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'Hot Boys Mafia' Gangster Was Being Served In NJ Shooting That Injured Him, Detective: Cops
A Perth Amboy detective remains in stable condition after he was shot while executing an arrest warrant in Rahway on the evening of Wednesday, July 24, authorities said.
At 8:32 p.m., the detective, who has not been identified, was shot by 20-year-old Rahway resident Angel Santiago, who is a suspect in an aggravated assault that occurred in Perth Amboy Tuesday, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel and Rahway Police Director Nicholas Breiner said.
The detective was shot multiple times in the leg, while Santiago sustained a single gunshot wound to the lower leg, authorities said. …
Somerville Man Vandalized Bridgewater Mosque: Police
A 29-year-old Somerville man was arrested and charged on Monday, July 22, with vandalizing the Al Falah Center in Bridgewater, authorities said.
At 6:34 p.m., Julian Dale drove onto the property of the mosque at 881 US Highway 202/206, before leaving a short time later, Bridgewater police said. At 7 p.m., a mosque employee observed bias graffiti spray painted on a pillar near the main entrance to the building, police said.
Detectives later located Dale and arrested him after an interview, police said. He was charged with bias intimidation and criminal mischief, police said.
Mother, Son Admit Selling Cheap Parts To Military Through Brielle Family Business: Feds
A New Jersey mother and son admitted to a years-long scheme to scam the Department of Defense by selling cheap military equipment not approved by their business's contracts, authorities said.
Linda Mika, 73, of Jackson, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday, July 23 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. Her son, 53-year-old Kenneth Mika of Ewing, also pleaded guilty to the same charge on Tuesday, June 25.
According to court documents and testimony, Linda and Kenneth Mika defrauded the DoD and the Defe…
Drunk Driver Going 114 MPH Sentenced For Garden State Parkway Crash That Killed Amazon Worker
A 47-year-old Newark man was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday, July 19, for a deadly 2021 crash on the Garden State Parkway where he was driving intoxicated at 114 mph, authorities said.
On Feb. 15, 2021, Rolando Godwin was driving a Range Rover when he struck a Lexus SUV driven by Christopher Meikle, a 46-year-old East Orange resident, causing his car to be engulfed in flames on the Garden State Parkway in Clark, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said.
Following the crash, Godwin requested he be transported away from the scene, indicating he was prepared to offer an unsp…
Scrap Metal Company VP, 24, Killed In Jersey Shore Weekend Crash
The vice president of a scrap metal company died in a crash in Ocean County, authorities said.
Kevin Scoda, 24, of Edison, was killed in the crash on Route 72, the Stafford Township Police Department said in a news release on Tuesday, July 23. Officers responded to the scene near milepost 24.5 at around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 20.
Investigators said Scoda's 2023 Chevrolet Corvette collided with a 2018 Subaru while traveling east on Route 72. Scoda's sports car went off the road, crashed into a utility pole, and caught fire.
"Unidentified citizens" were able to get Scoda out o…
Son Finds Mom, 37, Stabbed Dead In Edison, Prosecutor Says
A 37-year-old man from Edison was charged in the fatal stabbing of a woman he knew, authorities said.
Joan Franklin Polanco, 37, was detained by NYPD hours after the Sunday, July 21 stabbing, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan.
Lizbeth Benitez-Rivera, 37, of Edison, was found with multiple stab wounds by her son, they said.
Benitez-Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene.
At about 4:40 p.m., Edison police received a 911 call reporting a stabbing on Horizon Drive.
The investigation determined that Polanco …
Man Decapitated Seagull On Jersey Shore Boardwalk, Police Say
A Cape May man was accused of decapitating a seagull on the boardwalk in North Wildwood, authorities said.
Franklin Zeigler, 29, was charged with third-degree animal cruelty, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, the North Wildwood Police Department said in a news release on Monday, July 22.
Officers responded to a report of an animal cruelty incident at Morey's Piers on Saturday, July 6, and witnesses said Ziegler had decapitated the shorebird. Ziegler was also "irate and uncooperative" with police on an unrelated investigation.
Investigators said Ziegler was charged with animal cruel…
Guatemalan Man Who Kidnapped NJ Girl, 14, To Sexually Assault Her In Georgia Indicted: Feds
A Guatemalan man was accused of kidnapping a Cape May County teen and trying to sexually assault her in Georgia, authorities said.
Sergio Gomez, 22, was detained on Thursday, July 18, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. He was federally indicted on Wednesday, July 17 for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and kidnapping.
According to the indictment, Gomez, also known as “Abner Abigail Chub-Choc,” used the internet and a cellphone to entice the 14-year-old girl to have sex …
Brielle Broker Bought Private Jet, Luxury Caribbean Trip In $3.4M Insider Trading Scheme: Feds
A former partner at a New Jersey broker-dealer firm was accused of insider trading, making more than $3 million in illegal profits, authorities said.
Christopher Matthaei, 44, of Brielle, was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday, July 17, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. A federal grand jury indicted him on Friday, June 21 for two counts of securities fraud conspiracy and seven counts of securities fraud.
According to court documents and statements, Matthaei was a partner and senior salesperson at a trading firm based in Charlotte, North Carol…
Jersey Shore Man Admits To Stealing Gun, Having Cocaine And Heroin: Prosecutors
A Barnegat Township man admitted to having heroin, cocaine, and a stolen gun, authorities said.
Quaison Ellis, 25, pleaded guilty on Monday, July 15 to several charges related to two incidents, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
Investigators established surveillance outside a home on Hawthorne Lane in Barnegat on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. Ellis was seen leaving the home and then entered a vehicle's front passenger seat.
Detectives followed the vehicle to a home in Paterson and Ellis was seen meeting with a…
