A 59-year-old New Jersey man found in possession of nearly two dozens guns, ammunition and white supremacy materials has been sentenced to five years and two months in federal prison.
Joseph Rubino, of Lafayette, will also be subject to three years of supervised release after his prison terms, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey said in a statement Tuesday. He has been held in jail since his 2019 arrest.
State Police found guns and ammo on Rubino’s car following a crash in July 2019. When authorities later obtained a warrant and searched his home in Sussex County, they located nearly two dozen weapons — including semiautomatic rifles, handguns and a grenade launcher — and 5.5 pounds of marijuana, along with an ounce of crystal methamphetamine, according to a criminal complaint.
Rubino also had large amounts of of ammunition, 60 silencers, a ballistic vest and four high-capacity magazines, authorities said.
Rubino had been facing more serious charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime before pleading guilty.
In addition investigators uncovered white supremacy and neo-Nazi items in his home, according to the criminal complaint. One of the documents he had was labeled, “N -word Owner’s Manual,” which contained racist materials on slavery, authorities said.
In August, Rubino pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Rubino was convicted of a felony in 1999 for writing bad checks.
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NJ Advance Media staff writer Joe Atmonavage contributed to this report.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected].