News and Press Releases
2006: Jan | Feb | Mar | April | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
12-21-06 -- NEWARK -- A Fort Dix corrections officer was charged today with conspiring to smuggle and sell cellular telephones and tobacco products at the federal prison at Fort Dix. AUSA Richard E. Constable III, 973-645-2719.
Bethea Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
12-21-06 -- NEWARK -- Monmouth County Developer Moshe G. Gohar pleaded guilty today to making a $50,000 corrupt payment to former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance D. Weldon to gain zoning approvals for a development project he was involved with in the township. AUSAs Brian R. Howe and Charles B. McKenna, 973-645-2853 and 2716.
12-20-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Fort Lee man was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today for structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements on financial institutions and credit card fraud. AUSA Joshua W. Drew, 856-968-4925.
12-19-06 -- NEWARK -- Former New Jersey State Senator John A. Lynch was sentenced today to 39 months in federal prison for taking concealed corrupt payments in return for his official action and influence as a senator. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
12-18-06 -- NEWARK -- A computer systems administrator for Medco Health Solutions, Inc. was charged today with allegedly planting a "logic bomb" in Medco's computer systems. The logic bomb planted by the defendant would have caused widespread financial damages and potential health risks to Medco customers. AUSAs Erez Liebermann and Marc Ferzan, 973-645-2874 and 2783, respectively.
12-15-06 -- CAMDEN -- A leader of a major heroin and crack cocaine distribution ring in Camden was sentenced to life plus 85 years in federal prison today for his conviction on drug and weapons charges, in which the jury found that the defendant, along with his co-defendants, conspired to protect their drug operation through the use of violence that included the murders of Hiram Rosa, Kenneth Allen, and Troy James. AUSAs Kevin Smith and Jason Richardson, 856-968-4928 and 856-968-4869.
12-15-06 -- TRENTON -- A Trenton man was sentenced today to 200 months in federal prison for his conviction as an armed career criminal on a one-count Indictment charging possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. AUSA Peter Katz, 609-989-0565.
12-14-06 -- NEWARK -- The founding member of a major New Jersey civil engineering company was indicted today, accused of paying bribes to former Ocean Township mayor Terrence Weldon and another former official to gain favor and influence in securing and maintaining contracts for the engineering firm. AUSAs James Nobile and Brian Howe, 973-645-2766 and 2853, respectively.
12-13-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Wayne resident who operated a mortgage and reality business pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, admitting that he failed to report to the IRS nearly $836,500 of income, a portion of which represented proceeds from fraudulent mortgage transactions. AUSA Thomas R. Calcagni, 973-645-2918.
12-13-06 -- NEWARK -- A disgruntled former UBS Paine Webber systems administrator convicted in July was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison for securities and computer fraud connected to his use of a malicious code, known as a "logic bomb" that disrupted the company's operations and caused more than $3 million in damage and repair costs to the UBS computer network. AUSA V. Grady O'Malley, 973-645-2725.
12-13-06 -- NEWARK -- A Jersey City man who purported to be an investment advisor pleaded guilty today to fraud charges in the middle of his federal trial, admitting that he engaged in an investment scheme which defrauded numerous investors of more than $400,000. AUSAs Robert Kirsch and Adam Lurie, 973-645-2846, 2749, respectively.
12-12-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Jersey City man pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to establish a heroine supply line between a New York City heroin supplier and Camden drug distributor. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
12-11-06 -- NEWARK -- The U.S. Attorney's Office is directing $100,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in New Jersey - adding to the $1.65 million the government directed to the organization in August from criminal cases against ocean-shipping companies convicted of dumping oil at sea. Contact: Michael Drwniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
Sun Ace Shipping News Release (.pdf)
12-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- An Egg Harbor City doctor and her co-conspirator were convicted by a federal jury today for their scheme to defraud patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease." AUSAs Eugenia A.P. Cowles and R. Stephen Stigall, 609-989-2354 and 856-757-5031, respectively.
DeMarco et. al. News Release (.pdf)
12-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Gloucester Township man was sentenced today to 39 months in prison for fraudulent use of other individuals' credit card account numbers. AUSA Deborah Prisinzano Mikkelsen, 856-757-5152.
12-06-06 -- NEWARK -- A former officer of the non-profit charity "100 Black Men of New Jersey" pleaded guilty today, admitting that he defrauded the organization of more than $156,000 during his tenure as executive vice-president. AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
12-06-06 -- NEWARK -- Two Monmouth County developers and a business partner were arrested today on an Indictment accusing them, among other things, of bribing a sewer authority official to gain favor in getting sewerage service to their projects in Marlboro Township. AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
Meiterman et. al. News Release (.pdf)
Meiterman et. al. Indictment (.pdf)
12-01-06 -- CAMDEN -- A consultant/lobbyist pleaded guilty today to mail fraud and tax evasion charges contained in a two-count Information in connection with inflated and fradulent billings his company submitted to the Burlington County Bridge Commission. AUSA Joshua Drew, 856-968-4925.
12-01-06 -- TRENTON -- A member of a notorious Camden drug-trafficking gang who cooperated with the federal law enforcement authorities was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison. AUSAs Kevin T. Smith and Jason Richardson, 856-968-4928 and 856-968-4869, respectively.
11-30-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Clementon man was taken into federal custody today on a four-count federal Indictment charging him with weapons offenses for the purchase and possession of a firearm which was used in the murder of a 14-year-old boy in Lindenwold. Contact: Greg Reiner, PIO, 856-757-5233.
11-29-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal grand jury today indicted a Maplewood man on 16 counts of immigration fraud, mail fraud and making false statements to a government entity. AUSA Maureen Nakly, 973-645-2723.
Dorcant Superseding Indictment (.pdf)
11-28-06 -- NEWARK -- A Jersey City man who was the former business manager for the Brooklyn Day Montessori School in Brooklyn, N.Y. pleaded guilty today to embezzling between $120,000 and $200,000 in school funds from 2005 to 2006. AUSA James B. Nobile, 973-645-2766.
11-22-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Pine Hill man was sentenced to 88 months in federal prison today on a one-count Information charging possession of child pornography. AUSA Matthew Skahill, 856-968-4929.
11-22-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Camden man pleaded guilty today for his role in a string of gunpoint bank robberies. AUSA Jacqueline Carle, 856-968-4867.
11-21-06 -- NEWARK -- The former director of facilities for the Paterson Public School District was sentenced today to 43 months in federal prison for taking a total of $47,000 in cash and free construction work at this home from two contractors doing business with the school district. AUSA Jeffrey S. Chiesa, 973-645-2515.
11-21-06 -- NEWARK -- The former executive director of the Western Monmouth Utilities Authority was arrested today on an Indictment charging him with taking thousands of dollars worth of free or discounted home improvements and services from contractors and developers in exchange for exercising his authority in favor of those individuals. AUSA Richard E. Constable, III, 973-645-2719.
11-20-06 -- NEWARK -- The owner of a website called "LadyParadise.com" pleaded guilty today to sex tourism, admitting that he facilitated the travel of at least one other individual knowing that the purpose of the travel was for that person to engage in sexual activity with underage girls. AUSA Philip J. Degnan, 973-645-2713.
11-20-06 -- CAMDEN -- Four Philadelphia men were convicted by a federal jury today on conspiracy, robbery and gun charges in connection with a December 2005 home invasion robbery in which the occupants were bound with duct tape and a safe was stolen from the home. AUSAs Steven D'Aguanno and Howard Wiener, 856-757-5011, 856-968-4926, respectively.
Mines et al. News Release (.pdf)
11-16-06 -- NEWARK -- A former general manager of a vehicle services company that contracted with Neptune Township admitted today to taking $6,500 in bribes from a truck sales company that sold equipment to the township. AUSAs Hope S. Olds and Mark J. McCarren, 973-645-2764 and 2867, respectively.
11-16-06 -- NEWARK -- Two former top executives of a information technology company pleaded guilty today to their roles in a conspiracy to defraud dozens of private investors in the company of approximately $5.3 million. AUSA Robert Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
11-15-06 -- NEWARK -- Former West Long Branch Councilman Joseph DeLisa pleaded guilty today to extortion, admitting that he took a $1,500 cash bride in an Atlantic City hotel room from someone he believed to be a corrupt contractor seeking business with the borough. AUSAs Marc D. Larkins and Rachael A. Honig, 973-645-2704 and 2777, respectively.
