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NJ Doc Took Bribes From Pharma Company For Toxic Fentanyl Prescriptions: Feds NJ Doc Took Bribes From Pharma Company For Toxic Fentanyl Prescriptions: Feds
NJ Doc Took Bribes From Pharma Company For Toxic Fentanyl Prescriptions: Feds A doctor from Central Jersey is accused of taking bribes and kickbacks in exchange for prescribing potentially fatal doses of fentanyl, authorities said. Mukaram Gazi, 51, of Marlboro in Monmouth County was charged with conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, receiving kickbacks, health care fraud and conspiring to unlawfully distribute dangerous narcotics, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig. According to Thursday's indictment: Gazi owned a urology practice with offices in Freehold, Hamilton, Howell and Toms River.  Gazi received more than $130,000 in bribes and…

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by Jon Craig
Business
Another NJ Bed Bath & Beyond Store Closing, Report Says Another NJ Bed Bath & Beyond Store Closing, Report Says
Another NJ Bed Bath & Beyond Store Closing, Report Says Another Bed Bath & Beyond store is expected to close permanently this fall, part of a nationwide closure plan affecting about 200 locations. The major retailer’s store at 400 Marin Blvd. in Jersey City is set to close in November, a store employee told NJ Advance Media. In July 2020, Bed Bath & Beyond officials announced that 200 of its namesake stores would be shut down over a two-year period -- accounting for about one-fifth of all its BB & B stores nationwide. The big-box chain cited a steep drop in sales due to the coronavirus pandemic at the time.  Two other Bed Bath …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: NJ Hit-Run Driver In Deadly X-Mas Eve Crash Surrenders To US Border Patrol Prosecutor: NJ Hit-Run Driver In Deadly X-Mas Eve Crash Surrenders To US Border Patrol
Prosecutor: NJ Hit-Run Driver In Deadly X-Mas Eve Crash Surrenders To US Border Patrol A driver wanted in a deadly hit-and-run crash surrendered to US Customs and Border Patrol Protection Agents in Texas, authorities announced. Roberto Alcazar-Sanchez, 27, of Jackson, was indicted by an Ocean County Grand Jury on charges of knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death and other related offenses on Aug. 11, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Norman Shtab, 83, of Howell, was exiting I-195 at Exit 21 with his wife, Phyllis Shtab, 81, in the passenger's seat, when his Mercedes Benz around 6 p.m. Dec. 24, 2020, authorities said. Shtab wa…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
At Least 3 Victims Reported In Howell Stabbing At Least 3 Victims Reported In Howell Stabbing
At Least 3 Victims Reported In Howell Stabbing At least three people were stabbed in Howell overnight, police reports say. The incident reportedly occurred at a home on the 200 block of Alexander Street around 12:15 a.m. Unconfirmed reports say two people were in custody. Injuries were unknown. This is a developing story. Check back for more.

