Woman In Teaneck Street Fight Arrested, Victim Douses Her, Several Others With Pepper Spray Woman In Teaneck Street Fight Arrested, Victim Douses Her, Several Others With Pepper Spray
Woman In Teaneck Street Fight Arrested, Victim Douses Her, Several Others With Pepper Spray Teaneck police responding to a street fight between two women arrested one of them and summoned EMS after the other discharged pepper spray, authorities said. Fransheska Liriano-Benitez, 32, of Palisades Park had punched the other woman in the head outside a Palisade Avenue home between Griggs and Sherman avenues shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, Police Chief Andrew R. McGurr said. The victim then tried to blast her with pepper spray, which affected Liriano-Benitz and several bystanders, the chief said. Members of the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps treated Liriano-Benitez and t…
Ex-Con Charged With Pointing Illegal Gun During Dispute In Garfield Ex-Con Charged With Pointing Illegal Gun During Dispute In Garfield
Ex-Con Charged With Pointing Illegal Gun During Dispute In Garfield Garfield police investigating a report of a man pointing a gun at a victim during a dispute seized an ex-con from Paterson. Officers responding to a John Street residence found a defaced .22-caliber handgun and a magazine loaded with 10 rounds that belonged to Kelvin Merello, 37, Garfield Police Capt. Mario Pozo said. They arrested Merello and charged him with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and multiple weapons counts -- including illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Merello -- whose online bio lists him as a personal trainer -- has remained in the Bergen Co…
NJ Italian Restaurant Owner, 75, Faces Prison For Pocketing $500,000 In State Sales Taxes NJ Italian Restaurant Owner, 75, Faces Prison For Pocketing $500,000 In State Sales Taxes
NJ Italian Restaurant Owner, 75, Faces Prison For Pocketing $500,000 In State Sales Taxes The 75-year-old owner-operator of a New Jersey Italian restaurant faces up to three years in prison after admitting he stiffed the state out of nearly a half-million dollars in sales taxes over a period of nearly seven years. John Garofalo Sr. of Union Township – who owns Mario’s Tutto Bene restaurant in the township -- paid the outstanding $496,374.99 to the state as part of a plea deal that he hopes will get him leniency, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. His assistants will recommend that Superior Court Judge Sherry L. Wilson send Garofalo to state prison for three years …
Attorney From Bergen Charged With Assault Attorney From Bergen Charged With Assault
Attorney From Bergen Charged With Assault An attorney from Bergen County was charged with grabbing a woman by the throat, slamming her into a refrigerator and threatening to kill her, according to a law enforcement report. Brian T. Giblin Jr., 35, of Paramus was arrested by Mahwah police following the alleged domestic incident in the township on Feb 17, an affidavit on file in Superior Court in Hackensack says. A responding officer cited "visible signs of injuries" on the alleged victim's neck, the complaint says. "Their verbal argument turned physical when the suspect grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the refrigerato…
New Jerseyans Hurt In Railing Collapse File Lawsuit Against Washington Commanders New Jerseyans Hurt In Railing Collapse File Lawsuit Against Washington Commanders
New Jerseyans Hurt In Railing Collapse File Lawsuit Against Washington Commanders A handful of New Jersey football fans are suing the Washington Commanders over a nearly-fatal incident after a game in January 2021, as reported by various news outlets. After a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Jalen Hurts was greeting fans when a railing collapsed, injuring multiple spectators who fell between five and 10 feet onto concrete at FedEx Field. Four of the individuals who were hurt in the incident are suing the Commanders for gross negligence, seeking $300,000 to compensate for their physical and emotional pain, ESPN says. Soon after the incident, Hurts asked …
Federal Convict Who Hatched $400,000 GoFundMe Scam Gets NJ Prison Time, Too Federal Convict Who Hatched $400,000 GoFundMe Scam Gets NJ Prison Time, Too