11-14-06 -- NEWARK -- The government today filed civil charges against former Cendant Corp. Vice Chairman E. Kirk Shelton and 10 individuals, straw companies and trusts that received the fraudulent transfer of assets totaling more than $30 million. AUSA John Silbermann, 973-353-6094.
Shelton et al. Complaint (.pdf)
11-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- Two Camden cocaine wholesale suppliers and two leaders of a street corner drug set, along with two co-conspirators, one of whom operated a stash house and the other a street level drug dealer, were arraigned on a federal Superseding Indictment today for being part of a drug conspiracy that peddled powder and crack cocaine and protected its operations by threats and violence, including murder. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
Pimentel Superseding Indictment (.pdf)
11-08-06 -- NEWARK -- A business manager for a Hackensack anesthesiology practice pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, admitting that he embezzled at least $744,161 from the practice and failed to pay income taxes on the money. AUSA Thomas R. Calcagni, 973-645-2918.
11-06-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Mexican national was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute approximately 300 kilograms of cocaine and for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously deported. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
Ramos-Gonzalez News Release (.pdf)
11-06-06 -- NEWARK -- The operator of a chiropractic center in Fort Lee pleaded guilty today to defrauding Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield and other health care insurers out of more than $688,000 by submitting bogus claims for medical services. AUSA Amy S. Winkelman, 973-645-2906.
11-06-06 -- NEWARK -- U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced today that his office has established an Election Day Hotline to receive and respond to reports of election irregularities, voter intimidation or any other activities that would interfere with a citizen's right to vote throughout Election Day. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
11-03-06 -- NEWARK -- A Brooklyn man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for recruiting others to participate in a life insurance scam which defrauded Prudential Insurance of more than $500,000. AUSAs Robert A. Kirsch and Adam S. Lurie, 973-645-2846, 2749, respectively.
McCullough News Release (.pdf)
11-01-06 -- NEWARK -- A New York lawyer appeared in federal court today after being indicted in an embezzlement scheme that victimized a New Jersey union he represented as an attorney. AUSA V. Grady O'Malley, 973-645-2725.
11-01-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Cherry Hill man was indicted today on an extortion charge in connection with running an illegal sports gambling operation. AUSA Jacqueline Carle, 856-968-4867.
11-01-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Camden man was indicted today for murdering another Camden man in the furtherance of a cocaine and crack cocaine distribution conspiracy and for attempting to murder a witness to the murder. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
10-31-06 -- BRIDGEPORT, CONN. -- Walter A. Forbes, the former chairman of Cendant Corp., was convicted today on three of four counts against him - including conspiracy to commit securities fraud and to make false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission - in the third retrial against him for the massive accounting fraud at the company formerly known as Cendant. Contact: PIO, Michael P. Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
Forbes Superseding Indictment (.pdf)
10-31-06 -- TRENTON -- A Trenton man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison today for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. AUSA Jonathan D. Levy, 609-989-2258.
Gbanapolor News Release (.pdf)
10-31-06 -- CAMDEN -- A self-employed tax preparer pleaded guilty today to a two-count Indictment charging her with running a scheme to steal the federal tax refunds of her relatives and friends, which totaled well over $10,000. AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
10-31-06 -- NEWARK -- Lakewood Cheder School, a New Jersey non-profit corporation that operates a children's school in Lakewood, has agreed to pay the federal government more than $1,295,500 to settle allegations that it submitted false certifications for payment under the National School Lunch Program. AUSA Rudolph A. Filko, 973-645-2829.
Stipulation and Settlement Agreement (.pdf)
10-27-06 -- TRENTON -- A New York City man who led an interstate prostitution enterprise that recruited and prostituted minor girls in several U.S. cities pleaded guilty today in federal court. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869 and DOJ Trial Attorney Sherri A. Stephan , 202-353-4438.
Thompkins Superseding Information (.pdf)
10-26-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Fort Dix corrections officer and inmate pleaded guilty today to conspiring to smuggle and sell cellular telephones and tobacco products at the federal prison at Fort Dix. AUSA Richard E. Constable III, 973-645-2719.
10-24-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Texas man pleaded guilty today to a two-count Indictment for transporting counterfeit cashiers checks with face values totaling over $127,000 to Atlantic City and negotiating at least one of them at a casino. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
10-20-06 -- NEWARK -- A 20-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged for being the source of an Internet posting that threatened to detonate radioactive "dirty bombs" at football stadiums in seven states, including New Jersey. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
Brahm Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
10-18-06 -- NEWARK -- More than 125 individuals have been arrested nationwide, including 17 in New Jersey, on charges for subscribing to websites depicting hardcore child pornography involving children as young as infants engaged in sexual activities with adults. AUSAs Mark J. McCarren and Paul B. Matey, 973-645-2867, 2930, respectively.
Operation Emissary News Release (.pdf)
Bracht Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Brown Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Dulak Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Faccibene Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Fahey Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Gambale Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Hale Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Harris Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Knorr Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Lasher Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
McMichael Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Montemayor Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Morehouse Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Payne Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Reagor Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Santos Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Burke Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
10-16-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Florida man pleaded guilty today to his role in two intricate stock fraud and money laundering schemes that cost public investors more than $20 million in losses. AUSA R. Stephen Stigall, 856-757-5031.
10-13-06 -- CAMDEN -- A former police officer pleaded guilty today to a two-count Information in connection with his attempt to abduct a Galloway Township, N.J. minor for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct in Passaic County. AUSA Jacqueline Carle, 856-968-4867.
10-12-06 -- TRENTON -- A Monmouth Beach man was indicted today for robbing a bank in Red Bank of approximately $8,050. AUSA Eugenia A.P. Cowles, 609-989-2354.
10-12-06 -- NEWARK -- An Irvington lawyer, his wife and a third individual were arrested today on an eight-count federal Indictment charging them with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with immigration fraud. AUSA Adam S. Lurie, 973-645-2749.
Saint Preux News Release et al. (.pdf)
10-11-06 -- NEWARK -- Former Middletown committeeman Raymond J. O'Grady was sentenced today to 43 months in federal prison on his corruption convictions for taking more than $8,000 in cash bribes. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
10-11-06 -- NEWARK -- A Fair Haven man surrendered today and appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with extortion and filing a false tax return. AUSA Richard E. Constable, III, 973-645-2752.
10-11-06 -- CAMDEN -- The leader of a notorious drug-trafficking gang that peddled heroin, powder cocaine and crack cocaine and protected its operations by threats and violence was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison. AUSAs Kevin T. Smith and Jason Richardson, 856-968-4928, 4869, respectively.
10-05-06 -- NEWARK -- The former manager of the Newark Division of Sanitation was sentenced today to 45 months in prison for accepting $24,000 in corrupt payments from an East Newark waste-hauling company in exchange for exercising his influence in favor of the company. AUSAs Jeffrey S. Chiesa and John Fietkiewicz, 973-645-2515 and 2780, respectively.
10-04-06 -- CAMDEN -- Two Atlantic City councilmen pleaded guilty today, admitting that they both accepted bribes - one from an undercover FBI agent and a contractor working with the FBI, the other from a businessman seeking city contracts for an associate. AUSAs Thomas J. Eicher and Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885 and 973-353-6092, respectively.
Rosario et al. News Release (.pdf)
10-04-06 -- NEWARK -- A former loan officer at Independence Community Bank in Newark was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison for embezzling approximately $1.1 million from her former employer. AUSA Seth B. Kosto, 973-645-2737.
10-02-06 -- NEWARK -- The owner of Merit Technical Institute, a technical school formerly located in Newark, was sentenced today to a year and a day in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining approximately $392,000 from the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor. AUSA Donna A. Gallucio, 973-645-2786.
10-02-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal judge today sentenced a serial bank robber and career criminal to 90 years in prison for his jury convictions in February on all nine counts against him in connection with three armed robberies and one attempted robbery of banks in New Jersey. AUSAs Margaret Mahoney and Andrew D. Kogan, 973-645-2761 and 2754, respectively.
