Ringwood Woman Stole $700K From Law Firm: Union County Prosecutor Ringwood Woman Stole $700K From Law Firm: Union County Prosecutor
Ringwood Woman Stole $700K From Law Firm: Union County Prosecutor A 54-year-old Ringwood woman was arrested and charged on Thursday, Dec. 12 with stealing more than $700,000 from the law firm she worked at, authorities said. Between 2018 and 2024 Colleen Hallenbeck, who was employed as a paralegal for a Union County-based law firm, misappropriated funds from various estates handled by the firm, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. Hallenbeck was responsible for distributing funds from estate accounts to beneficiaries. However, she wrote hundreds of unauthorized checks, totaling in excess of $700,000, for deposit into accounts s…
Postal Worker Stole, Altered Dozens Of Checks From Maywood Post Office, Police Say Postal Worker Stole, Altered Dozens Of Checks From Maywood Post Office, Police Say
Postal Worker Stole, Altered Dozens Of Checks From Maywood Post Office, Police Say A postal worker from Jersey City is among three people charged in a check fraud investigation stemming from reports of stolen and altered checks mailed at the Maywood Post Office, authorities said. The Maywood Police Department began investigating in September 2024 after multiple residents reported that checks they mailed at the West Pleasant Avenue post office had been stolen, altered, and cashed or deposited. Detective Benjamin Singer identified 18 cases of check fraud, uncovering a scheme where the checks were altered to increase the amounts and change the payees. The investigation led t…
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged Overnight With CEO's Murder Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged Overnight With CEO's Murder
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged Overnight With CEO's Murder An Ivy League-educated high school valedictorian from a privileged, politically connected family has been charged with the execution-style murder of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare providers after a days-long manhunt. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery New York prosecutors have formally charged 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a native of Towson, Maryland, with the fatal shooting of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson.  The incident occurred outside the New York Hilton in midt…
Wanted Man Who Used Counterfeit Cash At Bergen County Business Found With Heroin: Cops Wanted Man Who Used Counterfeit Cash At Bergen County Business Found With Heroin: Cops
Wanted Man Who Used Counterfeit Cash At Bergen County Business Found With Heroin: Cops A 49-year-old Central Jersey man is facing charges in Bergen County for using counterfeit money at the same business multiple times, said authorities who say they also found him with heroin. Shawn Beeks, of Carteret, passed a counterfeit  $100 bill at a business located in the 500 block of New York Avenue, Lyndhurst Police Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said. On Oct. 17, Beeks bought $13.29 worth of assorted items using the counterfeit bill. On Oct. 19, Beeks bought $9.37 worth of assorted items using the counterfeit bill. On Oct. 27, Beeks bought $19.54 worth of assorted items using the…
Two Franklin Lakes Men Took $350K From Jersey City Church: Prosecutor Two Franklin Lakes Men Took $350K From Jersey City Church: Prosecutor
Two Franklin Lakes Men Took $350K From Jersey City Church: Prosecutor Two Franklin Lake residents were arrested this week and charged with theft and forgery related to construction work at a Jersey City church, authorities said. In 2021, Centurion Companies, a construction business owned by Christopher Poppe, 35, and Glen Poppe, 65, was hired by St. George and St. Shenouda Coptic Church in Jersey City to perform construction work, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarz said. An investigation found the church issued Centurion Companies payments in excess for $350,000 to pay third-party contractors for additional services, Suarez said. Falsified r…
Bergen County Man Submits False Bank Statements In NY Court: DA Says Bergen County Man Submits False Bank Statements In NY Court: DA Says
Bergen County Man Submits False Bank Statements In NY Court: DA Says A New Jersey man has been charged after presenting falsified bank statements in a Hudson Valley court and testifying they were real, authorities said. James Wolff, 50, of Teaneck, NJ, was arraigned on Monday, Sept. 30, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh II announced on Thursday, Oct. 3. According to the district attorney, in June, an investigation found that Wolff knowingly possessed and submitted falsified bank statements to the Rockland County Surrogate’s Court and testified, under oath, to their validity.  The documents filed by the Wolff with the Ro…
