Jury Convicts Kendale Wilson on Ammunition Charge
A federal jury in Newark found the 39-year-old guilty after a three-day trial over a 2024 foot chase with state troopers in Paterson.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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A federal jury in Newark convicted Kendale Wilson, 39, of being a felon in possession of ammunition following a three-day trial. The case stems from a chase with New Jersey State Troopers in Paterson on April 6, 2024.
Why it matters
The conviction marks the conclusion of a federal trial over a firearm recovered during a street chase in Paterson. It underscores federal prosecution of felons found with firearms and high-capacity ammunition in the city.
Wilson was convicted by a federal jury in Newark on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 23, 2027, and his attorney is John McMahon.
The players
Kendale Wilson
Kendale Wilson is the 39-year-old man convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Brian R. Martinotti
Brian R. Martinotti is a U.S. District Judge who presided over the federal trial in Newark.
New Jersey State Police
The New Jersey State Police is the statewide law enforcement agency whose troopers patrolled Paterson and pursued Wilson.
The details
State troopers patrolling Paterson saw Wilson near Union Avenue and Jasper Street, and he ran down an alley and pulled a homemade firearm with a high-capacity drum magazine from under his sweatshirt. He threw the gun toward a driveway, jumped a fence, and was caught by other officers around the corner, where officers recovered the firearm, the broken magazine, and 29 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
Timeline
April 6, 2024: State troopers saw Wilson near Union Avenue and Jasper Street in Paterson, leading to the foot chase and gun recovery.
March 23, 2027: Sentencing is scheduled for Wilson in federal court.
Legal Context
The conviction falls under federal felon-in-possession law, which allows prosecutors in federal court to pursue felons found with ammunition or firearms. Cases of this type carry the maximum penalties set out in that statute, which in Wilson's case include up to 15 years in prison.
The case reflects ongoing enforcement against illegal firearms and high-capacity magazines in Paterson, where troopers responded to a chase on public streets. Residents of the city may see continued patrols and federal prosecutions of felons found carrying guns.
The takeaway
Federal prosecution of felons found with firearms can carry substantial penalties, even when a case begins with a street encounter. Readers can follow the case through its scheduled sentencing date.
What happens next
Sentencing for Kendale Wilson is scheduled for March 23, 2027.
Further reading
For more on local enforcement activity, see Law Enforcement coverage in Paterson.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJTODAY.
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