Fetty Wap Rival Charged with Multiple Weapons Offenses Following Shooting in Passaic County, NJ

Raheem Thomas, a rival rapper of New Jersey rapper Fetty Wap, has been charged with first degree armed robbery, aggravated assault, and multiple weapon offenses following the shooting of three people on March 26, 2017. According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Deputy Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald, “during the arrest on the armed robbery charge, Thomas was found to be in possession of a handgun and hollow-point bullets.”

In criminal cases like this, the weapons charges generally include unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, both of which are second degree crimes under New Jersey’s gun laws. Specifically, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1) states that any person who has in his possession any handgun without first having obtained a permit to carry the same is guilty of a crime of the second degree. Additionally, according to N.J.S.A 2C:39-4(a)(1), any person who has in his possession any firearm with a purpose to use it unlawfully against the person or property of another is guilty of a crime of the second degree. Setting the handgun charges aside, it is also a crime in New Jersey to possess certain kinds of bullets. The possession of ammunition, such as body armor penetrating bullets or hollow-point bullets, is a fourth degree crime pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6.

Under New Jersey’s criminal sentencing laws, specifically N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6(c), also known as the Graves Act, a conviction for the illegal possession of a handgun or a conviction for the possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose requires a mandatory term of imprisonment, in addition to parole ineligibility. In other words: the consequences for New Jersey handgun offenses are severe.

If you have been charged with a weapons-related offense, such as the unlawful possession of a handgun or the possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, you should contact the experienced firearm defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm to learn more about the charges and find out what can be done to defend your case.