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Police & Fire
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…

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Waldwick Contractor Admits Paying Tens Of Thousands In Kickbacks For No-Show Paterson MUA Jobs Waldwick Contractor Admits Paying Tens Of Thousands In Kickbacks For No-Show Paterson MUA Jobs
Waldwick Contractor Admits Paying Tens Of Thousands In Kickbacks For No-Show Paterson MUA Jobs A Paterson-based contractor from Waldwick admitted in federal court Wednesday that he paid kickbacks in exchange for work – much of it for work that was never done -- from the now-defunct Paterson Municipal Utilities Authority. Anthony Cacciola, 47, told a U.S. District Court judge in Newark that he conspired with then-MUA commissioner Erik Lowe to jack up the cost of contracts for fence installation and repair. He said he then kicked back the padded thousands to Lowe, who, exercising control over the MUA’s infancies, steered more contracts his way. Near the end of the scheme, U.S. Attorne…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
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…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Reports: Reputed Mob Boss 'Franky Boy' Cali Gunned Down, Run Over Outside Staten Island Home Reports: Reputed Mob Boss 'Franky Boy' Cali Gunned Down, Run Over Outside Staten Island Home
Reports: Reputed Mob Boss 'Franky Boy' Cali Gunned Down, Run Over Outside Staten Island Home One of the last of the reputed old-school mob bosses, Gambino crime family chief Francesco Cali, was gunned down and run over in front of his Staten Island home Wednesday night, city authorities confirmed. “Franky Boy” Cali, 53, was shot several times and run over by a blue pickup truck in the island’s Todt Hill section around 9:15 p.m., according to multiple reports. Witnesses reported hearing at least a half-dozen shots, police said. The reputed mob boss was pronounced dead at Staten Island University Hospital North, they said. Cali, whose low-key style was a throwback contrast to flamb…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Bitcoin Bomb Threat: Obsolete Compound 'Hidden Anywhere' Would 'Wound People If It Detonates' Bitcoin Bomb Threat: Obsolete Compound 'Hidden Anywhere' Would 'Wound People If It Detonates'
Bitcoin Bomb Threat: Obsolete Compound 'Hidden Anywhere' Would 'Wound People If It Detonates' UPDATE: Whoever emailed tens of thousands of threats to schools, hospitals, universities, media organizations, businesses and public agencies nationwide on Thursday vowed to use an outdated explosive compound that is "impossible to damage the building structure" but would leave "wounded people if it detonates," Daily Voice has learned. Buildings were evacuated and searches were conducted at hundreds of locations from coast to coast before local and federal authorities deemed the threats bogus. Although they weren't all identical, many of the emails appeared to come from Moscow and bore simi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
PD: $2,000 Payoff Demanded From Ridgewood Teen To Keep Video'd Chat Private PD: $2,000 Payoff Demanded From Ridgewood Teen To Keep Video'd Chat Private
PD: $2,000 Payoff Demanded From Ridgewood Teen To Keep Video'd Chat Private A Ridgewood teen became the target of an extortion attempt after a video-recorded Facebook chat turned personal, authorities said. The 19-year-old North Pleasant Avenue resident told police he'd engaged in a personal video conversation that he later learned had been recorded without his knowledge, Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke said. The female on the other end demanded $2,000 or she'd make the video public, Luthcke said. Instead, he went to police. Facebook was assisting Ridgewood detectives in pursuing the attempted extortionist.

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Passaic Prosecutor Reviewing All Cases Of Paterson Cops Busted By FBI Passaic Prosecutor Reviewing All Cases Of Paterson Cops Busted By FBI
Passaic Prosecutor Reviewing All Cases Of Paterson Cops Busted By FBI PATERSON, N.J. – Passaic County Prosecutor Camela Valdes said Friday that her office is reviewing all cases involving two Paterson police officers charged by the federal government with pocketing cash and valuables during illegal traffic stops and searches. City Officers Jonathan Bustios and Eudy Ramos “detained the occupants and searched those vehicles without any justification,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said after both were arrested by FBI agents Wednesday on civil rights violations. Bustios -- who prosecutors said took a handgun from a motorist in exchange for lenient treatment -- w…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Feds: Crooked Paterson Cops Stole Guns, Cash In Illegal Stops, Searches Feds: Crooked Paterson Cops Stole Guns, Cash In Illegal Stops, Searches
Feds: Crooked Paterson Cops Stole Guns, Cash In Illegal Stops, Searches PATERSON, N.J. – The FBI on Wednesday arrested two Paterson police officers – one of whom they said accepted a gun in exchange for reducing charges against a suspect – for pocketing cash and valuables during illegal traffic stops and searches, authorities said. City Officers Jonathan Bustios and Eudy Ramos stopped vehicles, “detained the occupants and searched those vehicles without any justification,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. “On certain occasions, Bustios and Ramos also took cash and other items without justification before releasing the detained occupants,” Carpenito said. Bu…

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by Jerry DeMarco