NJ sues California company for "ghost weapons"

Associated press

NEWARK, NJ – The New Jersey Attorney General announced Friday a lawsuit against a California company that sells mail-order firearms that can be turned into operational weapons, the first action of this type. since he's banned ghost guns last year.

Thursday's lawsuit alleges Apple Valley-based Patriot Armory and owner James Tromblee Jr. have violated New Jersey's consumer fraud laws by advertising and selling weapons to an investigator under cover last month.

A letter was sent to the company in December asking him to "stop advertising, offers to sell and / or sell" ghost guns "and" ghost guns "to New Jersey residents", according to the trial. But in February, an investigator from the Attorney General's office ordered parts for an AR-15 badault rifle. The shipment was received this month, according to the lawsuit.

According to Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, 15 other companies that have received similar letters have either posted warnings to potential buyers in New Jersey on their website, or removed the status of the lists. delivery addresses available.

The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and to prevent the company from shipping parts to New Jersey.

A phone message asking for comments was left Friday to the company.

"Ghost weapons" are unregistered weapons that do not have a serial number. The companies sell almost complete weapons, often with the necessary parts for their finishing, as well as training so that the firearms can be completed.

New Jersey Democrat Governor Phil Murphy signed a law last fall to purchase firearm parts for non-serial firearms. This crime was punishable by five years in prison. Possession of an unrecorded firearm in New Jersey is also a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

"By announcing and selling dangerous and illegal ghost weapons to New Jersey residents, by failing to disclose the buyers' criminal liability and falsely claiming that these weapons are legal, the company has demonstrated flagrant disregard for the laws in force in New Jersey. New Jersey in consumer protection., "Paul R. Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, said in a statement.

The company is located approximately 100 km northeast of Los Angeles.