Atlantic City, NJ, Man Pleads Guilty to Having Gun to Intimidate Rival Gang Members

An Atlantic City man potentially faces seven years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges in connection to a gun that was used to intimidate rival gang members.

On Monday, 22-year-old Altarik Hopkins pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight, and fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office says on May 5th, 2021, Atlantic City police attempted to stop a vehicle which had been reported stolen out of Vineland.

Hopkins and his juvenile co-defendants fled the stolen vehicle on foot. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of cellphones and two loaded handguns. Police searched the cellphones pursuant to search warrants and uncovered timestamped videos of Hopkins and the juvenile co-defendants passing around the handguns while driving through rival gang territory in the stolen vehicle.

During his guilty plea, Hopkins admitted he possessed a loaded gun for the purpose of intimidating rival gang members.

Following his plea, Hopkins asked to be released from the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending his sentencing. The State opposed that request and a judge agreed that he should remain incarcerated.

Hopkins is expected to be sentenced to an aggregate term of seven years behind bars with 42 months of parole ineligibility next month.