Ex-Con Kidnapper Gets 43 Years, No Parole, For Rape, Arson, Assault Rampage Through NJ, NY, PA Ex-Con Kidnapper Gets 43 Years, No Parole, For Rape, Arson, Assault Rampage Through NJ, NY, PA
Ex-Con Kidnapper Gets 43 Years, No Parole, For Rape, Arson, Assault Rampage Through NJ, NY, PA UPDATE: An ex-con who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend in Pennsylvania, then torched a used car dealership in Paterson and rammed a stolen SUV into police cars at both ends of the George Washington Bridge was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison. Luis Figueroa, 42, first took a plea deal from the government that called for him to serve 26 years in a federal penitentiary. Then he abruptly withdrew his plea, took his chances with a trial – and lost. Federal jurors in Newark convicted Figueroa in May 2022 of kidnapping, criminal sexual abuse, illegal gun possession and assaulting…
UPDATE: Mahwah Woman Burned Herself In Condo Bedroom Arson, Police Say UPDATE: Mahwah Woman Burned Herself In Condo Bedroom Arson, Police Say
Update: Mahwah Woman Burned Herself In Condo Bedroom Arson, Police Say A Mahwah woman who was charged with setting fire to her bedroom had to be treated for a flash burn that authorities said she sustained in the blaze. Amel Mersali, 32, used a common lighter to ignite a flammable liquid in her Hawthorne Lane unit at the Ridge Gardens condo development – injuring herself in the process -- around 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, township police reported. Sprinklers knocked down the flames, which were extinguished by firefighters who contained the blaze to the bedroom. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Arson Investigations Unit were called to the scene alo…
Arsonist Torches Bergen Condo: Prosecutor Arsonist Torches Bergen Condo: Prosecutor
Arsonist Torches Bergen Condo: Prosecutor A Bergen County woman was arrested after officials say she started a fire in her bedroom at a condominium. Amel Mersali, 32, is facing an aggravated arson charge following an investigation into the fire at at 2102 Hawthorne Lane in Mahwah on Tuesday, April 4, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Following the fire, Mersali was transported to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus for treatment and evaluation, Musella said.  She will appear in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack when she is released from the hospital, Musella said. 
Disgruntled Employee Admits Torching Jersey Shore Business After Being Fired: Police Disgruntled Employee Admits Torching Jersey Shore Business After Being Fired: Police
Disgruntled Employee Admits Torching Jersey Shore Business After Being Fired: Police A 26-year-old Toms River man admitted to setting a Lakewood business on fire after being terminated, authorities aid. Jorge Euxaque-Ballesteros pleaded guilty on Friday, March 31, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. On Jan. 19, 2022, at approximately 2 a.m., Lakewood Township police and firefighters were dispatched to a business on Cross Street in reference to a sprinkler system alarm. Firefighters were able to extinguish a fire in the basement of the business.  Investigators determined that the cause of the fire was incendiary by an unknown …
Homeowner Charged With Arson, Aggravated Assault In Destructive Fire Overlooking Greenwood Lake Homeowner Charged With Arson, Aggravated Assault In Destructive Fire Overlooking Greenwood Lake
Homeowner Charged With Arson, Aggravated Assault In Destructive Fire Overlooking Greenwood Lake UPDATE: A West Milford man was charged with conducting an illegal backyard burn that ignited a rapidly-spreading weekend blaze that sent two firefighters to the hospital while destroying one home and damaging two others on a hill overlooking Greenwood Lake. Keith Scherer, 45, of Hewitt, was burning wood and debris in a fire pit behind his Lakeside Road home when the brush caught fire and flames spread up the hill in the Hewitt section of West Milford, a little over a half-mile from the New York State border, shortly before 12:30 p.m., March 18, responders had told Daily Voice. Scherer was …
'White Lives Matter Too': Man Charged With Smoke Bombing, Pepper Spraying Asbury Church Event 'White Lives Matter Too': Man Charged With Smoke Bombing, Pepper Spraying Asbury Church Event
'White Lives Matter Too': Man Charged With Smoke Bombing, Pepper Spraying Asbury Church Event An Ocean County man was charged with throwing smoke bombs and trying to pepper-spray attendees of an anti-racism concert at an Asbury Park church while shouting "White lives matter, too," authorities announced. Nicholas G. Mucci, 28, of Toms River was wearing a black face covering on Jan. 28 as he blocked attendees from leaving a concert organized by a social justice organization known as the One People's Project at the Trinity Episcopal Parish on Asbury Avenue, state Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. “White lives matter, too,” he shouted while tossing two smoke bombs toward the cro…
