Police handcuffs and criminal fingerprints card

Morristown, NJ – Joseph Palumbo Jr., 34, of Columbia, NJ, has been sentenced to five years in state prison for the unlawful manufacturing and sale of ghost guns in Morris and Warren Counties.

Palumbo Jr. pled guilty on May 20, 2024, to two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm and two counts of third-degree possession of a firearm without a serial number. On September 13, the Honorable Judge Claudia Jones handed down a five-year sentence, with 42 months of parole ineligibility.

An investigation revealed that Palumbo Jr. was involved in the illegal production and sale of untraceable firearms between December 2023 and February 2024. The sales included a homemade handgun, five homemade AR platform assault firearms, and two large-capacity magazines, all lacking serial numbers. Palumbo Jr. was arrested on February 8, 2024, during a traffic stop.

A search of Palumbo Jr.’s residence and vehicle led to the seizure of two additional AR platform assault firearms, 36 other firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, firearm components, and three silencers.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.