09-29-06 -- NEWARK -- Two New Jersey men have been indicted for orchestrating a $19 million computer equipment leasing and financing scheme that victimized major lenders. AUSAs Marc P. Ferzan and Kevin G. Walsh, 973-645-2783, 2909, respectively.
Dalmia et al. News Release (.pdf)
Dalmia et al. Indictment (.pdf)
09-26-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Camden man was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison today for robbing a U.S. Postal Service contractor of a registered mail pouch that contained $28,517 worth of U.S. currency, checks, money orders and Civil War medals. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
09-25-06 -- CAMDEN -- An Atlantic City man pleaded guilty today to a one-count Information charging him with the bank robbery of a Sun National Bank branch in Atlantic City. AUSA Kevin T. Smith, 856-968-4928.
09-22-06 -- TRENTON -- A federal judge today sentenced former Hazlet Mayor Paul A. Coughlin to two years in prison for taking a $3,000 cash bribe from a cooperating witness who Coughlin believed was a corrupt contractor. Contact: Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
09-21-06 -- NEWARK -- Amid jury selection for their impending racketeering trial, four members and one associate of a notorious set of the Bloods street gang in Essex County - including its leaders - pleaded guilty today, admitting among other things that each of them murdered at least one person. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
09-18-06 -- TRENTON -- A former Asbury Park Police Officer and another man were arrested on separate federal criminal complaints charging them with obstruction of justice in connection with the alleged theft of jewelry valued at over $2,000 that occurred during the execution of an arrest warrant. AUSA John J. Hoffman, 609-989-0579.
Montgomery et al. News Release (.pdf)
Montgomery Criminal Complaint(.pdf)
Rivera Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
09-18-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Camden man was arraigned on a two-count federal Indictment today for his role in a string of nine bank robberies that were committed at gunpoint. AUSA Jacqueline Carle, 856-968-4867.
09-15-06 -- NEWARK -- Former New Jersey State Senator John A. Lynch pleaded guilty today, admitting that he took concealed corrupt payments that were passed through two consulting companies, and that those payments were financed by a South Brunswick sand-mining company in return for Lynch’s official action and influence as a senator. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
Lynch & Westlake News Release(.pdf)
09-13-06 -- NEWARK -- U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and FBI Special Agent in Charge Leslie G. Wiser, Jr., announced today that members of the “Crips” street gang that were responsible for the distribution of crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and illegal firearms in East Orange, Irvington and Newark neighborhoods were arrested in a series of sweeps last night and this morning. AUSA Joseph R. Gribko, 973-645-2765.
Walker Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Corbin et al. Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Morales & Griffith Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Bridges et al. Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Johnson & McClain Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Hunt Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
09-12-06 -- NEWARK -- A Florham Park man was sentenced to concurrent 30 month terms in federal prison today for two counts of possession of child pornography. AUSA Philip James Degnan, 973-645-2713.
Chiarolanzio News Release (.pdf)
09-12-06 -- TRENTON -- A judge today sentenced three members of the militant animal rights group SHAC to federal prison sentences ranging from four to six years. AUSAs Charles McKenna and Ricardo Solano, 973-645-2716 and 2724, respectively.
09-12-06 -- TRENTON -- A Hudson County bar owner, pleaded guilty today to harboring illegal aliens, in connection with a human smuggling ring that brought young Honduran women into the U.S. and required them to work off smuggling debts that ranged from $10,000 to $20,000. AUSAs Ronald D. Wigler, Deborah J. Gannett and Camelia M. Valdes, 973-645-2822, 2781 and 2730, respectively.
09-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- A fireman with the City of Chester, Pa. Fire Department was arrested today on a one-count federal Indictment charging him with distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
Williams Newswil Release (.pdf)
09-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- The former president of eContent, Inc., a publicly traded company, pleaded guilty today to a two-count Information, charging him for his role in one scheme to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, and his laundering of the proceeds of a second fraud scheme. AUSA Eric M. Schweiker, 609-989-0566.
09-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Pennsville man was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison today on charges of selling rifles, shotguns and handguns without the required federal license to deal in firearms and for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
09-07-06 -- NEWARK -- The former royalty manager for the Songwriters Guild of America pleaded guilty today, admitting that she conspired with her daughter and another relative to steal more than $1.2 Million from the Guild. AUSA Adam S. Lurie, 973-645-2749.
09-07-06 -- CAMDEN -- A former federal grand juror pleaded guilty today to federal charges for tipping off the leader of a major Camden drug ring that the grand jury had indicted him and his codefendants, which allowed Darnell Tuten to avoid arrest for two-and-a-half months. AUSAs Kevin T. Smith and Jason Richardson, 856-968-4928, 4869, respectively.
09-06-06 -- NEWARK -- A Newark man who bought confidential credit card information from a former employee of MBNA Bank and then used that information to make unauthorized purchases billed to the unwitting credit card holders was sentenced today to 43 months in prison. AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
09-06-06 -- NEWARK -- A Nutley man pleaded guilty to federal drug charges today, admitting that he sold cocaine to someone who turned out to be a government cooperating witness. AUSA Ronald D. Wigler, 973-645-2822.
09-05-06 -- NEWARK -- Two Newark police officers pleaded guilty today to drug conspiracy charges for obtaining dozens of prescriptions for the drug OxyContin, filling the prescriptions and then selling the pills for cash. AUSAs Judith H. Germano and Jonathan Romankow, 973-645-2885, 2884, respectively.
Hernandez & Pomponio News Release (.pdf)
09-05-06 -- TRENTON -- A Trenton man was sentenced today to 145 months in federal prison for his conviction on drug and gun charges. AUSA Jonathan D. Levy, 609-989-2258.
08-30-06 -- NEWARK -- A Brooklyn woman pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to steal more than $1.2 Million from the Songwriters Guild of America. AUSA Adam S. Lurie, 973-645-2749.
08-30-06 -- CAMDEN -- A gas station attendant working at a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today on a charge of access device fraud. AUSA Deborah Prisinzano Mikkelsen, 856-757-5152.
08-30-06 -- CAMDEN -- A three-year South Jersey corruption investigation today netted guilty pleas to extortion from City Council president Craig Callaway and Camden Council member Ali Sloan El, both of whom admitted that they accepted bribes from a contractor, in exchange for municipal contracts; the contractor pleaded guilty to an unrelated drug conspiracy charge. AUSAs Thomas Eicher and Judith H. Germano, 973-353-6092 and 973-645-2885, respectively.
Ali Sloan El Information (.pdf)
08-29-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Pennsville man was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison today on charges of selling rifles, shotguns and handguns without the required federal license to deal in firearms and for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Contact: J. Gregory Reinert, PAO, 856-757-5233.
08-29-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Pennsville man was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison today on charges of selling rifles, shotguns and handguns without the required federal license to deal in firearms and for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
08-28-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Special Agent of the United States Secret Service surrendered himself today in connection with fraudulently acquiring a deceased woman’s pension funds and passing bad checks at a bank. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PAO, 973-645-2888.
08-25-06 -- TRENTON -- A doctor with offices in Stafford Township and Montclair was indicted today for a scheme in which he allegedly substituted a cheaper, unapproved drug for the brand name drug Botox. AUSA Eugenia A. P. Cowles, 609-989-2354.
08-25-06 -- NEWARK -- A Michigan man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring to conduct highly destructive computer attacks on competitors of his online sportswear business, including a web-based New Jersey company. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
08-24-06 -- NEWARK -- A contractor who performed millions of dollars worth of window installation and construction work for the Paterson Public School District was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for over billing the school district and providing concealed benefits to two school district officials. AUSAs Jeffrey Chiesa and Ricardo Solano, 973-645-2525 and 2724, respectively.
08-23-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Burlington City man was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison on the charge of manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes. AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
08-23-06 -- NEWARK -- An electronics technician with the Federal Aviation Administration in Atlantic County was arrested today and charged with obtaining federal workers’ disability compensation through fraud by running an aviation-related business on the side and failing to report income while receiving federal assistance. AUSA Anthony Moscato, 973-645-2752.
Bell Amended Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
08-22-06 -- TRENTON -- A former co-owner/operator of a Cape May County tax service pleaded guilty today to a one-count Information that charges he prepared and filed a materially fraudulent and false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. AUSA Eugenia A.P. Cowles, 609-989-2354.