UPDATE: Admitted Hit Man From Philly Gets 20 Years In Bizarre Murder-For-Hire Of NJ Politico UPDATE: Admitted Hit Man From Philly Gets 20 Years In Bizarre Murder-For-Hire Of NJ Politico
Update: Admitted Hit Man From Philly Gets 20 Years In Bizarre Murder-For-Hire Of NJ Politico A currently incarcerated career criminal from Philadelphia was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for the contract killing of a veteran campaign consultant in New Jersey. Bomani Africa, 62, previously admitted accepting payment from former political operative Sean Caddle to whack former associate Michael Galdieri. Galdieri, the 52-year-old son of former State Sen. James Galdieri (D-Jersey City), was stabbed to death in his Jersey City apartment, which was then set on fire, in May 2014. The killing had publicly remained a cold case until January 2022, when Caddle pleaded guilty in U.S…
Laborer Charged With Torching Vehicles On Local Bergen Street Awaits Move From Rikers To NJ Laborer Charged With Torching Vehicles On Local Bergen Street Awaits Move From Rikers To NJ
Laborer Charged With Torching Vehicles On Local Bergen Street Awaits Move From Rikers To NJ A Bronx laborer wanted for setting a fire that consumed a pickup truck and a sedan on a quiet Wallington street remained held on Rikers Island following his capture in the city. An extradition hearing for Eliezer Bisono Aguilera, 22, is scheduled for next Tuesday, Jan. 31, in Bronx Supreme Court, according to New York City Department of Correction records. Aguilera was wanted for a 4:30 a.m. arson fire last Nov. 15 on Morrissee Avenue that was doused by Wallington firefighters, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Destroyed by the flames were a 2009 Chevrolet Colorado and a 2016 Kia…
77-Year-Old Arsonist Set Series Of Ocean County Dumpster Fires: Prosecutor 77-Year-Old Arsonist Set Series Of Ocean County Dumpster Fires: Prosecutor
77-Year-Old Arsonist Set Series Of Ocean County Dumpster Fires: Prosecutor A 77-year-old Ocean County man has been charged with arson in connection with five dumpster fires set over the course of several months this year, authorities said. Nicholas Depalma, of Whiting, ignited the fires between Jan. 1 and April 26 across Manchester Township, including one near a large wooded area, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Township Chief of Police Robert Dolan said.  2 Simultaneous Dumpster Fires This morning (Tuesday 4/26/22) Whiting Fire Company was dispatched to a dumpster fire... Posted by Whiting Fire Company Sta. 33 on Tuesday, April 2…
Volunteer Firefighter Set Brush Fire Halloween Morning In North Jersey: Prosecutor Volunteer Firefighter Set Brush Fire Halloween Morning In North Jersey: Prosecutor
Volunteer Firefighter Set Brush Fire Halloween Morning In North Jersey: Prosecutor A volunteer firefighter from North Jersey has been charged with arson after he was caught setting a piece of paper on fire and placing it on the ground, causing brush to erupt in flames Halloween morning, authorities said. Shannon B. Muller, 40, a Wanaque volunteer firefighter, was found just before 9 a.m. in an area behind the Warrens Way housing complex Monday, Oct. 31, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Muller was lighting the paper with a match and placing the burning paper on the forest floor as authorities arrived, Valdes said alongside Wanaque Police Chi…
Son, 24, Gets Prison Time For Slaying Parents, Torching Their Central Jersey Home: Prosecutor Son, 24, Gets Prison Time For Slaying Parents, Torching Their Central Jersey Home: Prosecutor
Son, 24, Gets Prison Time For Slaying Parents, Torching Their Central Jersey Home: Prosecutor A 24-year-old man from Middlesex County has been sentenced to 70 years in New Jersey State Prison for the fiery murders of his parents and another man, authorities announced. Jaree Kitchen, of Jamesburg, was sentenced on Friday, Oct. 28 by Judge Thomas J. Buck in the murder of his parents and another man, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. On Nov. 6, 2019, at 3:19 a.m., Jamesburg police responded to 7 Sheridan St. for a house fire. Police observed visible flames exiting the structure of the house. The Jamesburg Fire Department arrived on scene and extinguis…
US Marshals Round Up 65 Fugitives Including High-Profile Cases In NJ, Philly 'Rodeo' US Marshals Round Up 65 Fugitives Including High-Profile Cases In NJ, Philly 'Rodeo'
US Marshals Round Up 65 Fugitives Including High-Profile Cases In NJ, Philly 'Rodeo' A major sweep of fugitives including suspected gang members led to 65 arrests including high-profile cases in South Jersey and Philadelphia. These fugitives were wanted out of Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, and Camden counties, as well as other states but were located in these four counties. During "Operation Rodeo" the District of New Jersey and the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force used its multi-jurisdictional investigative authority and fugitive task force network to arrest fugitives wanted on charges including homicide, sex assault, aggravated assault, robbery, carjackin…