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‘Famous Richard’ Indicted for Possession of Firearm and Extended Magazine

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A Hudson County resident, widely recognized on social media as “Famous Richard,” has been indicted on firearms charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Richard Sharp, 25, of Bayonne, faces one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Arrested earlier in the day, Sharp appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court, where he was detained.

The charges stem from a July 4, 2024, incident at a Bayonne gas station. According to court documents, Sharp brandished a firearm equipped with an extended magazine during an altercation, threatening others on the scene. Days later, Sharp reportedly posted a social media video of himself holding a similar firearm while dancing.

A subsequent investigation led law enforcement to conduct a judicially authorized search of Sharp’s residence and vehicle on July 12, 2024. The search uncovered a loaded Beretta M9 semi-automatic handgun with a defaced serial number and an extended magazine containing approximately 24 rounds of ammunition.

Under federal law, the possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon carries severe penalties, including a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 or twice the gross financial gain or loss resulting from the offense.

The investigation involved collaboration between the FBI Newark Field Division, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Bayonne Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna commended these agencies for their coordinated efforts.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that an indictment is merely an accusation, and Sharp remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.