08-18-06 -- CAMDEN -- A former New Jersey State Trooper was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today to his role in a conspiracy to extort money and stock through the use of threats, violence and fear. AUSA William E. Fitzpatrick, 856-757-5030.
08-16-06 -- NEWARK -- The former accounting manager for the Hoboken Housing Authority pleaded guilty today to embezzling funds totaling $111,083 from the general operating fund by writing checks to himself. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PAO, 973-645-2888.
08-15-06 -- NEWARK -- A Newark man pleaded guilty today to committing an armed bank robbery of the Union Center Bank in November 2003 and taking more than $48,000 in cash. AUSA Kevin G. Walsh, 973-645-2909.
08-15-06 -- TRENTON -- An illegal immigrant was sentenced today to six months in federal prison for transporting illegal aliens. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
08-11-06 -- TRENTON -- An Atlantic City man pleaded guilty today to executing a scheme to defraud Wachovia Bank through the use of false and fraudulent information during the loan application process for personal equity lines of credit with a total value of over $1.2 million. AUSA John J. Hoffman, 609-989-0579.
08-10-06 -- LYNDHURST, N.J. -- U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie today presented checks
totaling $1.65 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in New Jersey – money from court-imposed community service payments levied against two shipping companies that purposefully discharged oil and sludge into U.S. waters. Contact: Michael Drewniak, Public Affairs Officer, 973-645-2888.
08-09-06 -- TRENTON -- Two former government employees at Fort Monmouth, along with a daughter of one of the employees, pleaded guilty today to federal charges in connection with their scheme to have contractors provide no-show jobs for the daughter, and pay kickbacks to one of the employees. AUSA Eric M. Schweiker, 609-989-0566.
Rzeplinski et al. News Release
08-08-06 -- NEWARK -- The president and technical administrator of “Regpay,” a Belarus-based child pornography and money-laundering enterprise, were both sentenced to 25 years in federal prison today for their roles in running the internet child pornography operation, which catered to thousands of subscribers worldwide. AUSA Kevin M. O'Dowd, 973-297-2098.
08-08-06 -- NEWARK -- A Carteret man was sentenced to 481 months in federal prison today on drug trafficking and possession of a weapon in the furtherance of drug trafficking charges. AUSAs Camelia Valdes and Joseph N. Minish, 973-645-2730 and 973-297-2012.
08-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- The president of a New Orleans-area company was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison today for having his company defraud New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson of more than $700,000 between 2001 and 2003. AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
08-08-06 -- NEWARK -- An East Orange man was federal indicted today on charges in connection with the carjacking of a couple in East Orange, in which a male victim was pistol-whipped and a female victim suffered a gunshot wound to the head. AUSA Joseph R. Gribko, 973-645-2765.
08-04-06 -- NEWARK -- The wife of a Russian entertainment promoter was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison today for conspiring with him and another co-defendant to extort money from two Russian women, who were among at least 25 others brought illegally into the United States to dance in New Jersey strip clubs. AUSAs Leslie F. Schwartz and Melissa Jampol, 973-645-3986, 2772, respectively.
08-04-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Fort Lee man pleaded guilty late yesterday to structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements on financial institutions and credit card fraud. AUSAs Joshua W. Drew and Allen Harberg, Jr., 856-968-4925, 856-757-5231, respectively.
08-04-06 -- TRENTON -- U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and DEA Special Agent in Charge Gerard P. McAleer, along with Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin, announced today that major cocaine distribution networks that were responsible for the distribution of large quantities of both crack and powder cocaine in the Asbury Park area have been dismantled in a series of arrests on federal Indictments and state Criminal Complaints. AUSA John J. Hoffman, 609-989-0579.
Markham et. al. Indictment (.pdf)
Ruffin et. al. Indictment (.pdf)
08-03-06 -- TRENTON -- Three people pleaded guilty today, all members of a ring operating in the United States and Honduras that smuggled young Honduran women into the U.S. and required them to work off their smuggling debts in bars in Hudson County. AUSAs Ronald D. Wigler and Camelia M. Valdes, 973-645-2822 and 2730, respectively.
08-01-06 -- NEWARK -- The former fire marshal for Monmouth County was sentenced today to six months in prison to be followed by five months of house arrest for accepting and agreeing to accept a bribe payment. Contact: PIO Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
07-28-06 -- NEWARK -- Two co-owners and a salesman at a Monmouth County truck and equipment company were charged today with bribing numerous government officials in Monmouth and Ocean counties in exchange for steering municipal truck sales to their company. Contact: PIO Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
Appolonia et al. Indictment (.pdf)
07-27-06 -- TRENTON -- A Trenton man was indicted today for selling crack cocaine on three occasions to an undercover law enforcement officer. AUSA Patrick C. Askin, 609-989-2020.
07-26-06 -- NEWARK -- A Texas man was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in federal prison for sending threatening email to a Princeton Seminary student. AUSA Eugenia A.P. Cowles, 609-989-2354.
07-26-06 -- CAMDEN -- Three employees of a contractor working at a U.S. General Services Administration’s distribution center in Burlington were indicted today for allegedly stealing government property valued at more than $300,000. AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
07-26-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Fort Dix corrections officer and inmate were charged today with conspiring to smuggle and sell cellular telephones and tobacco products at the federal prison at Fort Dix. Contact: PIO Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
Gamache et al Criminal Complaint
07-26-06 -- NEWARK -- A former financial manager at the Salvation Army pleaded guilty today to embezzling $385,760 in rental assistance funds from the Salvation Army between 1995 and 2002. Contact: PIO Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
07-25-06 -- TRENTON -- A Somerset County Jail inmate pleaded guilty today to sending letters – from the jail and in his own name – in which he demanded money and threatened to bomb buildings and send anthrax-laced letters to New Jersey offices of the FBI and Secret Service, as well as the Somerville Post office and two bank branches. Contact: PIO Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
07-25-06 -- NEWARK -- The son of a former manager at Picatinny Arsenal pleaded guilty today in federal court, admitting that he used his mother’s government-issued credit card to embezzle approximately $25,744 in government funds. AUSA Lisa Rose, 973-645-2869.
07-25-06 -- NEWARK -- A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty today to recruiting others to participate in a life insurance scam which defrauded Prudential Insurance of more than $500,000. AUSAs Robert Kirsch and Adam Lurie, 973-645-2846, 2749, respectively.
07-24-06 -- NEWARK -- A former senior officer of the Philippines National Police (PNP) admitted today that he received documents containing national defense information from a former U.S. Marine who worked at times under two administrations in the Office of the Vice President of the United States and as an intelligence analyst of the FBI. Contact: PIO, Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
07-24-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal court jury today convicted a notorious and violent heroin and cocaine trafficker of all 11 counts against him for conspiracy and money laundering in connection with his leadership of a ring that sold thousands of pounds of drugs in Essex and Union county neighborhoods over at least five years. Contact: PIO, Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
07-20-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to a two-count Superseding Information for his role in a conspiracy to distribute approximately 300 kilograms of cocaine and for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
07-19-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal jury today convicted a disgruntled former UBS Paine Webber systems administrator of securities and computer fraud connected to his use of a malicious code, known as a “logic bomb,” that disrupted the company’s operations and caused more than $3 million in damage and repair costs to the UBS computer network. AUSAs Mauro Wolfe and V. Grady O'Malley, 973-645-2825, 2725, respectively.
07-19-06 -- NEWARK -- An organized crime associate formerly of Nutley pleaded guilty in federal court today for the 1989 murder of a union official with Local 478 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. AUSA Steven D'Aguanno, 856-757-5011.
07-13-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Fair Lawn business owner pleaded guilty today to defrauding credit card companies of as much as $2.5 million through bogus charges at his business and elsewhere, AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
07-13-06 -- CAMDEN -- A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier pleaded guilty today to a two-count Indictment for stealing U.S. Treasury checks from mail she was to deliver and her deceased mother’s monthly Social Security benefits. AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
07-13-06 -- TRENTON -- A Ewing Man was charged in a federal Superseding Indictment today in connection with thefts totaling approximately $496,000 from bank teller drawers and automated teller machines at a Wachovia Bank branch in Ewing. AUSA Peter Katz, 609-989-0565.
