Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark, New Jersey, man with at least six felony convictions in New Jersey courts was arrested today after federal law enforcement officers found four handguns, a 12-guage shotgun and more than 500 grams of cocaine at his residence, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Carlos Bess, 35, of Newark, New Jersey, is charged by criminal complaint with one count of possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams of cocaine and five counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and was detained.

According to the complaint:

Since June 2015, agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have been investigating the sales of narcotics, including heroin and cocaine, in and around Middlesex and Essex Counties. Pursuant to a lawful search warrant executed at Bess’s Newark residence this morning, federal agents found a loaded .357 revolver, two loaded .380 pistols, a loaded 9 millimeter pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and more than 500 grams of cocaine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents with the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky in Newark, and special agents with the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Wangenheim of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###

15-451

Defense counsel: John H. Yauch Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark