.C. area, to sell in northern New Jersey, officials said.
Stolen cars were also for sale at a used-car dealership in Union called 21st Century Leasing, according to State Police Capt. Rick Nuel. And the building in Roselle housed sophisticated equipment used to forge New Jersey ID cards, birth certificates, Social Security cards, insurance cards and even bank statements, according to investigators from the State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"Gun violence takes a heartbreaking toll on our communities, and in three out of four cases, the weapons used by criminals come from outside of New Jersey," said Attorney General Paula Dow.
State Police arrested the alleged ringleader, George Bresnihan, 47, of Roselle, last Tuesday after an eight-month investigation by several law-enforcement agencies. Also arrested were Hady Venessa Purboo, 42, of Irvington; Samuel Frye, 40, of Newark; Kaseen Lawrence, 34, of Orange; Jeffrey Vandunk, 40, of Ridgeland, S.C.; and Nixon Provillion, 39, of Irvington. State Police Sgt. Stephen Jones said he knew of no attorneys for any of the individuals.
Deputy Special Agent Mark Witzal, who investigated the forged documents for Homeland Security, said the group sold a bundle including a Motor Vehicle Commission ID card, a birth certificate and a Social Security card for $3,000. Nuel said undercover cops bought five sets during the investigation, and a set of three guns for $3,200.
Nuel said three members were detained when police believed they were on their way to a carjacking in Roselle, and one of them made a statement describing the process.
"Usually what they would do is steal an older model car," Nuel said. "Then they would ID a car they liked and bump them from behind. When the driver got out of the car, the plan was to run the driver over ... and then the other two gentlemen that were with him would jump in."
Police obtained 15 guns, along with $10,000 in cash, two stolen cars and three other vehicles.
A separate investigation in South Jersey that prompted seven arrests last week netted 22 ounces of cocaine, two vehicles, $15,000 and two guns.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Attorney Gen. Dow says State Police to get funding for new troopers, cars, staff
• N.J. Attorney General Dow launches education campaign on 'Grandparent Scam'
• N.J. files complaints against 11 mortgage firms in crackdown on unlicensed businesses
• N.J. attorney general appoints former chief counsel as acting Essex County prosecutor