07-12-06 -- NEWARK -- A south Florida man pleaded guilty today to operating an investment scheme involving foreign currencies which were sold through a New Jersey boiler room and which defrauded victims of more than $2.5 million. AUSA Robert A. Kirsch, 973- 645-2846.
07-10-06 -- CAMDEN -- A self-employed tax preparer and her son were charged in a federal Indictment unsealed today with running a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by having clients’ tax return payments routed to bank accounts that the defendants controlled. AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
07-06-06 -- NEWARK -- A property manager for the Kushner Companies of Florham Park pleaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion, admitting he knowingly failed to claim $30,000 in income for tax year 2001. AUSAs Thomas J. Eicher and Rachael A. Honig, 973-645-6092, 2777, respectively.
07-06-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Gloucester Township man pleaded guilty today to a two-count Information charging possession of unauthorized access devices and bank fraud. AUSA Deborah Prisinzano Mikkelsen, 856-757-5152.
06-29-06 -- CAMDEN -- An Evesham man pleaded guilty today to a one-count Superseding Information charging possession of child pornography. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
06-29-06 -- NEWARK -- An Arizona man who was the administrator and co-founder of the one of the largest online centers for trafficking in stolen credit and bank card numbers and identity information was sentenced today to 32 months in federal prison. AUSA Kevin M. O'Dowd, 973-297-2098.
06-28-06 -- NEWARK -- A former loan officer at Independence Community Bank pleaded guilty Tuesday to a one-count Information charging her with embezzling approximately $1.1 million from her former employer. AUSA Seth Kosto, 973-645-2737.
06-27-06 -- NEWARK -- A 65-year-old Newark man, whose two sons were sentenced in April to long prison terms, today was sentenced to 135 months in prison for conspiring with them and others to distribute the drug oxycontin between Newark and drug dealers in Connecticut and Boston. AUSAs Ronald D. Wigler and Andrew Kogan, 973-645-2822, 2754, respectively.
06-26-06 -- NEWARK -- A Roseland man pleaded guilty today to federal loansharking charges. AUSA Ronald D. Wigler, 973-645-2822.
06-23-06 -- NEWARK -- A former New York City corrections officer pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy which defrauded Prudential Insurance Company of more than $500,000. AUSAs Robert Kirsch and Adam Lurie, 973-645-2846, 2749, respectively.
06-19-06 -- NEWARK -- An owner of a Linden trucking company was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for bribing a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer with $2,000 and the promise of other gifts. AUSA Joyce Malliet, 973-645-2876.
06-19-06 -- NEWARK -- A Filipino man admitted today to conspiring to smuggle more than 25 illegal aliens through Newark Liberty International Airport. AUSA Seth B. Kosto, 973-645-2737.
06-19-06 -- TRENTON -- A Trenton man was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for committing a bank robbery in which $176,000 was taken from a bank’s vault. AUSA Eric M. Schweiker, 856-757-5233.
06-16-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Somers Point man was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison today for his conviction in a scheme to smuggle flu vaccines into the United States and attempting to sell the unapproved vaccines to Shore Memorial Hospital. AUSAs R. Stephen Stigall and Eugenia A.P. Cowles, 856-757-5031 and 609-989-2354, respectively.
06-15-06 -- NEWARK -- Bryan Clarke, 21, and Cedric Morton, 22, both from Westchester County, N.Y, were sentenced today to long terms in federal prison for their roles in a 2004 armed carjacking of a woman in a shopping center in Edison, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie, announced. AUSA Robert Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
06-15-06 -- NEWARK -- Saint Barnabas Corporation, the largest health care system in New Jersey and second largest employer in the state, has agreed to pay the United States $265 million to settle allegations that it defrauded the federal Medicare program, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney's for New Jersey announced today.
St. Barnabas News Release (.pdf)
St. Barnabas Settlement Agreement (.pdf)
St. Barnabas Corporate Integrity Agreement (.pdf)
06-14-06 -- NEWARK -- A Camden corporation and its officer yesterday admitted illegally exporting Sparrow Missile parts to China after obtaining the parts as military surplus items from the U.S. Department of Defense and, instead of smelting them as required, sold them to a Chinese-owned company for export to China. AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
State Metals Industries, Inc. (SMI) & Dorfman News Release
State Metals Industries, Inc. (SMI) Information (.pdf)
06-09-06 -- TRENTON -- A Trenton man was convicted by a federal jury today for assaulting a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier. AUSA John J. Hoffman, 609-989-0579.
06-09-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Camden man was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison today for assaulting and robbing a U.S. Postal Service contractor of a registered mail pouch that contained $28,517 worth of U.S. currency, checks, money orders and Civil War medals. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
06-09-06 -- NEWARK -- An Elizabeth man with a lengthy criminal record was sentenced today to 188 months in federal prison for a carjacking in Jersey City last year, in which he forced his way into an SUV driven by an employee of the FBI and then ran over her. AUSA Kevin G. Walsh, 973-645-2909.
06-09-06 -- NEWARK -- Mesivta Sanz of Hudson County, a New Jersey non-profit corporation that operates a children’s school in Union City, has paid the federal government more than $469,000 to settle allegations that it submitted false certifications for payment under the National School Lunch Program. AUSA Rudolph A. Filko, 973-645-2829.
Stipulation and Settlement Agreement (.pdf)
06-08-06 -- NEWARK -- Former Middletown committeeman Raymond J. O'Grady was convicted today on all five corruption charges against him in connection with his taking of more than $10,000 in cash bribes. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2788.
06-08-06 -- NEWARK -- A former employee of MBNA Bank in Newark who stole confidential credit card information and then sold it to an associate who made unauthorized purchases was sentenced today to a year in prison. AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
06-07-06 -- NEWARK -- A Miami man who purported to be a legitimate wholesaler of Internet-based phone services was arrested today for allegedly running a sophisticated fraud, by secretly hacking into the computer networks of unsuspecting Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone service providers, including one Newark-based company, to route his customers’ calls.
Pena Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Moore Criminal Complaint - (Filed Late Today) (.pdf)
06-06-06 -- TRENTON -- A former financial analyst for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation pleaded guilty Tuesday to mail fraud, admitting he diverted matching charitable gifts from his former employer to himself. AUSA Scott McBride, 973-645-2708.
06-05-06 -- TRENTON -- Joseph Lore, convicted in December 2001 of embezzling money from International Longshoremen's Association Local 1588 of Bayonne, was arraigned today on a charge of tampering with a witness during a federal trial, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.
06-02-06 -- CAMDEN -- An operator of an East Newark waste-hauling company today admitted defrauding the Newark Division of Sanitation by charging the city for trash transfer station fees for waste picked up from private, non-municipal accounts. AUSAs Jeffrey S. Chiesa and John Fietkiewicz, 973-645-2515, 2780, respectively.
06-02-06 -- CAMDEN -- A leader of a major heroin and crack cocaine distribution ring in Camden was sentenced to life plus 85 years in federal prison today for his conviction on drug and weapons charges, in which the jury found that the defendant, along with his co-defendants, conspired to protect their drug operation through the use of violence that included the murders of three people. AUSAs Kevin Smith and Jason Richardson, 856-968-4928 and 4869, respectively.
05-25-06 -- NEWARK -- A Staten Island man pleaded guilty today to five counts of conspiracy in connection with his operation of a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical distribution company that sold stolen prescription drugs. AUSA Kevin G. Walsh, 973-645-2909.
05-24-06 -- TRENTON -- The former leader of an Asbury Park heroin distribution network was sentenced today to 175 months in federal prison. AUSA John J. Hoffman, 609-989-0579.
05-24-06 -- CAMDEN -- A gas station attendant working at a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike pleaded guilty today to a charge of access device fraud. AUSA Deborah Prisinzano Mikkelsen, 856-757-5152.
05-24-06 -- NEWARK -- Former Sussex County political party chairman Charles W. Cart pleaded guilty today to two counts of conspiracy, admitting that he used his health benefits management company to pilfer from and ultimately bankrupt the labor union he once founded. AUSAs V. Grady O'Malley and Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2725 and 2885, respectively.
