Officials: Man charged with drug, weapons offenses had white supremacist materials
LAFAYETTE. Joseph Rubino, 57, was charged Aug. 20 with possessing an arsenal of weapons and ammunition, along with white supremacist and racist materials, law enforcement officials said.
By Nicole M. Wells
A Lafayette Township man has been charged with possessing an arsenal of weapons and ammunition, along with white supremacist and racist materials, law enforcement officials said.
Joseph Rubino, 57, of Lafayette, was charged Aug. 20 with one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, according to the complaint.
Rubino was convicted in 1999 of writing bad checks, according to the United States Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.
His initial appearance in Newark federal court was scheduled for Aug. 22 at 2 p.m.
Daniel G.P. Marchese, of Newton, is representing Rubino, Matthew Reilly, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said.
Marchese could not be reached for comment as of press time.
According to the complaint, New Jersey State Police responded to a motor vehicle accident Rubino was involved in on July 24, and saw multiple weapons and ammunition inside the crashed vehicle.
After executing search warrants, police recovered numerous guns of various makes and models from his vehicle and home, as well as several high-capacity magazines, numerous silencers, an assault rifle scope, a grenade launcher, a ballistics vest and numerous ammunition of various calibers, the complaint said.
In addition to the firearms and ammunition, law enforcement recovered approximately 70 grams of methamphetamine, seven kilograms of marijuana and 200 marijuana vape cartridges from Rubino’s house.
Rubino also allegedly had a box containing clothing and bumper stickers with “SS Bolts,” which, officials said, are common white supremacist and neo-Nazi symbols, as well as a document containing racist material and claiming to be an instruction manual for owning a slave.
State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Warren County Prosecutor’s Office and Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office were involved in the investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute is punishable by a maximum of 40 years in prison, the count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and the count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime is punishable by a maximum of life in prison.