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Feds: Member Of Ring That Trafficked Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Into NJ Bayshore Gets 7½ Years Feds: Member Of Ring That Trafficked Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Into NJ Bayshore Gets 7½ Years
Feds: Member Of Ring That Trafficked Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Into NJ Bayshore Gets 7½ Years A member of a drug ring that trafficked large quantities of heroin and cocaine into the Bayshore areas of Monmouth and Middlesex counties must spend the next 7½ years in federal prison. Daniel McHugh, 51, of Sayreville on Wednesday became the latest member of the ring sentenced in U.S. District Court in Trenton in connection with a federally-led sweep. Co-defendant Brian Hall, 49, of Freehold, meanwhile, was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and three years probation. Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said the two were part of a network that funneled heroin and cocaine int…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Police Bust Massive Drug Operation In North Jersey Hotel Room Netting 6 Arrests, Heroin, Coke Police Bust Massive Drug Operation In North Jersey Hotel Room Netting 6 Arrests, Heroin, Coke
Police Bust Massive Drug Operation In North Jersey Hotel Room Netting 6 Arrests, Heroin, Coke Two women in the process of dumping cocaine into a hotel room sink drain were interrupted by police who found MDMA, heroin, suboxone and other drug paraphernalia, Secaucus police said. Police were conducting a "park and walk" in the Harmon Meadow area of Secaucus when someone notified them of possible nefarious activity inside one of the rooms on Feb. 16, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. After a week-long investigation, police went into the hotel room whree Ana Roman and Tracy Eayres were in the process of dumping cocaine into a sink drain, Miller said. A search of the room turned…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
NEW RANKINGS: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State NEW RANKINGS: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State
NEW Rankings: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State A new report from AdvisorSmith ranked the crime rates of hundreds of municipalities across New Jersey to determine the safest small, midsize and large cities. The study — which analyzed a total of 37 large cities, 200 midsize cities and 247 small cities — used data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Dataset to calculate and compare crime levels, putting more weight on serious and violent crimes like murder, rape and assault. The analysis found the safest small, midsize and large cities to be Matawan, Warren Township and Middletown, respectively. The average crime score for the large ci…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
U.S. Marshals Capture Howell Fugitive, 24, Wanted In Deaths Of 4 Stolen Puppies U.S. Marshals Capture Howell Fugitive, 24, Wanted In Deaths Of 4 Stolen Puppies
U.S. Marshals Capture Howell Fugitive, 24, Wanted In Deaths Of 4 Stolen Puppies A 24-year-old Howell woman wanted in the deaths of four stolen farm puppies was taken into custody after nearly three months at large on Friday with help from U.S. Marshals agents, authorities said. Tricia Jaccoma and Daniel McDonald, 25, were charged with animal cruelty in June after four German Shepherd puppies  were found dead on a Howell campsite, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. The dogs were approximately three weeks old and being raised at a Somerset County farm -- where McDonald and Jaccoma were also staying -- when they went missing mi…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Police Sink 300-Person South Jersey Pool Party Police Sink 300-Person South Jersey Pool Party
Police Sink 300-Person South Jersey Pool Party South Jersey police sank a huge "for-profit" pool party that snubbed the state's COVID-19 restrictions Sunday. The rowdy, backyard Sicklerville party featuring an in-ground pool attracted about 300 people. But it also came with a price -- a cover charge of $100 to $150 apiece -- and a risk of contracting coronavirus, according to Gloucester Township police. Homeowner Lionel Mincey, 56, of Jarvis Road was charged with maintaining a nuisance, a disorderly persons offense and issued summonses for noise, littering and zoning violations, police said. Twenty-five parking tickets were issued and …

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by Jon Craig
News
Kids Eat Free July 4th At These NJ Applebee's Locations Kids Eat Free July 4th At These NJ Applebee's Locations
Kids Eat Free July 4th At These NJ Applebee's Locations Casual kid-friendly restaurant chain Applebee’s is celebrating the Fourth of July with a special Kids Eat Free promotion. Locations owned and operated by Doherty Enterprises in New Jersey are offering a free kids’ meal with an adult entree purchase. The deal can be used with dine-in service or via online orders using the code KIDS, and the order must total at least $15. Restaurants offering the promotion include: Brick Bridgewater Butler Clark Clifton Edison Flemington Garfield Hackensack Hackettstown Hillsborough Howell Jersey City Jersey Gardens Kearny, Lacey Linden Manahawkin Manalapa…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
'EMACIATED': Couple Charged After Remains Of Stolen Puppies Found On Monmouth County Campsite 'EMACIATED': Couple Charged After Remains Of Stolen Puppies Found On Monmouth County Campsite
'Emaciated': Couple Charged After Remains Of Stolen Puppies Found On Monmouth County Campsite A couple has been charged with the deaths of four puppies, burying two of them and throwing the others in a fire pit while they were camping in Howell, authorities said. Daniel McDonald, 25, and Tricia Jaccoma, 24 -- who according to Facebook are engaged -- were staying at a Somerset County farm where the animals were being raised around May 12, Monmouth County prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said. Shortly after, the puppies went missing -- just three weeks old, Gramiccioni said. Two of the puppies' bodies were found in a fire pit on the property where Jaccoma and McDonald were …

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
TONIGHT: New Jersey Athletes Compete On NBC's 'The Titan Games' TONIGHT: New Jersey Athletes Compete On NBC's 'The Titan Games'
Tonight: New Jersey Athletes Compete On NBC's 'The Titan Games' One is a firefighter. Another quit her corporate job to pursue a career in fitness. The third is a DJ with an incredible weight loss journey. All three are New Jersey residents and among 32 contestants on Season 2 of NBC's "The Titan Games," premiering Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. The three competitors representing New Jersey are Courtney Roselle, a professional CrossFit athlete and Cedar Grove native currently living in Jersey City; Shantal Athill, an Orange firefighter and former Rutgers track team member (a four-year letter winner, too), and Kareem Brinson, a DJ and fitness coach from Howell…

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by Cecilia Levine