NJ Man Led Police To Evidence In Drug, Gun Case: Authorities

SALEM COUNTY, NJ — A six-time convicted felon from South Jersey became impatient when police executed a search warrant at his home last year, and decided to direct police to exactly what they were looking for, authorities said on Friday.

Police executed a search warrant at the Penns Grove home of 41-year-old Jabbar Pierce on Nov. 9 as part of an investigation into alleged gun and drug crimes, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

During the search, officers said Pierce told them that anything in the home that was illegal belonged to him. He told them they would find a gun behind the couch and drugs in a cabinet, according to authorities.

According to the complaint, after receiving his Miranda rights, Pierce responded to an officer's question about whether officers would find anything notable in the house as follows: "If you find anything, it belongs to me. Anything that's in there illegal, it belongs to, illegal, it belongs to me. Period. You got that? You got that on there? It belongs to me."

Pierce then said he no longer wanted to speak to officers, but he continued to make unprompted comments for the next several minutes, authorities said. His comments were captured on the officers’ body-worn camera, authorities said.

After seven minutes, Pierce spontaneously said, “Man we can just cut the chase bro, there's a gun and drugs in the charger. It's a gun and m—--------- drugs in the house right now and that s— belong to me. The gun [is] behind the couch and there's drugs in the cabinet. Straight to the point, let's go. I don't want to talk. [Pause] It's my s—." These statements were also captured on officers' body-worn cameras, authorities said.

It was true, as officers said they found a .40 caliber rifle and detached 24-round magazine containing 14 rounds of ammunition behind a couch and suspected controlled substances, specifically a “white, rock-like substance,” and drug packaging from a kitchen cabinet.

Pierce's honesty didn’t benefit him in the long run, though. He was arrested and charged by complaint with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He was detained pending trial after a videoconference appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill on Thursday, according to authorities.

He now faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Pierce’s previous convictions include robbery, terroristic threats, production and distribution of heroin, burglary/conspiracy, and distribution of CDS, according to the complaint filed in the case.