Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
South Carolina Woman Sentenced To Seven Months in Prison for Trafficking Guns into New Jersey
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Greeley, South Carolina, woman was sentenced today to seven months in prison for her role in a scheme to traffic multiple firearms into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Katelynn Schippnick, 25, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging her with one count of conspiring to deal firearms without a license. Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between April 8, 2013, and July 28, 2014, Schippnick conspired with Marcus Rutling, 33, of Camden and Saluda, South Carolina, Anthony Gilmore, 26, of Lawnside, New Jersey, Shawn Tribbett, 33, of Camden, Joseph Rutling, 24, of Camden, and others to illegally sell firearms without a license, including handguns, shotguns and an assault rifle. After other conspirators obtained the firearms from pawn shops, gun stores and other sources in South Carolina, Schippnick brokered and arranged the sale of the firearms and brought them to New Jersey, at times using Amtrak trains to transport the guns. Schippnick assisted in the sale of at least five firearms, including handguns and a shotgun, to a witness cooperating with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Schippnick to serve three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, as well as officers from the Winslow Township and Clementon, New Jersey, police departments, for their work in the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
15-323
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Defense counsel: Martin Isenberg Esq., Gibbsboro, New Jersey