NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man today admitted assaulting a U.S. Postal Service employee by pointing a handgun at the employee, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
Joseph Cartagena, 34, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to one count of assaulting a federal employee.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On March 3, 2021, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service was driving his Postal Service truck in Jersey City, New Jersey, when Cartagena requested that the employee pull over, which he did. The postal employee then exited his truck and approached Cartagena to ask why he had asked him to pull over. Cartagena pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the postal employee. The postal employee immediately pushed Cartagena’s hand away and ran into traffic to get away. Cartagena then entered his car and drove away.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2022.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Newark Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero, and the Jersey City Police Department, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey E. Zyriek Enriquez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.
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