A Hamilton Township man entered a guilty plea today to weapons offenses including possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and he faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced in January, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said.
On Jan. 29, 2010, hotel guests at Trump Marina Hotel Casino alerted security officers that a man entered the hotel elevator on the 10th floor with a handgun. Security personnel tracked the man to the 17th floor and as the elevator doors opened, the man later identified as Mario Diaz, 26, of Fulton Avenue, pointed the handgun at a security officer. Diaz remained on the elevator and rode it to the hotel floor where Atlantic City police took him into custody. The weapon, a loaded 9 mm handgun, was found on Diaz when he was arrested, according to Assistant Prosecutor Mario Formica. Diaz entered his plea before Superior Court Judge Charles Middlesworth.
The defendant must serve eight years in prison before parole eligibility when he is sentenced on Jan. 14, 2011.
