NJ Human Trafficker Gets 50 Years For Forcing Girl, 17, Into Prostitution NJ Human Trafficker Gets 50 Years For Forcing Girl, 17, Into Prostitution
NJ Human Trafficker Gets 50 Years For Forcing Girl, 17, Into Prostitution A Trenton woman who cruelly forced an underage girl into prostitution must spend at least 20 years in state prison before she’ll be eligible for parole. Superior Court Judge Darlene J. Pereksta on Thursday sentenced Ashley Gardener, 32, for a series of jury convictions for human trafficking, promoting prostitution and child endangerment, among other crimes. Pereksta sentenced Gardener to 50 years altogether, 40% of which she must serve before she can seek a parole hearing.  It marked the final chapter in what authorities said was a prime example of a crime that occurs “in the shadows,…
Amazon Announces 5 New NJ Delivery Sites Amazon Announces 5 New NJ Delivery Sites
Amazon Announces 5 New NJ Delivery Sites More amazing news on the Amazon jobs front. The giant internet retail outlet announced five new future delivery sites as it opened its Linden delivery station in Union County.  Two new delivery sites will be in Middlesex County, two are targeted for Burlington County and one is planned in Mercer County, Amazon said in a press statement.  Amazon's newest delivery locations, all set to open in 2021, are at: 2473 Old York Road - Building 1 in Bordentown; 343 Half Acre Road in Cranbury; 400 Delran Parkway in Delran; 1115 King Georges Post Road in Edison; and  10 Princess Road …
Mercer County Man, 30, Admits Guilt In Fatal Applebee's Shooting, Faces 7-Year Prison Sentence Mercer County Man, 30, Admits Guilt In Fatal Applebee's Shooting, Faces 7-Year Prison Sentence
Mercer County Man, 30, Admits Guilt In Fatal Applebee's Shooting, Faces 7-Year Prison Sentence A 30-year-old Mercer County man has admitted that he fatally shot a man in the head at an Applebee's restaurant as part of a plea deal. Noel Powell III pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree manslaughter, an act committed in the heat of passion with reasonable provocation, before Superior Court Judge Darlene Pereksta.  The plea agreement calls for Powell to serve 85% of the seven years - 5 years and 11 months - before he’s eligible for parole. Powell was indicted on first-degree murder and faced decades in prison in the Nov. 14, 2017, death of Devin Smith, 23, who was slain at t…
Popular Burger Joint Expanding To Bergen County Popular Burger Joint Expanding To Bergen County
Popular Burger Joint Expanding To Bergen County A burger restaurant with several New Jersey locations is planning a Bergen County debut. 30 Burgers will be opening at 30 Park Avenue, according to a post on its Instagram page. The storefront was formerly home to The Empanada Shop. "Fresh never frozen" is 30 Burgers' motto. Launched in January 2014, 30 Burgers focuses on certified Angus beef burgers, each one cooked to order with a 7- to 10-minute wait time. Other 30 Burgers locations are in Lawrence Township, Branchburg, Hillsborough, Bound Brook, Dunellen, East Brunswick, Linden, Somerville and Hackettstown. The ow…
Feds: Fugitive Accused In NJ, CT, PA Bank Robbery Spree Cut Off Monitoring Bracelet Feds: Fugitive Accused In NJ, CT, PA Bank Robbery Spree Cut Off Monitoring Bracelet
Feds: Fugitive Accused In NJ, CT, PA Bank Robbery Spree Cut Off Monitoring Bracelet UPDATE: A Cleveland man out on bail after robbing a bank outside Chicago cut off his monitoring bracelet, stole his mother's car and went on a holdup spree in New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, federal authorities said. Tyler James O’Toole, 23, robbed or attempted to rob two banks in one day three separate times, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito said. O'Toole was released to home detention with electronic monitoring after authorities charged him with a August bank robbery in Glenview, Illinois, records show. A month later, he removed the monitoring device, snatched his m…
Manhunt Ends: Fugitive Accused In NJ, CT, PA Bank Robbery Spree Captured Manhunt Ends: Fugitive Accused In NJ, CT, PA Bank Robbery Spree Captured
Manhunt Ends: Fugitive Accused In NJ, CT, PA Bank Robbery Spree Captured UPDATE: A Cleveland man out on bail after robbing a bank outside Chicago cut off his monitoring bracelet, stole his mother's car and went on a holdup spree in New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, federal authorities said. Tyler James O’Toole, 23, robbed or attempted to rob two banks in one day three separate times, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito said. O'Toole was released to home detention with electronic monitoring after authorities charged him with a August bank robbery in Glenview, Illinois, records show. A month later, he removed the monitoring device, snat…
Bank Robbery Reported In Mercer County Bank Robbery Reported In Mercer County
Bank Robbery Reported In Mercer County Authorities were responding to a report of a bank robbery on Route 1 in Mercer County. There is a Chase bank at 3373 Route 1 in Lawrence Township where police were called late Tuesday morning. A man wearing a blue skull cap reportedly fled in a blue car, possibly a Honda, according to initial reports. More than $12,000 was stolen, according to an unconfirmed report at 12:30 p.m.  This is a developing news story. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
Mercer County Police Officer Indicted for Official Misconduct Mercer County Police Officer Indicted for Official Misconduct
Mercer County Police Officer Indicted for Official Misconduct A suspended Mercer County police officer has been indicted on official misconduct charges, authorities said. The Lawrence Township police officer originally was charged with disorderly persons offenses after an internal affairs investigation, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said. Andres Mejia, 42, was charged last month with unsworn falsification and tampering with records, Onofri said. Lawrence Township police discovered the falsification of records during an unrelated criminal investigation in August, the prosecutor said. The internal affairs investiga…
Prosecutor: Mercer County Police Officer Tampered With Records, Suspended Prosecutor: Mercer County Police Officer Tampered With Records, Suspended
Prosecutor: Mercer County Police Officer Tampered With Records, Suspended A Mercer County police officer has been suspended on charges he falsified records in an investigation, authorities said. The Lawrence Township police officer was charged with disorderly persons offenses as a result of an internal affairs investigation, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said. Authorities discovered falsified records during a criminal investigation last month, Onofri said. Lawrence Township Police Officer Andres Mejia, 42, submitted an arrest report to his superior officers on Aug.16 that it contained false and misleading information, the pro…
Authorities Bust 58 Suspects In Mercer County ATM Thefts -- And Only 8 Are NJ Residents Authorities Bust 58 Suspects In Mercer County ATM Thefts -- And Only 8 Are NJ Residents
Authorities Bust 58 Suspects In Mercer County ATM Thefts -- And Only 8 Are NJ Residents They flooded Mercer County by the dozens, hailing from New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, armed with bogus debit cards.  They nearly returned home with more than $250,000 stolen from Santander Bank ATMs across New Jersey.  Police in a half dozen counties were able to stop 58 of them since Tuesday -- and seize more than a dozen suspect vehicles, a handgun and drugs, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. Only eight of the 58 people charged in the Santander Bank ATM thefts this week in New Jersey were state residents, Onofri said. Here's the b…