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April 30, 2022
Jeffrey Backlund, 57, of Waretown
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger stated on Wednesday, April 27th that a man from Ocean County, New Jersey, admitted to illegally having a privately produced short barrel rifle, a silencer, and five fake badges of various government agencies.
Jeffrey Backlund, 57, of Waretown, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with unlawfully possessing firearms not registered in the National Firearms Register and Transfer Record, as well as unlawful possession of an official badge or identification card, before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court.
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Law authorities executed a search warrant at Backlund's home on Sept. 6, 2020, after investigating a domestic incident. They discovered a number of guns and fake federal identification badges. They discovered one.223 caliber short-barreled AR-style weapon with no serial number or branding. They discovered a tan metal cylindrical item attached to the gun, which police authorities believed to be a suppressor. Backlund was required to register the gun and silencer in the National Firearms Register and Transfer Record under the National Firearms Act because of its physical characteristics, but he did not.
Two bifold wallets containing FBI Special Agent identification credentials bearing Backlund's picture and personal information, a United States Marshals Service badge, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent badge, and a Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent badge were also discovered by law enforcement officers. Backlund had no permission to possess any of the badges or identifications because they were all fake.
The charge of unlawful possession of an official badge or identification card carries a maximum prison sentence of six months and a maximum fine of $5,000; the charge of possessing firearms not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record carries a maximum prison sentence of ten years and a maximum fine of $10,000. The date of sentencing has been set on September 13, 2022.
The U.S. Attorney's office credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Messenger in Newark; special agents of the ATF Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; special agents of the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark; members of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.; detectives with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and officers of the Ocean Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michal J. Rogalski, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the Criminal Division in Trenton.
