MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – A man has been sentenced for his role in stealing several firearms a from Morris County business, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Luis Martinez, 35, formerly of Newark was sentenced on Oct. 26 to 11 years in New Jersey State Prison, 5 1/2 years of which he must serve before becoming eligible for parole, for the theft and possession of numerous firearms, Carroll said.
On Jan. 6, Martinez and others burglarized the FSS Armory store in the Pine Brook section of Montville Township and stole approximately 20 guns from the business, Carroll said.
Martinez was identified as a suspect through a combination of law enforcement efforts, which included electronic surveillance, DNA, and other technological capabilities, Carroll said.
During Martinez’s guilty plea on Oct. 13, presided over by the Honorable Claudia Jones, J.S.C., he admitted to arriving at FSS Armory in a stolen motor vehicle during the early morning hours of Jan. 6 and also admitted that he and others broke into the gun store, stole the guns, and then loaded the guns into the trunk of the stolen vehicle and fled the area, Carroll said.
On Sept. 14, Leila Acevedo, was identified and charged with conspiracy, burglary, and gun possession charges, Carroll said.
The investigation remains ongoing to identify three other co-conspirators who were present but who have yet to be identified, Carroll said.
“I am joined by Chief McNally, Chief Caggiano and Sheriff Gannon in stating that the burglary of a firearms store is a priority for all law enforcement as preventing firearms from falling into the hands of criminals is an absolute necessity for protecting our citizens from the later use of stolen deadly weapons to commit other crimes. This investigation was tenaciously pursued by the involved Local, County and Federal law enforcement, and we will continue our coordinated efforts to locate all of the involved subjects,” Carroll said.
