New Jersey State Police, Division of Criminal Justice, Atlantic City Metro Task Force, and federal and local partners recover nine guns, including fully automatic “ghost” assault rifle

TRENTON – Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced arrests of four men as the result of a collaborative task force investigation targeting individuals trafficking illegal guns, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in Atlantic City, N.J., and other parts of Atlantic County. The investigation led to the recovery of nine illegal guns—including two assault rifles, one of which is a fully automatic, untraceable “ghost” gun—and 14 prohibited large-capacity ammunition magazines.

As a result of the long-term investigation, which involved 23 controlled purchases of drugs or weapons from the defendants, the following individuals were arrested on various drug and weapons charges:

• Ricardo Lugo Jr., 21, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
• Jamal M. George, 26, of Mays Landing, N.J.
• Rashawn S. Parks, 31, of Galloway, N.J.
• Rasan McGee, 30, of Egg Harbor City, N.J.

George is charged with selling the two assault rifles, each equipped with a 30-round large capacity magazine, as well as a handgun with a large-capacity magazine. McGee is charged with selling a handgun with a large capacity-magazine and oxycodone pills. Lugo, George, and Parks all face first-degree charges of distributing methamphetamine, and Lugo and George face second-degree charges of distributing heroin, fentanyl, or heroin combined with fentanyl. A full list of charges is included below. 

“The illegal guns and drugs we seized in this investigation illustrate the serious threat allegedly posed by these defendants in Atlantic County,” said Acting Attorney General Platkin. “Stopping the trafficking of deadly illicit weapons and drugs into our communities and prosecuting those responsible are top priorities for the Murphy Administration and my department.”

“We have seen an alarming proliferation in New Jersey of untraceable ‘ghost guns,’ which have become the weapon of choice for many violent criminals because of the inability of law enforcement to trace them when they are used to commit a shooting,” added Acting Attorney General Platkin. “Each time we seize one of these guns from the black market—in this case a fully automatic assault rifle—we save lives.”

“Ghost guns” or “privately made firearms” are not imprinted with a serial number registered with a federally licensed manufacturer and therefore are difficult for law enforcement to trace to their purchaser. In 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed a law that makes it a crime to buy, manufacture, possess, or sell ghost guns in New Jersey. Law enforcement agencies have recovered 275 illegal ghost guns in New Jersey since the start of February 2021. In March 2021, New Jersey announced a first-of-its-kind settlement with a ghost gun company that the Attorney General and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs sued over the company’s advertising and marketing of ghost guns to New Jersey residents and delivery of an assault firearms kit to a New Jersey buyer. The March 2019 lawsuit against James Tromblee Jr., d/b/a U.S. Patriot Armory, also was the country’s first such lawsuit against a ghost gun distributor.

“Since its formation, the Atlantic City Metro Task Force has made hundreds of arrests, seized scores of guns, and taken large quantities of drugs off the streets of Atlantic City and nearby municipalities,” said Director Lyndsay V. Ruotolo of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We will continue to work with the New Jersey State Police and our other federal, state, county, and local task force partners to arrest and prosecute the criminals who seek to profit by putting lives at risk.”

“This operation is another example of how effective the Atlantic City Metro Task Force has been in targeting these trafficking networks, shutting them down, and saving lives in the process. By preventing these deadly weapons and narcotics from reaching the streets, we have undoubtedly made our communities safer,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “These results are due to the diligent work of our detectives and law enforcement partners who are out there every day to make a difference.” 

The investigation was led by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and Atlantic City Metro Task Force (ACMTF). The ACMTF members include the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, and Atlantic City Police Department. The ACMTF was assisted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Hamilton Township Police Department (Atlantic County), U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cherry Hill Office, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).

As the result of a task force investigation into gang activity in Atlantic County, the partnering agencies developed information that Lugo allegedly was distributing large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in and around Atlantic City and Mays Landing, N.J. Acting on the intelligence, they allegedly made nine controlled purchases of methamphetamine and heroin and/or fentanyl from Lugo.

The investigation also led to George, Parks and McGee, who allegedly were distributing illegal drugs and firearms throughout Atlantic County. Detectives arranged 14 controlled purchases of firearms or drugs from those defendants: three gun sales and seven sales of heroin/fentanyl or methamphetamine allegedly made by George; two sales of methamphetamine allegedly made by Parks; and one gun sale and a separate sale of 120 high-dose 30 mg oxycodone pills allegedly made by McGee.