Federal Convict Who Hatched $400,000 GoFundMe Scam Gets NJ Prison Time, Too UPDATE: A New Jersey man already serving federal prison time for a GoFundMe scheme that conned 14,000 donors across the country out of $400,000 to purportedly benefit a homeless veteran got a state prison sentence, as well. The plea-bargained five-year term approved by a Superior Court judge in Mount Holly on Friday will run at the same time as the 27-month federal sentence that Mark D'Amico of Trenton received in April. The difference is that there's no parole in the federal prison system, which keeps D'Amico in the medium-security United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg, PA for more than…
Hackensack Man Jailed On Child Porn Charges Hackensack Man Jailed On Child Porn Charges
Hackensack Man Jailed On Child Porn Charges UPDATE: A Bergen County-based insurance underwriter for entertainers, athletes and corporate executives was released pending court action on child porn charges, records show. Matthew Heitman, 33, was arrested Thursday during a raid of his Hackensack home, Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The former Upper Saddle River resident "used the Internet to view, download, and possess more than 1,000 digital files and distributed multiple digital files depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children," the prosecutor said. Heitman was discovered during a "months-long Internet…
Authorities: NJ Mom Set Apartment On Fire Then Fled With 3 Kids To Perth Amboy Authorities: NJ Mom Set Apartment On Fire Then Fled With 3 Kids To Perth Amboy
Authorities: NJ Mom Set Apartment On Fire Then Fled With 3 Kids To Perth Amboy A Hillsborough mom was charged with intentionally starting three fires inside of her apartment before fleeing the scene to Perth Amboy with her three kids, authorities said. Hillsborough police got a 9-1-1 call around 11:10 p.m. April 20 for a fire at a Treeman Drive apartment, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced in a joint release. A neighbor told police she saw Jacklyn McLoughlin, 33, fleeing the unit where she lived with her kids just before fire companies and police responded, Robertson said. An investigation found that the fires were planned and deliber…
'Want Rona?' Police Say Video Shows Morris Man Deliberately Coughing On Estranged Wife's Things 'Want Rona?' Police Say Video Shows Morris Man Deliberately Coughing On Estranged Wife's Things
'Want Rona?' Police Say Video Shows Morris Man Deliberately Coughing On Estranged Wife's Things A Morris County man was caught on surveillance video coughing on and touching objects in his estranged wife’s home, saying he had “the 'rona,” authorities charged. “Do you want the 'rona?” Nikolas Whitehill, 39, of Parsippany, is heard asking on the video, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. A court order allowed Whitehill to enter his wife’s house on alternating dates when she isn’t home to feed the fish, Grewal said. She provided video footage to the police from March 28, he added. Police charged Whitehill with violating an executive order issued by Gov. Phil Murphy that make …
Murphy Relents, Allows Gun Shops To Open Amid Coronavirus Crisis Murphy Relents, Allows Gun Shops To Open Amid Coronavirus Crisis
Murphy Relents, Allows Gun Shops To Open Amid Coronavirus Crisis Gun shops in New Jersey can now open as an essential business during the coronavirus outbreak -- but "by appointment only and under limited hours," Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday. Murphy originally classified gun shops as "non-essential" businesses required to be closed as part of an executive order. He changed that on Monday, saying that he was following U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidelines, which added gun dealers, ranges and manufacturers to its essential business guide for its coronavirus response on Saturday. “It wouldn’t be my definition, but that’s the definition at the fed…
LAWSUIT: Leaked Shell Station Toxins Caused Cancer That Killed Northvale Girl LAWSUIT: Leaked Shell Station Toxins Caused Cancer That Killed Northvale Girl
Lawsuit: Leaked Shell Station Toxins Caused Cancer That Killed Northvale Girl The family of a late Northvale girl has filed a lawsuit alleging her deadly brain cancer was caused by a contaminant leak from a nearby gas station. Vivienne Knopp, 7, had been living at one of the homes in which toxic chemicals had seeped into the garden soil from an underground Shell station tank, NorthJersey.com reports. The lawsuit was filed last Thursday in Superior Court -- exactly two years after Vivienne's death - and names Shell Oil Co. and the station's owner, Tappan Realty. The Tappan Road gas station is one of the thousands of contaminated New Jersey sites on a list by the…
LAWSUIT: Bergenfield Man Wants $5M From Family Fun Day Mechanical Bull Injury LAWSUIT: Bergenfield Man Wants $5M From Family Fun Day Mechanical Bull Injury
