Ocean County Man Sentenced to Six and a Half Years’ Imprisonment for Trafficking Stolen Firearms

TRENTON, N.J. - An Ocean County man was sentenced for the transportation of a stolen firearm, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Luiz Vargas, a/k/a, "El Biggie," 26, of Jackson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 26, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to a one-count Information charging him with transportation of a stolen firearm. Judge Castner imposed the 78-month sentence on October 7, 2026 in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Beginning in January 2025, law enforcement investigated Vargas for trafficking firearms into New Jersey from, among other places, Texas and Maryland. Using a confidential source acting at the direction and supervision of law enforcement, officers conducted four controlled purchases of firearms, which yielded a total of eight firearms: two semiautomatic rifles and six handguns. Two of the handguns were reported stolen out of Texas and Colorado, respectively, and the two semiautomatic rifles had no serial numbers or other identifiable markings on them. On at least one occasion, Vargas provided cocaine to the confidential source after being unable to follow through with a promised sale of firearms. Vargas has never held a federal license to deal or manufacture firearms.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Castner sentenced Vargas to three years of supervised release following Vargas' term of imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark, under the direction of Field Office Director Ruben Perez, the Howell Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Storrow, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, under the direction Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy, the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes, the Freehold Borough Police Department, under the Direction of Chief of Police Chris Colaner, the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer, the Little Silver Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Paul Halpin, the Marlboro Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Peter Pezzullo, the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber, the Monroe Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Griffin N. Banos, and the Wall Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Sean O'Halloran, for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

###

Defense counsel: Andrea G. Aldana, Esq., Federal Public Defenders.