NJ Firefighter Trafficking Silencers from China Claims He Thought They Were Fuel Filters

Dinesh Patel

CARLSTADT, NJ – Carlstadt volunteer firefighter Matthew W. Moran, 48, was arrested and charged for importing gun silencers into America from China says he thought he was just ordering fuel filters. Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest Moran, of 539 Jefferson Street, Carlstadt, NJ on charges of Possession Of Prohibited Weapons and Devices, specifically Silencers. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and Homeland Security Investigations under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina.

During an international arms-trafficking investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and Homeland Security Investigations – Newark Field Office, MATTHEW MORAN was identified as a person of interest in receiving shipments of suppressors, also called silencers, meant to reduce the sound and muzzle flash generated from a gunshot. These illegal silencers were purchased by MORAN from a company based in China and smuggled through the mail to his residence in Carlstadt, NJ.

On Thursday, October 15, 2020, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Homeland Security executed a search warrant of his residence after MORAN took possession of the delivery. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of numerous firearms, high capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition and police issued ballistic vests.

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On October 15, 2020, MATTHEW MORAN was arrested and charged with four counts of Prohibited Weapons and Devices, specifically Silencers, in violation of N.J.S.A.2C:39-3(C), a 4th-degree crime. MORAN was released on his own recognizance, pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court.


Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would also like to thank Homeland Security Investigation – Newark Field Office for its assistance in this investigation.


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