Lawsuit: Bergenfield Man Wants $5M From Family Fun Day Mechanical Bull Injury A Bergenfield man who says he was injured while riding a mechanical bull at a local annual event is seeking $5 million from the borough. Ryan Nelson had no time to secure himself on the ride when the operator "unreasonably and unexpectedly jolted and jerked" him on the bull at the Bergenfield Family Fun Day in June 2017, NorthJersey.com reports. Nelson was out of work and under went surgery for some permanent injuries to his head, neck, limbs and nervous system endured on the ride at Veteran's Memorial Park, his lawyer Christopher DiGirolamo said. The suit was filed in Berge…
UPDATE: 5th Grade Teacher Had Dozens Of Child Porn Images, Bergen Investigators Charge UPDATE: 5th Grade Teacher Had Dozens Of Child Porn Images, Bergen Investigators Charge
Update: 5th Grade Teacher Had Dozens Of Child Porn Images, Bergen Investigators Charge A Tenafly elementary school teacher was arrested by investigators who said they found 32 child pornography images belonging to him stored on a cloud. Pasquale Bernaldo-Antonelli, 42, remained held in the Bergen County Jail on Friday, charged with child endangerment by possessing and/or viewing images of child pornography and/or abuse following his arrest the day before by detectives from Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella's office. The investigators said they traced a child-porn complaint from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in January to Bernaldo-Antonelli. …
POLL: Sussex County's New ICE Ballot Question Similar To Another That AG Nixed POLL: Sussex County's New ICE Ballot Question Similar To Another That AG Nixed
Poll: Sussex County's New ICE Ballot Question Similar To Another That AG Nixed The Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously voted to put a question on the ballot similar to the one New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal told them not to: "Should Sussex County aid ICE?"  (Story continues below poll). The board is asking voters to weigh-in on if it should "make county-owned tools, resources, personnel, and real and intellectual property" should be made reasonably available to ICE. Grewal last month criticized a similar ballot question that would have asked the county sheriff to ignore his "immigrant trust directive," and gave the Free…
Former Hudson County Official Accused Of Taking Bribes Former Hudson County Official Accused Of Taking Bribes
Former Hudson County Official Accused Of Taking Bribes A Jersey City woman who worked for Hudson County’s Office on Aging took bribes to funnel patients in need of health aides to a businessperson who turned out to be a witness for the government, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey said. Myrtha Nicolas, 61, was charged last week with extortion under color of official right. She was released on a $100,000 bond. Nicolas served as a referral coordinator who connected disabled patients with companies that provide health aides as part of an effort by the state to help patients live independently.  In June 2016, a self-employed executive of a ho…
Mahwah Generic Drug Maker Among 20 Companies, 16 Individuals Accused In Price-Fixing Scheme Mahwah Generic Drug Maker Among 20 Companies, 16 Individuals Accused In Price-Fixing Scheme
Mahwah Generic Drug Maker Among 20 Companies, 16 Individuals Accused In Price-Fixing Scheme A Mahwah-based generic drug manufacturer was among 20 companies accused of participating in what authorities called “one of the most egregious and damaging price-fixing conspiracies in the history of the United States.”  A complaint filed by the 44 states in U.S. District Court in Connecticut also accuses 16 individuals of participating in the scheme. More than half of the drug companies and five of the individual defendants – all of whom are drug company executives responsible for sales, marketing, pricing and operations -- are from New Jersey. They include Glenmark Pharmaceuticals I…
FOX Signs Bergen County's Jackie DeAngelis As Business Correspondent FOX Signs Bergen County's Jackie DeAngelis As Business Correspondent
FOX Signs Bergen County's Jackie DeAngelis As Business Correspondent FOX Business Network (FBN) has signed Bergen County native Jackie DeAngelis as a financial correspondent. Beginning April 22, the former CNBC reporter and anchor will cover breaking business news out of FBN’s headquarters in New York, network president Brian Jones announced. Prior to joining FBN, DeAngelis -- formerly of Alpine, Fort Lee and Englewood -- spent 13 years at CNBC as she the network’s chief energy correspondent and anchor of online commodities program, "Futures Now."  DeAngelis contributed market reports across CNBC’s daily programming as well as covered the eco…
