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New Jersey gym owners sentenced for defying COVID-19 orders and refusing to close

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The owners of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, were sentenced to one year of probation this week after being arrested on charges of fourth-degree contempt, obstruction and violation of a disaster control act after refusing to remain closed in spite of orders from Governor Phil Murphy in 2020.

Ian Smith, 33, and Frank Trumbetti, 51, were taken into custody in July 2020 by authorities when they attempted to open the doors to their gym, once again defying orders from the governor to remain closed amid the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The two had repeatedly defied the governor’s orders throughout the pandemic, according to authorities.

Upon being released with a disorderly persons summons, Smith took to Facebook, writing, “Welcome to America 2020, where feeding your family and standing up for your Constitutional rights is illegal.”

He continued, “They took Frank and I away and boarded up our private place of business,” Smith said, adding a video of him and Trumbetti being handcuffed outside the gym. “This is gonna be fun in court. If this doesn’t alarm you, you’re part of the problem. Please share and repost, let’s make these idiots answer for their power trip.”

After being sentenced this week, Smith once again spoke out on social media, Tweeting, “Thanks to all who joined in on our sentencing hearing. So many came that the server crashed. We got one year probation for the crime of taking our doors off to prevent government goons from locking us out of our gym. @theatilisgym is open and will remain open at any cost.”

ARTICLE: LAURA SPIVAK

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: NJ.COM

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Laura Spivak

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

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