Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for selling to a Camden drug dealer and other criminals in the Camden area at least 200 firearms that he purchased with cash from other illicit firearms dealers, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Joshua Jackson, 36, a/k/a "Trent," of Willingboro, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to an information charging him with one count each of dealing firearms without a license, conspiracy to deal in firearms without a federal firearms license, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.

According to documents filed in this and related cases and statements made in court:

Jackson admitted that between December 2009 and September 2010, he sold or brokered the sale of at least 200 handguns that he purchased with cash from illegal gun distributors in Ohio and from straw purchases made by his associates from gun stores in Columbus, Ohio.

Jackson sold many of the weapons to Terrance Laboo, 43, of Oaklyn, New Jersey. Laboo, who previously pleaded guilty in this matter, admitted that at the time he purchased these firearms, he was distributing PCP and cocaine from the corner of 4th and Chestnut Streets in Camden. Laboo also admitted that he sold, directed or brokered the sale of many of the firearms he purchased to other drug dealers in southern New Jersey.

Jackson obtained most of the firearms through purchases at gun shows from unlicensed gun sellers who were not subject to background checks. Some of the firearms also were purchased at Ohio gun stores by straw purchasers working for Jackson, who then transported the handguns to New Jersey from Ohio and resold them to Laboo and others in the Camden area.

Jackson transported the illegal firearms into the Camden area using a rental car or by having an associate transport them in duffel bags on Greyhound buses running between Columbus and bus terminals in Philadelphia and Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced Jackson to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George P. Belsky, with the investigation leading to today’s sentence. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Ohio, directed by U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman, and agents of the ATF Field Division in Columbus, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Earman for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

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Defense counsel: Justin Loughry Esq., Philadelphia