Jersey City Man Gets 240 Months For Drug Possession and Firearms Offenses

36-year old Clarence Gaffney of Jersey City man was sentenced on Friday to 20 years in prison for possessing a loaded firearm, and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances on three different occasions.  Gaffney was convicted on October 26, 2022 following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court on three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

According to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, on October 5, 2019, during a motor vehicle stop, Gaffney possessed heroin and cocaine in his underwear and shoe.  Then, on December 26, 2019, after law enforcement officers observed Gaffney selling drugs on MLK Drive in Jersey City and arrested him.   Heroin and cocaine were recovered from his jacket sleeve.  On February 21, 2020, during a motor vehicle stop, a search of Gaffney’s vehicle revealed heroin hidden in a fuse compartment on the driver’s side and a Glock 22 .40 caliber firearm loaded with 11 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition found inside a fuse compartment on the passenger side.