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U.S. District Court

Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man
Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Reality bit the ex-husband of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member Dina Manzo when he was convicted Tuesday of getting a mob soldier to throw her new beau a beating. Restaurateur Thomas Manzo, 59, who lives in the affluent Bergen County suburb of Franklin Lakes, rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors and took his chances with a jury. That didn’t go so good. Jurors in U.S. District Court in Newark convicted Manzo on June 4 of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, along with conspiracy and falsifying documents during a grand jury investigation. Althou…
Chilean Ring Used NJ Digs To Stash Loot From Home Burglaries In NY, MD, Elsewhere: Feds Chilean Ring Used NJ Digs To Stash Loot From Home Burglaries In NY, MD, Elsewhere: Feds
Chilean Ring Used NJ Digs To Stash Loot From Home Burglaries In NY, MD, Elsewhere: Feds Six Chilean nationals who burglarized homes in multiple states were recorded on video stashing a huge safe and other items stolen in the break-ins in a Jersey City apartment building, authorities said. The crew took pearl necklaces, diamond earrings, a distinctive high school “state champions” ring, and other jewelry during the burglary of a Westchester County, NY, residence in late March, an FBI complaint says. The same burglars struck again in Baltimore County, MD, in mid-April, taking luxury timepieces, distinctive cufflinks, and a safe that contained a collection of rare coins, the comp…
'Bitcoin Beautee' In MD Admits To Role In $1.89B Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme 'Bitcoin Beautee' In MD Admits To Role In $1.89B Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme
'Bitcoin Beautee' In MD Admits To Role In $1.89B Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme A Maryland woman went under the name of “Bitcoin Beautee” during her role alongside two others in a Cryptocurrency fraud scheme that netted more than $1.89 billion, she admitted in US District Court on Monday, Jan. 29. Brenda Chunga, 43, of Severna Park, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud for her role as a promoter of HyperFund, also known as HyperTech, HyperCapital, HyperVerse, and HyperNation, US Attorney Erek Barron announced. The plea came just four days after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sam Lee, 35, an Australian citizen…
Former NFL Great From NJ Al 'Bubba' Baker Battles It Out With 'Shark Tank' Star Daymond John Former NFL Great From NJ Al 'Bubba' Baker Battles It Out With 'Shark Tank' Star Daymond John
Former NFL Great From NJ Al 'Bubba' Baker Battles It Out With 'Shark Tank' Star Daymond John The dismissal by a federal judge in Newark of a complaint by a former Garden State-grown NFL star against “Shark Tank” regular Daymond John hasn’t slowed an ongoing battle between them. John is seeking both a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against Al “Bubba” Baker and his daughter, Brittani, to stop them from trashing him over what they say has been a “nightmare” experience since their appearance on the ABC reality show. The Bakers -- including Bubba's wife, Sabrina -- contend that John and some of his cronies fleeced them after they cut a deal on “Shark Tank” to …
NJ Man Gets 12 Years For Scouting Landmarks As Hezbollah Terror Targets NJ Man Gets 12 Years For Scouting Landmarks As Hezbollah Terror Targets
NJ Man Gets 12 Years For Scouting Landmarks As Hezbollah Terror Targets UPDATE: A convicted New Jersey “sleeper agent” for Hezbollah who scoped out potential terrorism targets in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. Alexei Saab, a 45-year-old software developer who lived in Morristown, must serve just about all of the sentence delivered in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, May 23, because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Saab kept up appearances as an ordinary American citizen while working for Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization (IJO) from 2000 to 2005, federal prosecutors said. Dur…
PA Woman Accused Of Stealing Nancy Pelosi's Laptop At Jan. 6 Riot Sentenced PA Woman Accused Of Stealing Nancy Pelosi's Laptop At Jan. 6 Riot Sentenced
PA Woman Accused Of Stealing Nancy Pelosi's Laptop At Jan. 6 Riot Sentenced Former Mechanicsburg/Harrisburg woman, Riley June Williams has been sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Thursday, March 23, 2023 after she was convicted on charges related to the Jan. 6 riot in the U.S. Capitol— infamously in connection with the theft of Nancy Pelosi's laptop. The 23-year-old had been charged with stealing a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office, entering a restricted building and other related offenses, as Daily Voice has previously reported. Nearly two years ago, Oct. 19, 2021, Williams pleaded not guilty to all eight charges, but she w…
Phucket Fugitive Returned To Face Charges In NJ Deli Fraud Scheme Phucket Fugitive Returned To Face Charges In NJ Deli Fraud Scheme
