NJ man sentenced for gun trafficking in Ocean and Monmouth

A gun runner at the Jersey Shore is now on his way to prison following a sentencing in court.

The Morganville man, who is also a previously convicted felon, will spend the next five-years behind bars for illegal possession of a firearm as well as conspiring to illegally sell firearms -- including multiple handguns and a semi-automatic rifle -- across Ocean and Monmouth Counties, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.

Prior to sentencing, Attorney Sellinger said that Javier Rodriguez-Valpais, 33, aka “Broly,” previously plead guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to engage in firearms trafficking and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

Between May and August of 2020, at which time Javier Rodriguez-Valpais joined with others as part of a multi-state gun trafficking conspiracy from here to Florida and back.

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Rodriguez-Valpais decided to partake in the illegal gun operation by selling a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle to Enrique Quijada -- another co-defendant -- who, unbeknownst to him, then sold that rifle to someone who was working under the direction and supervision of the FBI.

In addition to the five years in prison for Rodriguez-Valpais, he'll be under three years of supervised release.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian D. Brater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

Defense counsel: Elvis Alexander Jardines Esq., Union City, New Jersey.