Atlantic City man gets eight years in two gun cases

An Atlantic City man who was arrested with a gun and drugs while on pretrial release in a similar case was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday.

Joaquin DeJesus, 53, must serve at least five years before he is eligible for parole.

He was first arrested with four loaded guns and cocaine Oct. 29, 2021, when police raided his apartment on South Madison Avenue.

There, they found about 38 baggies of cocaine, a rifle bag with an AM-15 rifle packaged in parts with extended magazines, a bag containing a Colt .38 Special revolver loaded with six rounds of .38-ballpoint ammunition, a handgun box with a Beretta 9mm model .92 with two loaded magazines, and an MP UZI 9mm with an extended magazine.

Police also recovered $1,505 in cash.

DeJesus pleaded guilty May 10, 2022, and was released pending sentencing, despite the state's objections.

Three months later, he was again the subject of an investigation, when police raided his room at the Sheraton in Atlantic City.

Before police went into the room, they stopped DeJesus as he was getting into his vehicle.

At the time, they found him with cocaine packaged for distribution.

A loaded Springfield Armory 9mm handgun, cocaine and $7,505 were found inside the room.

DeJesus pleaded guilty in April to two counts of a certain person not to possess a weapon. He was sentenced to eight years on each count with the terms to be served concurrently.

He remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.