Phucket Fugitive Returned To Face Charges In NJ Deli Fraud Scheme A fugitive from Thailand was returned to the United States to face charges in a massive market manipulation scheme involving a New Jersey deli company whose stock was once valued at an illogical $100 million, federal authorities announced. A U.S. District Court magistrate judge in Newark ordered one-time Hong Kong businessman Peter Coker Jr. held after he was flown in custody from a Bangkok jail. Coker, 54, formerly of North Carolina, was seized at a hotel in the resort area of Phuket in mid-January following the arrests of his father, Peter Coker Sr., and James Patten in North Carolina. C…
'Prophet Of Doom' Pleads Guilty To Mass NYC Subway Shooting 'Prophet Of Doom' Pleads Guilty To Mass NYC Subway Shooting
'Prophet Of Doom' Pleads Guilty To Mass NYC Subway Shooting UPDATE: An assailant who opened fire on a packed New York City subway train last year, wounding 10 commuters and igniting underground terror, admitted on Tuesday, Jan. 3 that he intended to cause mass harm. No one was killed in the horrific attack by Frank James, 63, which left victims strewn across a smoky 36th Street platform in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn at the height of the April 12 morning rush. Rather than risk the consequences of a guilty verdict at a jury trial, James took a deal from prosecutors. The heavyset and balding domestic terrorist -- who'd dubbed himself the…
Ex-Trump Stalker Gets 6 Years, No Parole, For Threatening Secret Service Agent, Vets Officer Ex-Trump Stalker Gets 6 Years, No Parole, For Threatening Secret Service Agent, Vets Officer
Ex-Trump Stalker Gets 6 Years, No Parole, For Threatening Secret Service Agent, Vets Officer UPDATE: A former longtime stalker of former President Trump must spend nearly six years in federal prison for threatening to assault a Secret Service agent and "shoot up" an officer at a VA hospital in New Jersey. Frank Monte, 52, of Passaic County, NJ, must serve out just about all of the sentence because there's no parole in the federal court system. Monte, of the Oak Ridge section of West Milford, "repeatedly called the emergency line of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Police at the VA Lyons hospital campus" in Somerset County, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said on Tuesd…
'I Am The Attacker': Arrest Made In Threat That Shook Synagogues Across NJ 'I Am The Attacker': Arrest Made In Threat That Shook Synagogues Across NJ
'I Am The Attacker': Arrest Made In Threat That Shook Synagogues Across NJ Recent broad threats against synagogues and Jewish people in New Jersey earlier this month ended with the arrest of a teenager from the state, federal authorities announced on Thursday, Nov. 10. A manifesto posted by Omar Alkattoul, 18, of Sayreville in a forum frequented by extremists frightened the public, brought security to Jewish houses of worship and got the FBI involved last week. The concern stemmed from a contention in the Nov. 1 post that an attack had already occurred -- which active shooters have done in certain instances across the U.S. just before carrying out their fatal…
'Where's My Gun?' Felon In Maryland Sentenced For Possessing Weapon, Producing Child Porn: DOJ 'Where's My Gun?' Felon In Maryland Sentenced For Possessing Weapon, Producing Child Porn: DOJ
'Where's My Gun?' Felon In Maryland Sentenced For Possessing Weapon, Producing Child Porn: DOJ A convicted felon in Maryland will spend years behind bars after being caught with an illegal handgun and child pornography that was produced without his victim’s knowledge, federal officials announced. US District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Edgewood resident Travis Joseph Crawford, 34, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to the plea agreement, in November 2020, Harford County Sheriff’s deputies responde…
Man Who 'Trained' Teen Victim To Avoid Rapists In Maryland Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation Man Who 'Trained' Teen Victim To Avoid Rapists In Maryland Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation
Man Who 'Trained' Teen Victim To Avoid Rapists In Maryland Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation A 46-year-old rapist who claimed to "train" his teenage victim to avoid getting raped by sexually abusing her in Maryland and the District of Columbia has been sentenced, federal officials announced. The abuser - whose name is not being released to protect the privacy of his victim, according to the Department of Justice - was sentenced to 32 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children and other charges stemming from sexual abuse. During the abuse, the victim was between the ages of 13 and 15, officials said. Federal prosecutors said that the man pleaded guilty in November 202…
Maryland Man Already Behind Bars For Drugs Gets More Time For Producing Child Porn Maryland Man Already Behind Bars For Drugs Gets More Time For Producing Child Porn
