HAMPTON — A Hampton man is facing charges that he illegally trafficked firearms through New Jersey on an underground, Internet-based marketplace known as “Black Market Reloaded.”

HAMPTON — A Hampton man is facing charges that he illegally trafficked firearms through New Jersey on an underground, Internet-based marketplace known as “Black Market Reloaded.”



Matthew Crisafi, 38, of Esker Road, was arrested Thursday on three firearm trafficking offenses by special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.



Hampton police Lt. Tom Gudaitis said the town police department assisted federal agents with the service of the arrest warrant.



Crisafi, who is the owner of an independent trucking company in New Hampshire, is charged with the unlicensed sale of firearms, smuggling of firearms from the United States to an overseas destination and conspiring to commit money laundering in connection with firearms trafficking activities.



According to the complaint, the Homeland Security Investigation began in April 2013 when special agents started to look into illicit sales activity on Black Market Reloaded.



According to a press release issued by New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, the Web site provided a platform for vendors and buyers to conduct anonymous online transactions involving the sale of a variety of illegal goods, including firearms, ammunition, explosives, narcotics and counterfeit items.



Unlike mainstream ecommerce Web sites, BMR is only accessible via the Tor network — a special computer network designed to enable users to conceal their identities and locations, authorities said. Transactions on BMR are conducted using Bitcoin, an anonymous, decentralized form of electronic currency that only exists online.



During the investigation, federal officials said they learned that Crisafi maintained a seller’s profile on BMR to advertise the illegal sale of firearms and ammunition.



The complaint states that over a period of approximately three months, Crisafi negotiated with an undercover officer— whom he believed was an international purchaser of firearms — to sell a number of semi-automatic handguns and rifles, including a Smith & Wesson Model Bodyguard .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun; a Glock Model 26, 9mm caliber semi-automatic handgun; a KelTec Model P32, .32 caliber semi-automatic handgun; a NORINCO SKS 7.62 semi-automatic rifle; an AR-15 Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle and others.



In all, Crisafi is alleged to have sold multiple firearms to the undercover officer, valued by law enforcement to be worth more than $11,000 on the black market.



The complaint states that Crisafi shipped the firearms in packages through the U.S. Postal Service.



Investigators noted that several of the weapons Crisafi sold were sent to the undercover officer through a location in New Jersey, where they were seized by law enforcement officials.



Crisafi was scheduled for an initial appearance and bail hearing this afternoon in New Hampshire federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Lynch.



Officials said he will be brought to New Jersey to appear in Newark federal court on a date to be determined. The prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.