Sex Slave Sting: Women Held In NJ Homes, Forced Into Brothels, AG Says
Eight people have been charged with racketeering and human trafficking for running a prostitution ring out of several homes in Trenton and Camden, authorities said.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the charges on Tuesday, July 1, following a months-long investigation that began in May 2024. At least 15 victims were located during raids at five properties, investigators said.
According to the criminal complaints, Vilma Deleon Bracamonte, also known as “Janet,” 55, of Hamilton, and Maria Soledad Xec Chan, 42, of Trenton, were the alleged ringleaders. They face charges …
$22K In Cocaine, Fentanyl Seized During Carroll County Drug Ring Takedown, Officials Say
Two people are behind bars months after investigators uncovered a major drug and firearms operation in Maryland, authorities announced.
Antonio Alfonso Liason, 38, and Jessica Brooke Smith, 47, both of Westminster, were arrested earlier this month, after detectives executed search warrants at six locations across Carroll County and Baltimore City, according to the Carroll County Drug and Firearms Trafficking Task Force.
The takedown followed a six-month-long investigation that targeted the trafficking of large quantities of narcotics in and around the Carroll corridor and surrounding areas,…
Man Killed In Brentwood Parking Lot, 21-Year-Old Charged With Murder: Suffolk County Police
A man was found shot dead in a Brentwood parking lot, and a 21-year-old is now charged with his murder, Suffolk County Police announced on Tuesday, June 24.
Alex Reyes, of Brentwood, was arrested late Monday night, accused of killing Alexander Velasquez in a lot at 159 Clarke Street around 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, June 22, according to a police update.
Officers responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive man lying in the parking lot. Velasquez, 46, of Central Islip, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. His death was deemed criminal.
Reyes is charged with Murder in the Second Degree…
2 Raritan Residents Indicted After Stealing Treasury Checks, Gun, Cockapoo: Prosecutor
A New Jersey couple was indicted on Thursday, June 19, on charges of running a high-level ID theft ring involving stolen treasury checks, guns, a skimmer, and a stolen dog, authorities said.
Peter Gittens, 37, and Chambreona J. Williams, 33, both Raritan Township residents, are charged with forgery, trafficking in personal identifying information, unlawful possession of a firearm, theft of movable property, and endangering the welfare of a child, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson said.
In January, Raritan Township police investigated a report of a stolen U-Haul van, Robeson said. W…
Woman, 2 Men Paid People To Produce Videos Of Monkeys Being Tortured, DOJ Says
Three Americans have been accused of participating in online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.
An indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, June 11, names Katrina D. Favret, of Tennessee, and Robert M. Craig, of North Carolina, according to the US Department of Justice.
They are accused of conspiring with Ronald P. Bedra, of Etna, Ohio — who was previously charged — to produce so-called animal crush videos. Favret is also charged with directly creating and distributing such content.
According to court documents, the group wo…