A Paterson, New Jersey man was sentenced on April 20 to more than six years in prison for trafficking firearms and drugs, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said.
Tony “Red” Crowe, age 33, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel to charges that included dealing firearms without a license, being a felon in possession of firearms, and distributing fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Crowe sold multiple firearms—including AR- and AK-style rifles—and several kilograms of fentanyl during an undercover investigation in Paterson. Authorities said he earned thousands of dollars from these illegal activities. In addition to the prison term of 76 months, Judge Kiel also imposed three years of supervised release.
Special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Newark Field Division and officers with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office were credited with leading the investigation into Crowe’s activities.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together law enforcement agencies at all levels along with communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021 based on fostering trust within communities; supporting organizations that prevent violence; setting strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring results.
The case is also part of the Paterson Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), formed by local federal partners in 2020 to combat violent crime around Paterson through coordinated efforts among agencies including the FBI, ATF, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service as well as state and county offices.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has alumni who include federal judges and U.S. senators according to the official website. The office advances community safety through law enforcement coordination and crime prevention programs according to its official website. It features offices in Newark, Trenton and Camden to support statewide operations according to its official website.
The office is part of the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website, staffs about 170 attorneys and support personnel across New Jersey according to its official website, prosecutes federal crimes while representing the United States in civil matters across New Jersey according to its official website, coordinates with federal agencies on issues such as terrorism or public corruption while maintaining three main offices throughout New Jersey since it was established in 1789 according to its official website.