05-23-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Pennsville man pleaded guilty today to charges of selling rifles, shotguns and handguns without the required federal license to deal in firearms and for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
05-18-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal grand jury has returned a 13-count Indictment against a Branchville, N.J.-based military contractor, its president and three senior managers on charges related to fraudulent activities surrounding the production of deficient air filters for Army and Marine tanks designed to protect personnel from exposure to nuclear, biological and chemical contaminants. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
Parmatic Filter Corporation et.al. News Release
Parmatic Filter Corporation et. al. Indictment (.pdf)
05-17-06 -- CAMDEN -- A major drug-trafficking gang known as the “M.O.B. Boys,” which protected its operations by threats and violence, including murder, has been dismantled in a series of early morning raids today. Contact: PIO, Greg Reinert, 856-757-5233.
05-12-06 -- CAMDEN -- An Atlantic City gambler pleaded guilty today to wire fraud charges for his scheme to defraud more than 80 women across the United States whom he had targeted through the use of phone dating services. AUSAs Ronald Chillemi and Matthew Skahill, 856-757-5232 and 856-968-4929.
05-12-06 -- CAMDEN -- A former southern New Jersey high school teacher was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison today for possession of child pornography. AUSA Jacqueline Carle, 856-968-4867.
05-12-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal grand jury today returned an Indictment charging a citizen of the Philippines with smuggling unlawful aliens into the United States through Newark Liberty International Airport. AUSA Seth Kosto, 973-645-2737.
Calderon Original Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
05-11-06 -- NEWARK -- A Monmouth County real estate developer was charged today with scheming to defraud PNC Bank out of $50 million. AUSA Brian R. Howe, 973-645-2853.
Dwek Crimimal Complaint (.pdf)
05-11-06 -- NEWARK -- A Jersey City man who served on a grand jury that indicted two former executives of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) was charged today with contempt of court for violating his duty of grand jury secrecy by assisting others to commit insider trading based on information he disclosed leading up to the indictment. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
Smith Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
05-09-06 -- NEWARK -- A former manager at Picatinny Arsenal and her 19-year-old son were arrested and charged today with conspiracy to embezzle approximately $50,231 using a government-issued credit card for purchases of gift cards, computers and more. AUSA Lisa Rose, 973-645-2869.
Peterson et al. Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
05-05-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal grand jury today indicted an Indian national on 29 counts of immigration fraud, mail fraud and money laundering and also seeks the forfeiture of more than $5.7 million and two late model luxury cars. AUSA Adam S. Lurie, 973-645-2749.
05-04-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Marine who worked at times under two administrations in the Office of the Vice President of the United States pleaded guilty today to espionage and other charges, admitting that he took and transferred classified information, including national defense documents, to senior political and government officials of the Republic of the Philippines in an attempt to destabilize and overthrow that country’s government. Contact: Michael P. Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
05-04-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Pennsville man pleaded guilty today to charges of selling rifles, shotguns and handguns without the required federal license to deal in firearms and for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
05-03-06 -- NEWARK -- Rutgers-Newark Police Institute’s Greater Newark Safer Cities Initiative was one of 15 organizations to be recognized this week for its gang violence and gun prevention strategy at a national conference of members of the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Contact: Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2877.
Project Safe Neighborhoods News Release
05-01-06 -- NEWARK -- Three company owner/operators of a Mount Laurel business were sentenced to federal prison terms and one to a period of home confinement today on charges that they used their business to illegally transfer sensitive national-security controlled items to state-sponsored research institutes within the People’s Republic of China. AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
Manten Electronics Inc., et al. News Release
04-28-06 -- CAMDEN -- The manager of a drug “set” that was part of a major heroin and crack cocaine distribution ring in Camden was sentenced to life plus 30 years in federal prison today for his conviction on drug and weapons charges. AUSAs Kevin Smith and Jason Richardson, 856-968-4928 and 4869, respectively.
04-27-06 -- TRENTON -- Two former government employees at Fort Monmouth, along with a daughter of one of the employees, were indicted today on federal charges in connection with their scheme to have contractors provide no-show jobs for the daughter, and pay kickbacks to one of the employees. AUSA Eric M. Schweiker, 609-989-0566.
Rzeplinski et al. News Release
04-27-06 -- TRENTON -- A Red Bank builder pleaded guilty today to a four-count Information charging tax evasion and agreed to pay approximately $940,500 in taxes due and penalties owed. AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
04-26-06 -- TRENTON -- Phillipsburg-based Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. (a division of McWane, Inc. of Alabama) and four company officials were found guilty today of committing flagrant abuses of environmental and worker safety laws. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
04-26-06 -- TRENTON -- Two Newark men who were part of a gang of individuals who committed armed robberies of check-cashing stores in Englewood, Parsippany and South River were both sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison. AUSA Richard E. Constable, III, 973-645-2719.
04-25-06 -- NEWARK -- Two brothers arrested last summer were sentenced today to long federal prison terms for conspiring to distribute the drug oxycontin between Newark and drug dealers in Connecticut and Boston. AUSA Ronald D. Wigler and Andrew Kogan, 973-645-2822 and 2754, respectively.
04-24-06 -- NEWARK -- Three New York men pleaded guilty today to their roles in a gambling ring that was based in Philadelphia and took bets from people in Monmouth County and elsewhere. AUSA Richard E. Constable, III, 973-645-2719.
04-21-06 -- NEWARK -- A Florida man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to embezzle union funds, admitting his role in an embezzlement scheme that victimized a Newton-based union and contributed to the bankruptcy of its health fund. AUSAs V. Grady O'Malley and Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2725, and 2885, respectively.
04-21-06 -- NEWARK -- A Syrian national was sentenced today to 25 months in prison for recruiting more than a dozen others to commit fraudulent credit card “bust outs” in New Jersey over a four-year span ending in 2002. AUSA Coleen F. Middleton, 973-645-2726.
04-18-06 -- NEWARK -- The jailed leader or “Five Star General” of the Bloods “Sex, Money, Murder - 252” street gang was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for running a racketeering enterprise that controlled parts of Jersey City through murder conspiracy, attempted murder, assault and witness intimidation. AUSAs Karl H. Buch and Aidan P. O'Connor, 973-645-2779 and 6546, respectively.
04-17-06 -- NEWARK -- A Former West Long Branch councilman was indicted today for conspiring with another public official to accept corrupt cash payments and campaign contributions totaling approximately $15,500 from an unnamed developer and an associate who were seeking influence and approval to construct a drugstore in West Long Branch. AUSAs Marc Larkins and Rachael A. Honig, 973-645-2704 and 2777, respectively.
04-13-06 -- TRENTON -- The owner of a defunct Wayne-based health benefits management company was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for mail fraud and tax evasion for misleading subscribing participants and employers about the management of premium payments and embezzling from commingled accounts, all of which ran the business into bankruptcy. AUSA Lorraine S. Gerson, 973-645-2789.
04-13-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal grand jury today returned an Indictment against an Internal Revenue Service revenue agent, charging him with seven counts of preparing fraudulent returns, tax evasion and structuring. AUSA Thomas R. Calcagni, 973-645-2918.
04-13-06 -- NEWARK -- A former officer of the non-profit charity “100 Black Men of New Jersey” was arrested today on charges that he defrauded the organization of more than $150,000 during his tenure as executive vice-president. AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
04-13-06 -- NEWARK -- An East Orange man was arrested today, charged in a Indictment with making false claims against the United States by preparing and filing false federal income tax returns which generated false refunds of thousands of dollars for each tax return. AUSA Stacey Levin, 973-645-2760.
04-12-06 -- NEWARK -- A Japanese shipping company admitted today that it intentionally failed to maintain required records concerning overboard discharges of oil sludge and oil-contaminated bilge water from one of its cargo ships, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency announced today. AUSA Thomas R. Calcagni, 973-645-2918.
MK Shipmanagement News Release
MK Shipmanagement Information (.pdf)
04-12-06 -- NEWARK -- The manager of the Newark Division of Sanitation pleaded guilty today, admitting that he accepted $24,000 in corrupt payments from an East Newark waste-hauling company in exchange for exercising his influence in favor of the company. AUSAs Jeffrey S. Chiesa and John Fietkiewicz, 973-645-2515, 2780, respectively.
04-12-06 -- NEWARK -- A Michigan man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to conduct highly destructive computer attacks on competitors of his online sportswear business, including a web-based New Jersey company. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
04-11-06 -- CAMDEN -- An Edgewater Park man was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison today on his conviction for using stolen identities to defraud three Philadelphia-area banks of more than $230,000. AUSA Howard Wiener, 856-968-4926.
