Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Union County Man Charged With Unlawful Firearm Possession
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County man made his initial appearance on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.
Miguel Aviles, aka “Ricardo Bermudez,” 47, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Aviles made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court on Dec. 13, 2021 and was detained without bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Aug. 27, 2021, two victims reported to Elizabeth police that Aviles had pointed a gun at them, threatened to shoot them, and then fired the weapon, all inside the victims’ residence. Two other occupants of the residence confirmed hearing the shot.
The charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews, and the Elizabeth Police Department with the investigation leading to the charge.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah A. Sulkowski of the Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.