Camden County Man Charged With Being Felon In Possession Of Weapon, Unlawfully Possessing Fake Law Enforcement Credentials
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including robbery, burglary, and aggravated assault, was indicted today for unlawful possession of a handgun and possessing fake law enforcement officer credentials, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Warren E. Shelton, 53, of Chesilhurst, New Jersey, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of imitation badges, identification cards, and other insignia prescribed for use by officers of a department or agency of the United States, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will be arraigned at a later date.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement authorities learned Shelton had designed and acquired counterfeit Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service (FPS), credentials and business identification cards, falsely representing that he was employed as a special agent with FPS.
During a court-authorized search of Shelton’s home in May 2018, investigators located and seized counterfeit FPS credentials, business identification cards, and a badge falsely representing that Shelton was employed as a special agent and authorized to carry a weapon and enforce federal laws. They also located a Colt .45 caliber handgun and ammunition along with two blank guns that resembled real firearms. As a previously convicted felon, Shelton is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Shelton was charged by criminal complaint on May 7, 2018 with being a felon in possession of a firearm and has been detained since.
Shelton faces a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearm offense. He also faces up to six months in prison and fine of up to $5,000 for possession of the counterfeit FPS credentials and badge.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Karen Jordan; special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Services (FPS), under the direction of Supervisory Special Agent Anthony Fuscellaro; special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael; special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, Philadelphia Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Henry; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson; and the Camden County Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Wysocki.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Vidoni of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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