Maryland Man Already Behind Bars For Drugs Gets More Time For Producing Child Porn A Maryland man already in prison on a drug conviction is facing additional time behind bars and will have to continue registering as a sex offender upon his release after admitting to producing child pornography. Luis Rivera, 34, formerly of Elkton Maryland, was sentenced in US District Court to 20 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, Judge George L. Russell, III announced. Russell ordered that the federal sentence be served consecutive to the 12-year state sentence Rivera is currently serving for a state drug conviction. Rivera was arrested on drug charges…
Former Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Worker Sentenced For Fraudulent License Scheme Former Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Worker Sentenced For Fraudulent License Scheme
Former Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Worker Sentenced For Fraudulent License Scheme A former Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) employee will spend months behind bars after being sentenced for providing fraudulent driver's licenses to unqualified motorists - many in the country illegally - who were willing to pay a fee, federal authorities announced. Harwood resident Marion Rose Payne, 55, was sentenced in US District Court to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to produce and transfer identification documents without lawful authority, specifically, Maryland driver’s licenses. In addition to her sentence, Payne was als…
Cash-For-Kids Ex-Judges Fined $200 Million In Pennsylvania: AP Cash-For-Kids Ex-Judges Fined $200 Million In Pennsylvania: AP
Cash-For-Kids Ex-Judges Fined $200 Million In Pennsylvania: AP A Harrisburg, PA judge has ordered two former judges to pay $200 million to the families of children sent to prison as part of their kickback scheme, the Associated Press reports.   Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, both former judges in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, were found guilty in 2009 for charges in connection with a scheme that involved them using their positions to shutter county-run juvenile detention center, siphoning children from the juvenile court to PA Child Care and its sister facility, Western PA Child Care, according to court records.  Childr…
Virginia Man Sentenced For Assault, Murdering Co-Worker With Fishing Knife On Scalloping Boat Virginia Man Sentenced For Assault, Murdering Co-Worker With Fishing Knife On Scalloping Boat
Virginia Man Sentenced For Assault, Murdering Co-Worker With Fishing Knife On Scalloping Boat A Mexican national last known to be living in Virginia will spend nearly two decades behind bars after admitting to viciously attacking three former coworkers on a commercial fishing boat, killing one during a violent attack off the coast of Nantucket in Massachusetts. Franklin Freddy Meave Vasquez, 31, was sentenced by US District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 235 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of second-degree murder, attempted murder, and assault with a dangerous weapon. On Sept. 23, 2018, “The Captain Billy Haver” …
FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ
FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ A 22-year-old Paterson man showered a 15-year-old Indiana girl he'd met online with money, gifts and compliments before paying an Uber driver to bring her to him for sex, federal authorities said. Arnold Castillo "groomed" the girl, gaining her trust and alienating her from her family and other support systems before convincing her to leave Lawrence, IN, for New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern Indiana charged. Castillo "paid and arranged for an Uber driver to pick up the minor and transport her across state lines to him," alleges to an FBI complaint on file in U.S. District …
PA Man Admits Traveling To NJ For What He Thought Was Sex With 14-Year-Old PA Man Admits Traveling To NJ For What He Thought Was Sex With 14-Year-Old
PA Man Admits Traveling To NJ For What He Thought Was Sex With 14-Year-Old A Pennsylvania man admitted traveling to New Jersey for what he thought would be sex with a 14-year-old partner, federal authorities said. Quentin Anthony Blount, 29, of Easton, was one of a dozen men nabbed in an undercover roundup of accused predators who investigators said trolled social media for what would be the statutory rape of underage girls and boys. He took a deal from the government rather than risk trial, pleading guilty on Thursday to traveling with the intent to engage in sex. Blount, like the other defendants, virtually hooked up with what he thought was an underage teen af…
R. Kelly Gets 30 Years Without Parole For Sex Trafficking R. Kelly Gets 30 Years Without Parole For Sex Trafficking
R. Kelly Gets 30 Years Without Parole For Sex Trafficking R&B singer R. Kelly is a "disgusting" child abuser who taught his victims that love was "enslavement and violence," said a federal judge in Brooklyn who sentenced him to 30 years in prison Wednesday for running a decades-long sex trafficking ring that included child victims. The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer raped and otherwise sexually abused victims "with regularity" for nearly 25 years, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly said. “This case is not about sex. It’s about violence and cruelty and control,” the judge told Kelly, who reportedly is now destitute after selling more tha…