George, Parks, and McGee were arrested on Jan. 27, 2022, when task force members and partners executed search warrants for their residences and two vehicles, seizing the following items:

• two 9mm handguns with large-capacity magazines [one in George’s residence, one in McGee’s residence]
• two .380-caliber handguns with large-capacity magazines [both in George’s residence]
• numerous rounds of ammunition, including illegal hollow point bullets [in George’s residence]
• large-capacity drum-type magazine [in George’s residence]
• five large-capacity pistol magazines [in George’s residence]
• approximately 17 grams of crack cocaine [in McGee’s residence]
• approximately one ounce of combined heroin and fentanyl [in George’s residence]
• approximately seven “bricks” of heroin (each containing 50 single-dose glassines of heroin) [in Parks’ residence]
• 19 OxyContin pills [in Parks’ residence]
• drug packaging materials [in George’s, McGee’s and Parks’ residences]

George, Parks, and McGee were ordered detained in the Atlantic County Jail pending trial following detention hearings.

Lugo was arrested on Feb. 16, resulting in the seizure of a 9mm handgun with a defaced serial number and approximately 6 ounces of methamphetamine. He is being held in the Atlantic County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The defendants are charged with the following offenses:

Ricardo Lugo Jr.

• Distribution of Methamphetamine (1st Degree)
• Distribution of Heroin/Fentanyl (2nd Degree)
• Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics (2nd Degree)
• Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl (3rd Degree)
• Possession of Methamphetamine (3rd Degree)
• Possession of a Defaced Firearm (4th Degree)

Jamal George

• Distribution of Methamphetamine (1st Degree)
• Distribution of Heroin/Fentanyl (2nd Degree)
• Promoting Organized Street Crime (2nd Degree)
• Possession of a Firearm While Committing Drug Offense (4 Counts, 2nd Degree)
• Unlawful Possession of Firearm (3 Counts, 2nd Degree)
• Sale of Machine Gun (3rd Degree)
• Sale of Assault Rifle (3rd Degree)
• Possession of Heroin (3rd Degree)
• Possession of Methamphetamine (3rd degree)
• Sale of Glock Handgun (4th Degree)
• Possession of Large-Capacity Magazine (11 Counts, 4th Degree)
• Sale of Large-Capacity Magazine (3 Counts, 4th Degree)

Rashawn Parks

• Distribution of Methamphetamine (1st Degree)
• Possession of Methamphetamine (3rd Degree)
• Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
• Possession of Heroin/Fentanyl (3rd Degree)
• Possession of OxyContin Pills (3rd Degree)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (4th Degree)

Rasan McGee

• Possession of a Firearm While Committing Drug Offense (2nd Degree)
• Possession of a Weapon as a Convicted Felon (2 Counts, 2nd Degree)
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (2nd Degree)
• Distribution of Oxycodone Pills (2nd Degree)
• Sale of Pistol (4th Degree)
• Sale of Large-Capacity Magazine (4th Degree)
• Possession of Large-Capacity Magazine (4th Degree)

Acting Attorney General Platkin commended all of the Atlantic City Metro Task Force members who conducted the investigation for the New Jersey State Police, Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, and Atlantic City Police Department. He also commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Hamilton Township Police Department (Atlantic County), U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Cherry Hill Office, and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

Acting AG Platkin thanked the following agencies and units for assisting in the arrests and search warrants: NJSP T.E.A.M.S. South Unit, NJSP K-9 Unit, NJSP Casino Special Investigations Unit, NJSP Violent & Organized Crime Control South Unit, Atlantic County Emergency Response Team, and Egg Harbor City Police Department.

Detective Hillesheim was lead detective for the investigation for the New Jersey State Police and ACMTF, under the supervision of Task Force Commander Lt. Michael Davis. Detective Ninkovic was lead detective for the Division of Criminal Justice in connection with the investigation of Lugo.

Deputy Attorney General Katelyn Waegener is prosecuting the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Valerie Butler, Bureau Chief Erik Daab, and DCJ Deputy Director Annmarie Taggart.

The first-degree drug charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility of five years, and the charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a weapon while committing a drug offense carry a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of $10,000. The third-degree drug charges carry an enhanced fine of up to $35,000.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Defense Attorneys

For Lugo: Michael Schreiber, Esq.
For George: Melissa Rosenblum, Esq.
For Parks: Assistant Deputy Public Defender Chris C. Hoffner, Atlantic County
For McGee: John V. Maher, Jr., Esq.