04-11-06 -- TRENTON -- A former Army logistics management specialist was sentenced today to 20 months in federal prison for his scheme to defraud the United States and the Department of Defense of more than $151,000 through the submission of false travel vouchers. AUSA John J. Hoffman, 609-989-0579.
04-11-06 -- CAMDEN -- A former New Jersey State Trooper pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy to extort money and stock through the use of threats, violence and fear. AUSA William E. Fitzpatrick, 856-757-5030.
04-10-06 -- NEWARK -- The owner of Merit Technical Institute, a technical school formerly located in Newark, pleaded guilty today to a federal fraud charge, admitting that he fraudulently obtained approximately $392,000 from the U.S. Department of Education and Labor. AUSA Donna Gallucio, 973-645-2786.
04-10-06 -- NEWARK -- A Superseding Indictment was returned today charging a prominent member of the real-estate partnerships controlled by Charles Kushner and two members of the partnerships’ outside accounting firm with conspiracy and tax fraud. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
Plotkin et al. Superseding Indictment (.pdf)
04-07-06 -- NEWARK -- A former financial manager at the Salvation Army was arrested today for embezzling money from the Salvation Army that was intended to provide rental assistance to persons with low income. AUSA Bradley A. Harsch, 973-645-2734.
04-06-06 -- TRENTON -- A former Newark school teacher was sentenced today to 40 months in prison for conspiring to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without having a federal license to do so. AUSA R. Joseph Gribko, 973-645-2765.
04-06-06 -- CAMDEN -- Former Superior Court Judge Stephen W. Thompson was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today for traveling to Russia to have sex with a young teenage boy for the purpose of producing a videotape and then transporting that videotape back to the United States. AUSAs Jacqueline M. Carle and Steven D'Aguanno, 856-968-4867 and 856-757-5011, respectively.
04-05-06 -- NEWARK -- A New York man was being detained following his arrest on a charge of conspiring to sell counterfeit United States currency, after agents discovered approximately $3 million in counterfeit notes in his Manhattan apartment. AUSA Nicole M. Kim, 973-645-2864.
Polanco Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
04-05-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Staten Island, N.Y., dentist and a former employee were indicted today on conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering charges for operating a scheme to fraudulently obtain $1.36 million in mortgages and spending the proceeds on luxury items including the purchase of a 46-foot yacht, a North Carolina residence and a GMC Yukon Denali. AUSAs Joshua Drew and Matthew Skahill, 856-968-4925, 4929, respectively.
Stradford et al Indictment (.pdf)
04-03-06 -- CAMDEN -- An Absecon man pleaded guilty today to a one-count Information charging him with distribution of more than one kilogram of heroin at various locations throughout Atlantic County. AUSA Allen Harberg, Jr., 856-757-5231.
03-31-06 -- NEWARK -- A prominent West Orange plastic surgeon pleaded guilty today to evading federal taxes on unreported income, admitting that he regularly took payment from patients and hid the income by depositing it in personal accounts rather than accounts of the medical practice, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and IRS Special Agent in Charge Patricia J. Haynes announced today. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
03-30-06 -- CAMDEN -- An Egg Harbor City doctor and her co-conspirator were arrested today on a federal Indictment alleging they defrauded patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease,". AUSAs Eugenia A.P. Cowles and R. Stephen Stigall, 609-989-2354, 856-757-5031, respectively.
DeMarco et al. Indictment (.pdf)
03-29-06 -- NEWARK -- A Newark man admitted today that he obtained credit card information from an employee of MBNA Bank and then used that information to make unauthorized purchases that were billed to unwitting credit card holders whose information had been stolen. AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
03-29-06 -- NEWARK -- A former real estate broker, loan officer, closing attorney and Ecuadoran immigrant pleaded guilty today to their roles in a conspiracy to “flip” properties in Union County and defraud the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of more than $300,000. AUSA Richard E. Constable III, 973-645-2719.
03-28-06 -- NEWARK -- Four men, including a former corrections officer, and a woman from Monmouth County were indicted today on federal weapons charges for selling a dozen guns and a bullet-proof vest and attempting to sell a live hand grenade to a government cooperating witness. AUSA Joseph R. Gribko, 973-645-2765.
Velba, et al. Indictment (.pdf)
03-27-06 -- NEWARK -- A former New Jersey real estate investor was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for conspiring with others to commit mortgage fraud by inducing the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to insure mortgage loans for unqualified buyers, enabling he and his co-defendants to earn huge profits on the sale of run-down properties. AUSA Richard E. Constable, 973-645-2719.
03-27-06 -- NEWARK -- The owner of a Newark-based commercial flooring business which performed flooring and construction services for the Paterson Public School District pleaded guilty today to making concealed payments to a school district official in exchange for facilitating the receipt of contracting work and the renewal of contracts. AUSAs Richard E. Constable and Jeffrey S. Chiesa, 973-645-2719, 2515, respectively.
03-24-06 -- NEWARK -- Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty today, admitting that they bilked their former employer in a $1 million international fraud scheme. AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
03-22-06 -- NEWARK -- A woman responsible for running and operating so-called “Sociedads” for the collection of smuggling fees from young Honduran women pleaded guilty today to her role in a human trafficking ring. AUSA Ronald D. Wigler, 973-645-2822.
03-22-06 -- NEWARK -- A Singapore shipping company pleaded guilty today to charges that it conspired to obstruct justice, make false statements and violate the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships through the use of a concealed “magic pipe” to discharge oil sludge and oil-contaminated waste overboard from one of its ships, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency announced today. AUSA Thomas R. Calcagni, 973-645-2918.
Joint Factual Statement (.pdf)
03-21-06 -- NEWARK -- A jury today convicted a former Customs and Border Protection officer of bribery and attempting to conceal an illegal alien from detection in the United States. AUSA James Nobile, 973-645-2766.
03-21-06 -- NEWARK -- A Bergen County contractor in the business of oil tank removal was sentenced today to 22 months in federal prison for filing a false personal income tax return for tax year 1994. AUSA James Nobile, 973-645-2766.
03-17-06 -- NEWARK -- A jury today convicted two Florida men on all counts in connection with an international commodities fraud scheme and “boiler room” operation, in which investors in New Jersey and across the country lost at least $13 million. AUSAs Robert Kirsch and Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2846, 2879, respectively.
Hoffecker et al Indictment (.pdf)
03-14-06 -- NEWARK -- The former fire marshal for Monmouth County pleaded guilty today to accepting and agreeing to accept a bribe payment. AUSAs Marc D. Larkins and Mark J. McCarren, 973-645-2700.
03-13-06 -- NEWARK -- A former accountant at Wellesley Services, LLC, the now-defunct company operated by convicted Bergen County con-man Thomas Giacomaro, pleaded guilty today, admitting that he assisted in concealing the funneling of millions of dollars in investor money to Giacomaro and other co-conspirators while falsely recording the expenditures in Wellesley’s books as purported legitimate “business expenses. AUSAs Michael Buchanan and Rachael Honig, 973-645-2778 and 2777, respectively.
03-10-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Queens, N.Y. man was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison today on drug distribution charges for selling methamphetamine, ecstasy and ketamine in Atlantic City. AUSA Eric M. Schweiker, 609-989-0566.
03-09-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Staten Island, N.Y. man was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison today for distributing more than 100,000 Ecstasy pills through nightclubs in New Jersey coastal communities. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
03-09-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Camden man pleaded guilty today to a three-count Information charging him with an armed robbery at the Glendora U.S. Post Office of $28,517 worth of currency, checks, money orders and Civil War medals, and two thefts at the Blackwood Post Office taking currency, checks and money orders worth a total of $73,061. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
03-08-06 -- TRENTON -- A former bank manager and former bank teller were both sentenced today to prison terms for their roles in a scheme to defraud an Ocean County bank of approximately $442,000. AUSA John J. Hoffman, 609-989-0579.
03-07-06 -- NEWARK -- Three New York men, including paroled organized crime figure Angelo Prisco, were arrested today on a one-count criminal complaint charging them for an alleged 2004 extortion conspiracy. AUSA Steven D'Aguanno, 856-757-5011.