Man Admits Extorting Professional Morris County Athlete With Naked Photos, Report Says Man Admits Extorting Professional Morris County Athlete With Naked Photos, Report Says
Man Admits Extorting Professional Morris County Athlete With Naked Photos, Report Says A man pleaded guilty to extorting a Morris County-based professional athlete with naked and sexually explicit photos, the DailyRecord reports. Patrick M. Avognon Jr. was represented by a public defender and tested positive for marijuana at federal court in Newark Monday, when he admitted to demanding $5,600 from the athlete and threatening to post nude photos of him to a website if he failed to do so, the article says. The victim, who was not identified, was forced to hire a lawyer and a private investigator, who turned evidence of the extortion over to law enforcement, DailyRecord say…
Cleaning Service Worker Stole $1,105 From 3 Glen Rock Homes, Possibly Others, Police Say Cleaning Service Worker Stole $1,105 From 3 Glen Rock Homes, Possibly Others, Police Say
Cleaning Service Worker Stole $1,105 From 3 Glen Rock Homes, Possibly Others, Police Say A cleaning service employee altered and cashed $1,105 worth of checks stolen from three different Glen Rock homes, said police who suspect similar thefts in other towns. Detective Lucas Doney identified and busted 39-year-old Monica Gonzalez of Hopatcong after the cleaning service owner told police that she “suspected one of her employees of stealing checks from clients’ homes,” Police Chief Dean Ackermann said Monday. Gonzalez – who didn’t maintain a consistent address -- took 10 checks in all from the three homes, the chief said. It’s believed she also stole from homes in other towns, he…
Prosecutor: Lodi Teacher, Mayor's Daughter Charged In Student Sex Case Prosecutor: Lodi Teacher, Mayor's Daughter Charged In Student Sex Case
Prosecutor: Lodi Teacher, Mayor's Daughter Charged In Student Sex Case Authorities arrested a 32-year-old Lodi middle school teacher who they said exchanged sexual photos and engaged in "inappropriate sexual conduct" with a student under 16 years old. Stephanie Carafa, 32, is a teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and the daughter of longtime borough mayor Emil Carafa. She was arrested Saturday on charges of child endangerment and aggravated criminal sexual contact, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said. A detention hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2 in Hackensack.
Lawsuit: Bergen Sheriff Candidate Says Murphy Should Fill Post Lawsuit: Bergen Sheriff Candidate Says Murphy Should Fill Post
Lawsuit: Bergen Sheriff Candidate Says Murphy Should Fill Post Bergen County Sheriff candidate and Saddle Brook police chief Robert Kugler has filed a lawsuit against the county clerk in which he says Tuesday's election should be ruled invalid. The suit maintains that since former Sheriff Michael Saudino resigned within 37 days of the next election, Gov. Phil Murphy should have filled the position. The suit also says that Bergen County Clerk John Hogan created unnecessary gaps between candidates' names on the physical ballot -- causing confusion and bias. It also says that Hogan did not hold a public drawing for the ballot, a violation of New Jersey la…
Northvale PTO President Charged With Pocketing $9,000 Of GoFundMe Money For Orphans Northvale PTO President Charged With Pocketing $9,000 Of GoFundMe Money For Orphans
Northvale PTO President Charged With Pocketing $9,000 Of GoFundMe Money For Orphans The president of the Northvale PTO was charged with pocketing $9,000 from a GoFundMe account established for three borough children who lost both parents. Kellyanne Carney, 43, was charged with misapplication of entrusted property after the Timpanaro family alerted police. According to Police Chief William Essmann, the family's “multiple attempts to contact the suspect both telephonically and via attorney were ignored." Sources told Daily Voice the family received only $1,000 of the money that was raised for Donald and Theresa Timpanaro's three children. Donald Timpanaro died in 2011…
Teaneck Immigrant Admits Bribing Federal Employee For Special Visa Teaneck Immigrant Admits Bribing Federal Employee For Special Visa
