Essex County Felon Admits To Possessing Gun, Ammo: Prosecutor

NEWARK, NJ — An Essex County man with a prior felony conviction admitted Tuesday to illegally possessing a loaded handgun and a magazine, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

Bilal Ward, 29, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

On Sept. 26, 2020, law enforcement officers recovered a 9mm Taurus handgun, loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, a magazine loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, and a bag of marijuana, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court

Ward had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, authorities said.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 7, 2022.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.