NJ Apartment Association Bookkeeper Who Stole $357K Learns Prison Sentence NJ Apartment Association Bookkeeper Who Stole $357K Learns Prison Sentence
NJ Apartment Association Bookkeeper Who Stole $357K Learns Prison Sentence A former bookkeeper for the New Jersey Apartment Association has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution for stealing $357,250 from the organization, authorities said. Karly Simon-Sapp, 50, of Plumsted Township, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer to five years New Jersey State Prison and ordered to pay $357,520 in restitution, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. She previously had pleaded guilty to theft. Between January 2016 and January 2022, Simon-Sapp, in her capacity as a bookkeeper for the New Jersey Apartment Association, forged the …
Bergen County Man Tricked 8 Victims Into Investing In Property For 'Redevelopment:' Prosecutor Bergen County Man Tricked 8 Victims Into Investing In Property For 'Redevelopment:' Prosecutor
Bergen County Man Tricked 8 Victims Into Investing In Property For 'Redevelopment:' Prosecutor A Bergen County man is facing charges after authorities say he tricked eight victims into paying thousands of dollars for Newark investment properties, which authorities said had not actually been designated for redevelopment. An investigation was launched into Jason S. McNeill, 48, of Wyckoff, last April, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musell said.  McNeill allegedly presented the eight victims with forged documents and solicited approximately $420,000 in total from them. McNeill told the victims that the money would go toward the purchase of investment properties, namely vacant lots f…
Contractor Behind Leaky, Moldy Jersey City Buildings Busted For Phony Insurance: Prosecutor Contractor Behind Leaky, Moldy Jersey City Buildings Busted For Phony Insurance: Prosecutor
Contractor Behind Leaky, Moldy Jersey City Buildings Busted For Phony Insurance: Prosecutor A 37-year-old North Jersey resident was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 12 and charged with theft and forgery on accusations he submitted a fake insurance certificate, authorities said. Prince Narang's company, Artisan Design and Construction, was hired to perform contract work on a residential building in Jersey City, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.  Narang, of Glen Ridge, submitted a bogus insurance certificate to the property owner and bank to obtain a construction contract, Suarez said.  The owner tried to file an insurance claim for property damag…
Bergen County Councilwoman Arrested In CT Bergen County Councilwoman Arrested In CT
Bergen County Councilwoman Arrested In CT A New Jersey elected official has been charged with larceny and forgery in Connecticut, police said. Abby Lundy, age 60, a Hillsdale councilwoman whose term is up on Dec. 31, 2024, was arrested in New Canaan on Thursday, Aug. 22, for crimes allegedly committed on Tuesday, July 9, court records show. Since-deleted social media posts show Lundy had worked for First Candle, an organization dedicated to eradicating Sudden Infant Death Syndrom (SIDS) and other "sleep-related infant deaths." A First Candle spokesperson declined to comment on her case, but confirmed that she'd been terminated…
Former 'Professional Of The Year' Arrested For Theft In NJ Town, Prosecutors Say Former 'Professional Of The Year' Arrested For Theft In NJ Town, Prosecutors Say
Former 'Professional Of The Year' Arrested For Theft In NJ Town, Prosecutors Say Brick Township's recreation director has been arrested on accusations he charged private organizations to use the township's fields and then kept the money for himself, prosecutors said. Daniel Santaniello, 46, of Brick Township, was charged with theft and uttering a forged instrument relative to his position as the township's recreation director, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Brick Township Police Chief David Forrester said. He was arrested Wednesday, July 17. In 2016, Santaniello won Professional of the Year Award from the New Jersey Recreation & Park…
GOTCHA! Fleeing Check Forger Nabbed By Lyndhurst Patrol, Detectives: PD GOTCHA! Fleeing Check Forger Nabbed By Lyndhurst Patrol, Detectives: PD
Gotcha! Fleeing Check Forger Nabbed By Lyndhurst Patrol, Detectives: PD He showed the bank teller a driver's license with his photo on it. The name on the DL matched that on a $3,400 check he was trying to cash. But something didn't smell quite right. Lyndhurst police who responded to a call from the bank arrested Russel Fastnacht, 52, of Newark moments later. Officer Michael D’Alessandro was joined at the Citizen's Bank on Ridge Road by Detectives Tom McSweeney and Steve Batista shortly before 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, Detective Lt. Vincent Auteri said. "They were advised at that time that the suspect had fled the bank after being challenged by a bank…