Teaneck Immigrant Admits Bribing Federal Employee For Special Visa A Teaneck man admitted Friday that he tried bribing a State Department to take care of a non-immigrant visa that allows Dominican nationals to enter the U.S. Luis Santos, 27, told a federal judge in Trenton that he paid the U.S. consular adjudicator $2,381 for a favorable outcome. A nonimmigrant visa (NIV) is issued to a person with permanent residence outside the U.S. who seeks admission here temporarily for tourism, medical treatment, business or temporary work or study. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents of the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service with inves…
Payroll Clerk Gets 18 Months For Helping Con Clifton Trucking Company Out Of $920,000 Payroll Clerk Gets 18 Months For Helping Con Clifton Trucking Company Out Of $920,000
Payroll Clerk Gets 18 Months For Helping Con Clifton Trucking Company Out Of $920,000 A now-former payroll clerk was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Monday for helping con a Clifton trucking company out of $920,380. Lisa Popewiny, 56, also of Clifton, admitted her guilt last September, joining three brothers who also accepted deal from the government rather than face a jury in U.S. District Court in Newark. Like Popewiny, Miguel Vidal, Angel D. Vidal, and Angel Gabriel Vidal previously pleaded guilty to similar charges for their roles in the scheme -- and, in doing so, agreed to testify against her if she took the case to trial. The brothers admitted they allowe…
Fort Lee Chemistry Teacher Harassed Student With Sickle Cell Anemia: Lawsuit Fort Lee Chemistry Teacher Harassed Student With Sickle Cell Anemia: Lawsuit
Fort Lee Chemistry Teacher Harassed Student With Sickle Cell Anemia: Lawsuit The Fort Lee Board of Education is facing a lawsuit from a student's mom alleging her daughter was harassed by her high school chemistry teacher after correcting her lesson about sickle cell anemia, which she was diagnosed with. The civil complaint last month in Hackensack Superior Court by Tyrene Gibson says Suzanne Keefe bullied student "AGT" (Gibson's daughter) and the district failed to investigate the complaints. AGT transferred to Paramus Catholic High school where she is a rising senior. Gibson told Daily Voice that the district violated her daughter's rights under New Jer…
Westwood Patriarch, 72, Charged With Attempted Murder In Stabbing Westwood Patriarch, 72, Charged With Attempted Murder In Stabbing
Westwood Patriarch, 72, Charged With Attempted Murder In Stabbing UPDATE: Authorities charged a 72-year-old Westwood homeowner with attempted murder for stabbing his wife and aggravated assault for attacking his daughter in their home Tuesday night. Troy Jones also faces illegal weapons charges, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said Wednesday. None of the injuries appeared life-threatening after Jones stabbed his 67-year-old wife, Cathy, and assaulted their 31-year-daughter, Ashleigh, in their home at the corner of Westwood Boulevard and Hooper Street, law enforcement sources told Daily Voice. Cathy Jones was rushed to Hackensack University Me…
US Customs Agent From Lyndhurst Admits Terrorizing Fellow Workers US Customs Agent From Lyndhurst Admits Terrorizing Fellow Workers
US Customs Agent From Lyndhurst Admits Terrorizing Fellow Workers A Customs and Border Protection officer from Lyndhurst admitted beating and terrorizing fellow employees at Newark Airport, federal authorities said Tuesday. Another CBP worker from Hawthorne and a co-worker were indicted Tuesday on similar charges, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Tito Catota, 38, admitted Monday that he and his two co-defendants -- Parmenio I. Perez, 40, of Hawthorne and Michael A. Papagni, 32, of Staten Island – “assaulted, impeded, intimidated, and interfered” with two CBP officers while on the job. The trio, "who were members of a unit responsible for identify…
Cost Of New Tappan Zee Bridge May Be $1 Billion Over Budget, Report Says Cost Of New Tappan Zee Bridge May Be $1 Billion Over Budget, Report Says
Cost Of New Tappan Zee Bridge May Be $1 Billion Over Budget, Report Says The new Tappan Zee Bridge may come in at a final cost of more than $4 billion dollars, nearly $1 billion above the base contract, according to a recently released Politico report. Contractors may be seeking upwards of $900 million in claims against the Thruway Authority, according to the report, on top of the $3.142 billion base contract, which exceeds the $548 million that had originally been budgeted for contingencies, though that number is reportedly expected to shrink. If the additional $900 million is needed, it would push the total bill for the new Tappan Zee Bridge over $4 billion, a…