Prisco et al. Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
03-02-06 -- TRENTON -- A federal jury today convicted a militant animal rights group and six of its members on all counts for their roles in a campaign to terrorize officers, employees and shareholders of a company that used animals for laboratory research and testing, as well as companies that did business with the lab and their employees. Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO, 973-645-2888.
SHAC Superseding Indictment (.pdf)
02-24-06 -- NEWARK -- Monmouth County Developer Moshe G. Gohar turned himself in to the FBI this morning on charges of conspiracy, bribery and fraud for paying former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance D. Weldon $50,000 to gain zoning approvals for a Gohar development project in Ocean Township. AUSA Brian R. Howe, 973-645-2853.
02-24-06 -- NEWARK -- An Elizabeth man pleaded guilty today to a carjacking in Jersey City last May, in which he forced his way into an SUV driven by an employee of the FBI and then ran over her. AUSA Kevin Walsh, 973-645-2909.
02-23-06 -- CAMDEN -- Four Philadelphia men have been charged in an eight-count Indictment unsealed today with conspiracy, robbery and gun charges for a December 2005 home invasion robbery in which the residents where bound with duct tape and a safe was stolen from the home. AUSA Steven D'Aguanno, 856-757-5011.
02-23-06 -- TRENTON -- A Trenton man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison today for possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. AUSA Peter Katz, 609-989-0565.
02-22-06 -- CAMDEN -- Joseph Foy Sr., the former mayor of Burlington Township, pleaded guilty today to a four-count Information charging tax evasion for his failure to claim income derived from for-profit golf tournaments during tax years 1999 through 2002. Deputy U.S. Attorney, William E. Fitzpatrick, 856-757-5030.
02-21-06 -- NEWARK -- A former New Jersey business owner pleaded guilty today to failing to report more than $1.9 million in income he received as part of a multimillion dollar fraud scheme. AUSA Deborah J. Gannett, 973-645-2781.
02-17-06 -- TRENTON -- A former truck driver, who falsely claimed to have been injured and permanently disabled in the terror attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for making fraudulent personal-injury claims to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Contact: Greg Reinert, PAO, 856-757-5233.
02-17-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Mexican national was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison today on the charge trafficking in false authentication features for use in making fake U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Resident Alien cards. AUSA Matthew Skahill, 856-968-4929.
02-17-06 -- NEWARK -- Two union officials were arrested today on a three-count Indictment charging them in an embezzlement scheme that victimized Local 190 of the American Postal Workers Union in Clifton. AUSA V. Grady O'Malley, 973-645-2725.
McGovern et al. Indictment (.pdf)
02-17-06 -- NEWARK -- A Parsippany man was sentenced today to two years probation on a federal charge of interfering with pilots of a passenger aircraft by shining a hand-held laser into the cockpit of a plane on approach to Teterboro Airport. Contact: Michael Drewniak, 973-645-2888.
02-16-06 -- NEWARK -- The owner of a now-defunct Hackensack business that bought and sold wooden pallets today admitted filing false federal tax returns. AUSA Donna Gallucio, 973-645-2786.
02-14-06 -- CAMDEN -- A Mexican national pleaded guilty today to a two-count Superseding Information for his role in a conspiracy to distribute approximately 300 kilograms of cocaine and for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported. AUSA Howard Wiener, 856-968-4926.
02-09-06 -- NEWARK -- Acting on an investigation by the federal Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Marshal’s Service today seized thousands of liters of adulterated and mislabeled extra virgin olive oil and pomace olive oil from a Clifton warehouse. Contacts: Michael Drewniak, U.S. Attorney's Office, 973-645-2888, Catherine McDermott, FDA, 301-827-6242 and Michael Schroeder, Marshal's Service, 973-390-7307.
Olive Oil Forfeiture Complaint (.pdf)
Olive Oil Seizure Warrant (.pdf)
02-09-06 -- NEWARK -- An owner of a Linden trucking company pleaded guilty yesterday to bribing a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer with $2,000 and the promise of other gifts. AUSA Joyce M. Malliet, 973-645-2876.
02-08-06 -- CAMDEN -- U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian W. Collier, along with Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Robert L. Stewart, Camden Police Department Interim Supersession Executive, announced today that four major cocaine distribution organizations responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine in Camden neighborhoods have been dismantled in a series of arrests. Two of the defendants are charged federally with murder in furtherance of a Continuing Criminal Enterprise. Contact: Greg Reinert, PIO, 856-757-5233.
Lewis et al. Indictment (.pdf)
Gonzalez-Valenzuela et al. Indictment (.pdf)
Damon Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
Davis et al. Criminal Complaint (.pdf)
02-06-06 -- NEWARK -- The former director of facilities for the Paterson Public School District pleaded guilty today to corruption charges, admitting that he took a total of $47,000 in cash and free construction work at his home from two contractors doing business with the school district. AUSAs Jeffrey S. Chiesa and Ricardo Solano, 973-645-2515, 2724, respectively.
02-06-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal grand jury today returned a Superseding Indictment against Keyport Mayor John J. Merla, charging him with extorting the owner of a solid-waste disposal company that had a contract with the borough. AUSAs Mark J. McCarren and Rachael A. Honig, 973-645-2867, 2777, respectively.
Merla Superseding Indictment (.pdf)
02-03-06 -- NEWARK -- The president of a New Orleans-area company admitted today that he had his company defraud New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson of more than $700,000 between 2001 and 2003. AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
02-01-06 -- NEWARK -- A former employee of MBNA Bank admitted today that he recorded confidential credit card information while employed at the bank and then provided that information to an associate who made unauthorized purchases that were billed to the unsuspecting credit card holders. AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
01-31-06 -- CAMDEN -- A former federal Air Marshal surrendered today on an Indictment charging two counts of making false statements on questionnaires that are utilized in background investigations for security clearance approval. AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
01-26-06 -- NEWARK -- A former U.S. Customs Service supervisory inspector and his brother were sentenced today to more than 24 years and more than 19 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in a drug importation conspiracy. AUSA Marion Percell, 973-645-2733.
01-25-06 -- CAMDEN -- The wife of a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison today on the charge voluntary manslaughter in the killing of her four-year-old stepdaughter while in the couple’s military housing unit on McGuire Air Force Base. AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
01-20-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Monmouth County undersheriff and highway department employee pleaded guilty today to money laundering, admitting that he accepted $15,000 for assisting in the laundering of large sums of cash from a cooperating government witness whom he believed was a corrupt demolition contractor. AUSAs R. Stephen Stigall and Eugenia A. P. Cowles, 856-757-5031 and 609-989-2354, respectively.
01-19-06 -- NEWARK -- A former stock broker from Staten Island was sentenced today to 88 months in federal prison for his role in a stock manipulation and kickback scheme that enriched the conspirators and caused customer losses totaling more than $7 million. AUSA Nancy Hoppock, 973-645-6087.
01-19-06 -- NEWARK -- A former Monmouth County undersheriff and highway department employee pleaded guilty today to money laundering, admitting that he accepted $15,000 for assisting in the laundering of large sums of cash from a cooperating government witness whom he believed was a corrupt demolition contractor. AUSA Michael Hammer, 973-645-2771.
01-09-06 -- NEWARK -- A federal grand jury today indicted a property manager for the Kushner Companies of Florham Park on three counts of tax evasion, which resulted in a tax loss of $91,701 to the government, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.
01-05-06 -- CAMDEN -- The chief engineer of a Japanese-owned shipping vessel was sentenced today to a year in federal prison for falsifying records in an attempt to conceal repeated overboard discharges of oil waste from the ship, which was boarded by the Coast Guard in Gloucester in March 2005. AUSA Thomas R. Calcagni, 973-645-2918.
01-03-06 -- NEWARK -- A former senior manager for the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Central Jersey, Inc. was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for defrauding the non-profit organization and government health care programs of more than $900,000 in a false invoice scheme. AUSA John M. Vazquez, 973-645-2903.
01-03-06 -- NEWARK -- The wife of a Russian entertainment promoter pleaded guilty today to conspiring with him and another co-defendant to extort money from two Russian women, who were among at least 25 others brought illegally into the United States to dance in New Jersey strip clubs. AUSA Leslie F. Schwartz, 973-645-3986.
