Waretown man admits to owning homemade weapons and fake IDs to impersonate federal agents
TRENTON — A Waretown man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to the possession of a homemade short-barreled rifle, a silencer and several fake federal law enforcement badges, announced U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Jeffrey Backlund, 57, of Waretown, came to the attention of real federal agents after a domestic disturbance led to police obtaining a search warrant of his home in September 2020, according to a statement from the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
During the execution of the search warrant, investigators discovered “a number of firearms and imitation federal identification badges,” the statement said.
“They found one short-barreled, AR-style, .223 caliber rifle bearing no serial number and no branding,” the statement continued. “Attached to the rifle, they found a tan metal cylindrical device that law enforcement determined to be a silencer. Given the physical characteristics of the rifle and silencer, Backlund was required to, but did not, register these items in the National Firearms Register and Transfer Record pursuant to the National Firearms Act.”
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Additionally, two bi-fold wallets were found that contained “FBI Special Agent” identification credentials with Backlund’s picture and personal information on them; a U.S. Marshals Service badge; a special agent badge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and another special agent badge for the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the statement.
That made for a total of five fake IDs representing the four federal law enforcement agencies, authorities pointed out.
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“All badges and identifications were imitation and Backlund did not have the authority to possess any of them,” the statement said.
Backlund was charged with unlawfully possessing the unregistered weapons, in addition to unlawful possession of an official badge or identification card.
Backlund is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan at the federal courthouse in Trenton on Sept. 13. He faces a maximum term of 10 and a half years in federal prison and fines of up to $15,000, all according to the statement.
The case was investigated by a number of federal law enforcement agencies: The FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Messenger in Newark; The ATF Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Matthews; The DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson in Newark; and the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr.
Locally, the investigation was handled by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; and the Ocean Township (Waretown) Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michal J. Rogalski, all according to the statement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the Criminal Division in Trenton has been prosecuting the case on behalf of the federal government.
Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ man admits to owning illegal weapons, fake federal agent IDs
