🚨 Federal agents say a North Bergen man possessed 70 machine gun conversion devices and used a 3D printer to manufacture firearm components. ⚖️ Prosecutors say the 21-year-old Salvadoran national admitted the seized items were his. 🚔 If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison on a machine gun possession charge.
Federal agents seize 70 machine gun conversion devices in North Bergen raid
A 21-year-old Salvadoran national who authorities say was living in the United States illegally has been charged after federal agents allegedly discovered dozens of machine gun conversion devices and a cache of 3D-printed firearm components inside his North Bergen apartment.
Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that Erick Marquez Cruz was charged by criminal complaint with possession of machine guns following a search of his Hudson County residence on June 25. Cruz made his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
According to the criminal complaint, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Cruz’s apartment and found what investigators describe as a small-scale operation for manufacturing firearm parts.
Search uncovers 3D printer and dozens of firearm components
Court documents say investigators recovered a 3D printer used to manufacture firearm components from Cruz’s bedroom, along with approximately 17 3D-printed handgun frames, multiple 3D-printed magazines and about 70 machine gun conversion devices…