Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Burlington County, New Jersey, Man Indicted for Illegally Selling Firearms to Drug Dealers and Felons in South Jersey
CAMDEN, N.J. B A Burlington County, New Jersey, man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for allegedly selling firearms to criminals in South Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Fr’Neil Hickson, 36, a/k/a "Philly," of Willingboro, New Jersey, was charged by indictment with one count of dealing in firearms without a federal firearms license, one count of conspiracy to deal in firearms and transport firearms interstate for sale without a license, and one count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Hickson allegedly conspired with Joshua Jackson, 35, a/k/a "Apple, a/k/a "Trent," of Willingboro and Columbus, Ohio; and Terrance Laboo, 43, a/k/a "Terrance Reeves," a/k/a "Mus," of Oaklyn, New Jersey, to deal in firearms without a federal firearms license.
Firearms were bought through straw purchasers and at gun shows in Ohio and transported into New Jersey by Jackson and Antonio Berry, of Columbus, Ohio, either in a vehicle rented by Jackson, or by Berry, who took Greyhound buses from Columbus, Ohio, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Camden and Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Berry allegedly carried duffel bags that contained multiple firearms, which were sold and delivered to Hickson and Laboo. Hickson and Laboo sold the guns to drug dealers and other felons in southern New Jersey, including in Camden and Willingboro. Hickson also obtained guns from other sources in Virginia and Pennsylvania and transported them back to New Jersey for unlicensed sales to his customers.
Jackson and Laboo previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to dealing in firearms without a license, conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Both await sentencing in July 2016.
The counts of conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license and dealing firearms without a license each carry a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 10 2
years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky Jr., Newark Field Division; and Essam Rabadi, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division, with the investigation leading to today’s indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney=s Office in Camden.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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