2 South Jersey Men Arrested In Gun Trafficking Conspiracy: Feds

Two South Jersey men have been arrested on allegations they illegally conspired to manufacture and distribute firearms, including machine guns, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

David Bibler, 55 of Haddon Heights, and Francis Hillsee 36, of Mt. Laurel, are each charged by complaint with conspiring to manufacture and distribute firearms without a license and possession of a machine gun, according to federal authorities.

Hillsee was also charged with unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. He is currently in custody on an unrelated matter and will appear in court on these charges at a future date, authorities said. Bibler was detained after a first court appearance on May 6.

Bibler sold homemade firearms, including fully automatic pistols and rifles, as well as silencers, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

Hillsee was in charge of sales and pricing, authorities said. Together, authorities said they manufactured and sold 12 firearms, including two fully automatic pistols and one fully automatic rifle, and one silencer. Hillsee also sold boxes of ammunition, authorities said.

When he was arrested, Bibler had in his home eight firearms, including rifles and pistols, as well as firearm manufacturing equipment, explosive powder, and a large amount of ammunition, according to authorities.

Each count of conspiring to engage in the business of manufacturing and distributing firearms without a license carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of possession of a machine gun carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The possession of ammunition by a felon charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.