Camden men trafficked illegal guns via Amtrak, ATF probe finds

handcuffs

(File photo)

CAMDEN — Five Camden County men and a South Carolina woman are accused of firearms trafficking, including transporting guns via Amtrak, federal officials announced Tuesday.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation, which resulted in arrests and confiscation of guns Monday night and Tuesday morning, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

Charged with conspiracy to traffic in firearms without a license are Marcus Rutling, 32, of Camden and Saluda, South Carolina; Joseph Rutling, 23, of Camden; Katelynn Schippnick, 24, of Greeleyville, South Carolina; Shawn Tribbett, 32, of Camden, and Anthony Gilmore, 24, of Lawnside.

Tribbett and a sixth defendant, Lewis DiMatessa, 37, of Clementon, are also each charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During the investigation, ATF agents used a confidential informant to buy at least 22 firearms from illegal gun dealers. Weapons purchased included an assault rifle, shotguns, handguns, ammunition and a bullet-proof vest.

The Rutlings sold guns — including the assault rifle — and ammunition from several locations in Camden and Lawnside, according to authorities.

The federal complaints detail several transactions, including a sale in which the Rutlings sold a short-barrelled shotgun out of their house in Camden. The men said they obtained the weapons in South Carolina and brought them to New Jersey on a weekly basis, according to federal complaints. They used Amtrak trains for some of these trips.

Gilmore sold handguns, shotguns and a bulletproof vest, most from a home on LaPierre Avenue, in Lawnside. Tribbett and Schippnick served as brokers for these deals, according to the feds. Tribbett, a convicted felon, brokered a deal in which DiMatessa, also a convicted felon, sold a rifle to the informant.

Conspiracy to traffic in firearms without a license carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison, and the felon-in-possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum $250,000 fine.

Tribbett, Gilmore and DiMatessa made their initial appearances in federal court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider. All three were placed in jail. Schippnick made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kay West and was released on bond. She has been ordered to appear in New Jersey before Judge Schneider on Aug. 12. Joseph and Marcus Rutling will make their initial appearances on Aug. 26.

---

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@southjerseymedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.