Federal authorities have charged four men from New Jersey for their alleged involvement in an illegal firearms trafficking operation in Ocean County.
James Hyres, Dennis McMickle, James Opalenik, and Edward Trost III are accused of conspiring to traffic firearms, including privately manufactured handguns, between April and May 2024.
Two of the suspects, Hyres and Opalenik, were arrested in Ocean County and are scheduled to appear in federal court. McMickle and Trost were already in custody on unrelated state charges.
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According to the Department of Justice, Hyres, McMickle, Opalenik, and Trost were members of a gun trafficking conspiracy that operated in and around Ocean County.
During that time, Hyres manufactured privately made firearms, also known as PMFs or “ghost guns,” for resale using various component parts, including firearm frames manufactured by Hyres using a 3D printer. Hyres, assisted by McMickle and Trost, then sold PMFs and other traditional firearms for profit to others, including a confidential source working at the direction and supervision of the FBI.
Opalenik, assisted by McMickle, sold a semi-automatic rifle to the confidential source in furtherance of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. McMickle also sold the confidential source a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun in January 2024.
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Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that none of these defendants held a federal license to deal or manufacture firearms. Hyres, McMickle, and Trost each have prior felony convictions and are prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey led the investigation, with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and local law enforcement agencies.
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