CAMDEN – A North Carolina felon today admitted his role in trafficking weapons from Georgia to New Jersey for resale.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said Anthony Doyle, 28, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspire to illegally traffic firearms and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 28. He faces up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines for both charges.
Doyle was stopped in Deptford, New Jersey, on Jan. 25, 2018. Law enforcement saw a Glock on the front seat passenger floor. It was loaded with 14 hollow point bullets. Officers also saw a firearm box in the backseat, next to a backpack they found contained four handguns and two firearm boxes.
Doyle was traveling with Anastacia Thomas, 26, also from Fayetteville. Authorities learned that she had purchased the handguns on Jan. 22, 2018 from a pawn shop in Jonesboro, Georgia. She had visited that pawn shop numerous times, with Doyle accompanying her at least twice.
Doyle and Thomas had conspired to deal firearms without a license. Because Doyle is a convicted felon, he could not legally purchase firearms. He, however, selected what to purchase and transported the weapons to New Jersey, selling them at a profit. He advertised on social media and arranged sales that way.
Thomas would purchase the items and help Doyle transport them.
She pleaded guilty to firearm trafficking conspiracy and will be sentenced Oct. 7.
