Linden Man Sentenced For Masterminding Stolen Car Resale Scheme: Feds Linden Man Sentenced For Masterminding Stolen Car Resale Scheme: Feds
Linden Man Sentenced For Masterminding Stolen Car Resale Scheme: Feds A 27-year-old Linden man was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 29, to almost 5 years in prison for running a criminal conspiracy that resold stolen cars, authorities said. Nathaniel Bell was sentenced to 57 months in prison after previously pleading guilty in Newark federal court to conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles, five counts of altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and one count of transportation of stolen vehicles, Acting US Attorney Victor Khanna said. Bell was the leader of a group that obtained stolen vehicles from New Jersey, New York, Florida, and ot…
Trump Justice Department To Investigate January 6 Prosecutors Trump Justice Department To Investigate January 6 Prosecutors
Trump Justice Department To Investigate January 6 Prosecutors The Trump administration will investigate prosecutors who oversaw the criminal cases against Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack defendants, according to a brand-new report. Earlier report - Trump Ends All Jan. 6 Cases With Pardons, Dismissals, Commutations, Signs Flurry Of Orders Calling the probe a "special project," Ed Martin, the acting US Attorney for Washington, DC, asked prosecutors to turn over notes, documents, files emails and other information related to the cases in an email on Monday, Jan. 27, the Wall Street Journal reports. Hours after being sworn in to a second non-consecuti…
Trenton Man Possessed Guns, Dealt Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds Trenton Man Possessed Guns, Dealt Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds
Trenton Man Possessed Guns, Dealt Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds A 33-year-old Trenton man was arrested and charged this week with illegally possessing firearms and dealing fentanyl and cocaine, authorities said. On Wednesday, May 15, police searched the apartment of Jose Colon-Matos, recovering two loaded firearms from a safe, including one with an obliterated serial number, large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine and $9,000 in cash, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Colon-Matos was being a previously convicted felon in possession of two firearms, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and …
Newark Man Trafficked Guns, Drugs: Feds Newark Man Trafficked Guns, Drugs: Feds
Newark Man Trafficked Guns, Drugs: Feds A 30-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged on Monday, Dec. 23, with dealing guns and drugs, authorities said. On Thursday, Feb. 22, police officers recovered from Raishaun Lofton a privately made firearm with no serial number, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, 81 glassine envelopes containing fentanyl, and plastic jugs commonly used to distribute illegal drugs, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. On Monday, April 22,  video surveillance footage depicted Lofton firing a different firearm into the air during an argument. One of the bullets from the firearm that Lofton shot entere…
Greek Shipping Firms Fined Millions for Polluting NJ Waters, Falsifying Records Greek Shipping Firms Fined Millions for Polluting NJ Waters, Falsifying Records
Greek Shipping Firms Fined Millions for Polluting NJ Waters, Falsifying Records Two Greek shipping companies were fined millions in federal court in Newark on Monday, Dec. 23 after pleading guilty to polluting waters, falsifying records, and obstructing justice during port calls in New Jersey last year, authorities said. Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises, owners and operators of the oil tanker Kriti Ruby, will pay $4.6 million in fines and community service payments, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. They were also placed on probation for five years with mandatory environmental compliance monitoring, Sellinger said The companies illeg…
Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds
Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds Two Newark men pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to being members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues, authorities said. From January 2014 through September 2020, Thomas Padovano, 50, and Bartholomew Padovano, 72, agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methylone, and ketamine, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. The Padovanos placed orders with a source in China and distributed the controlled substances and analogues in Ne…
West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds
West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds  A 55-year-old West New York financial advisor was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Monday, Nov. 18, for orchestrating a $4 million scheme to defraud public health insurance plans, authorities said. Kaival Patel was convicted last December in Camden federal court of conspiracy, health care fraud, and money laundering, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Patel must also pay $4.72 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release, Sellinger said. According to court documents and trial evidence, Patel operated ABC Healthy Living LLC, a company that marketed high-cost c…
Trenton Man Sentenced To Life For Violent Carjacking Spree That Seriously Injured 2, Feds Say Trenton Man Sentenced To Life For Violent Carjacking Spree That Seriously Injured 2, Feds Say
Trenton Man Sentenced To Life For Violent Carjacking Spree That Seriously Injured 2, Feds Say A Trenton man will spend the rest of his life in prison nearly seven years after a violent carjacking spree that left two victims with life-altering injuries, authorities said. Cedrick Hodges, 41, received his life sentence in Trenton federal court, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release on Wednesday, Nov. 20. He was found guilty on five counts after a seven-day trial on Thursday, Oct. 24. Sellinger said Hodges "terrorized" Hamilton Township on the night of Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. "The sentence handed down today will ensure that this violent offender will …
Man Threatens To Kill Reporter, Her Family In Orange County, Feds Say Man Threatens To Kill Reporter, Her Family In Orange County, Feds Say
Man Threatens To Kill Reporter, Her Family In Orange County, Feds Say Anger over an unflattering news article prompted a man to threaten to kill a New York reporter and her family, federal prosecutors alleged. Austin Suman, age 35, now residing in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in Westchester County with making a threat involving an explosive and related charges in White Plains federal court. Prosecutors said Suman contacted a Hudson Valley reporter based in Orange County via Facebook messenger on Friday, Nov. 8, threatening to “end” the woman’s family. He allegedly threatened to blow her house “off its foundation” and used multiple racial slurs. …
Feds Dismantle Luxury Interstate Car Ring, 7 NJ Men Charged Feds Dismantle Luxury Interstate Car Ring, 7 NJ Men Charged
Feds Dismantle Luxury Interstate Car Ring, 7 NJ Men Charged Eight men, including seven from New Jersey, have been charged in Newark federal court on Thursday, Nov. 7, for their roles in a conspiracy to steal luxury cars and transport them across state lines, authorities said. Arrested were: Ahmad Franks, 24, Shaquan White, 23, Nathan Braswell, 20, Ibn Bellamy, 24, Zamir Wright, 20, all Newark residents, Ryan Bowen, 26, Khyree Lawrence, 20 both East Orange residents and Mohammed Buhari, a 45-year-old Virginia resident. Federal officials detailed the thefts: Audi Q5, Jersey City: On Nov. 5, 2021, a 2021 Audi Q5 was reported stolen in Jersey City…
Newark Man Gets 4+ Years For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl: Feds Newark Man Gets 4+ Years For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl: Feds
Newark Man Gets 4+ Years For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl: Feds A 37-year-old Newark man was sentenced to 4.8 years in prison on Tuesday, Nov. 5,  for distributing cocaine and fentanyl in 2022, authorities said. In December 2022, Carlos Gonzalez and another individual conspired to distribute approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 100 grams of fentanyl and were arrested shortly after arriving at an agreed-upon location in Kearny to complete the sale, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said.  After their arrests, a search of Gonzalez’s home and an apartment uncovered two loaded firearms, an unloaded firearm, ammunition, drug packaging materials, a…
Newark Man Robbed Pharmacy At Gunpoint: Feds Newark Man Robbed Pharmacy At Gunpoint: Feds
Newark Man Robbed Pharmacy At Gunpoint: Feds A 26-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged on Monday, Nov. 4, with robbing a pharmacy at gunpoint last year, authorities said. On Saturday, Dec. 30, Nariq Petes and an accomplice drove to a pharmacy wearing black masks, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Once inside the pharmacy, Petes brandished a handgun and demanded prescription drugs, Sellinger said. Petes and his conspirator took at least six bottles of prescription medication, Sellinger said. Petes was charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a weapon, Sellinger said. He faces…