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Police & Fire
Violent Robber Who Preyed On Prostitutes At Secaucus Hotels Captured, Police Say Violent Robber Who Preyed On Prostitutes At Secaucus Hotels Captured, Police Say
Violent Robber Who Preyed On Prostitutes At Secaucus Hotels Captured, Police Say One of two men who forced their way into motel rooms and robbed prostitutes and their customers in Secaucus was seized by police, authorities announced Friday. Kendall Smith, 32, of Jersey City and a second man committed at least three violent robberies beginning May 17 at the La Quinta Hotel, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. Smith and his companion “forced their way into the victims’ hotel room while brandishing knives,” the chief said. “After a struggle, the suspects fled the area with some of the victims’ money, personal belongings and documents.” Two weeks later, they did the …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Woman, 22, Tells Authorities She Was Sexually Assaulted In JC By Stranger Who Picked Her Up Woman, 22, Tells Authorities She Was Sexually Assaulted In JC By Stranger Who Picked Her Up
Woman, 22, Tells Authorities She Was Sexually Assaulted In JC By Stranger Who Picked Her Up A 22-year-old woman told authorities that she was sexually assaulted by a stranger whose car she got into near Jersey City's Journal Square. The woman told police she voluntarily got into a white vehicle after the stranger approached her around 7 a.m. Sunday, June 2, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. The driver then headed to the area of Eighth and dead-ended Division Street by the Roberto Clemente Sports Complex in the shadow of the New Jersey Turnpike overpass, she said. It was there, the woman told police, that she was sexually assaulted, Suarez said. A person of intere…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Sports
UConn's Dan Hurley, New Jersey Native, Could Be LA Lakers Next Coach: Report UConn's Dan Hurley, New Jersey Native, Could Be LA Lakers Next Coach: Report
UConn's Dan Hurley, New Jersey Native, Could Be LA Lakers Next Coach: Report After two back-to-back NCAA championships, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly wooing UConn's Dan Hurley to be their next head coach. Click here for a new, updated story: Dan Hurley Spurns Lucrative LA Lakers' Offer To Stay With UConn  According to a report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the franchise is working on a "massive," long-term contract to bring the famous Hurley, age 51, to the Lakers. Wojnarowski reported on Thursday, June 6, that the Lakers' front office had preliminary contact with Hurley and planned to escalate the discussions. Wojnarowski reported that the tea…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Casting Call: Fitness Buffs From North Jersey Sought For Paid Commercial Casting Call: Fitness Buffs From North Jersey Sought For Paid Commercial
Casting Call: Fitness Buffs From North Jersey Sought For Paid Commercial Do you work out and want to show it off? This fitness commercial could be your big break. The commercial, which shoots in late June in either New York or New Jersey, is looking for men and women fitness models, ages 18 to 50, who will demonstrate a product and perform a few exercises with it, including leg workouts like lunges, squats and hip raises, according to a listing. The ad is seeking talent from Jersey City and Morristown and interested talent should be skilled in fitness modeling and weight lifting, according to the listing. The role pays between $300 and $800. For more informatio…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
NJ Soccer Player, Licensed Gun Owner Jailed After Threatening Rival With Weapon After Game: PD NJ Soccer Player, Licensed Gun Owner Jailed After Threatening Rival With Weapon After Game: PD
NJ Soccer Player, Licensed Gun Owner Jailed After Threatening Rival With Weapon After Game: PD A Jersey City man has been arrested after pointing a handgun at a rival soccer player after both were ejected from a game in Secaucus over the weekend, police said. Reda Benyamin, 34, and the player on an opposing team began arguing during the game at Shetik Field on County Avenue on May 2, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. Both players were ejected and went to their cars to leave after the game. While stopped at a light on Jefferson and County Avenue, Benyamin pulled up next to the player's car and threatened him with a black handgun, police said. Both then left the area. Benyamin…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More
'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A once-prominent New Jersey lawyer must spend the next 4½ years in federal prison for swindling a family he represented out of $2 million -- and then, while on pre-trial release, impersonating another attorney in applying for a loan. The family had retained James R. Lisa, 68, of Jersey City, to gather millions that had been moved into offshore bank accounts by relatives decades ago and to resolve any tax issues that arose as a result, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Soon after being retained, Lisa moved more than $6 million back into the United States but told the famil…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass
Jersey City Police Lieutenant's Cremation To Follow Saturday Funeral Mass She devoted her life to those in need and put others first. She was "the glue that held her family and friends together." And at only 44 years old, Jersey City Police Lt. Marina Angelica Ugolini is gone far too soon. Ugolini died Tuesday evening, May 28. The 19-year department veteran, who was promoted to lieutenant six years ago this month, worked in the city's North District. Ugolini was an alumnus of Jersey City Medical Center and Ambucar EMS who "took pride in helping people by devoting her life to serving those in need," her obituary says. "She transported the first medical …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
REST IN PEACE: Jersey City Police Lieutenant Dies Suddenly REST IN PEACE: Jersey City Police Lieutenant Dies Suddenly
Rest IN Peace: Jersey City Police Lieutenant Dies Suddenly She devoted her life to those in need and put others first. She was "the glue that held her family and friends together." And at only 44 years old, Jersey City Police Lt. Marina Angelica Ugolini is gone far too soon. Ugolini died Tuesday evening, May 28. The 19-year department veteran, who was promoted to lieutenant six years ago this month, worked in the city's North District. Ugolini was an alumnus of Jersey City Medical Center and Ambucar EMS who "took pride in helping people by devoting her life to serving those in need," her obituary says. "She transported the first medical patient to…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Deputy Marshals Justified Shooting Machete-Wielding Murder Fugitive In Jersey City: Grand Jury Deputy Marshals Justified Shooting Machete-Wielding Murder Fugitive In Jersey City: Grand Jury
Deputy Marshals Justified Shooting Machete-Wielding Murder Fugitive In Jersey City: Grand Jury 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Two deputy U.S. Marshals were justified in shooting a fugitive murderer from Florida who came at them with a hatchet when they tracked him down in Jersey City, a New Jersey grand jury has ruled. Esteban DeJesus, Jr., 56, of Orlando was wanted for shooting and killing his 67-year-old next-door neighbor and wounding her husband the day before the deputy marshals found him. New Jersey law requires a grand jury review of all deaths that occur during or after encounters with law enforcement. State investigators had a clear-cut case involving DeJesus, who police in Orlando said attacked …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Former Hudson Clothing Store Manager Who Shared Child Porn Gets 10 Years, No Early Release Former Hudson Clothing Store Manager Who Shared Child Porn Gets 10 Years, No Early Release
Former Hudson Clothing Store Manager Who Shared Child Porn Gets 10 Years, No Early Release A former clothing store manager from Jersey City who shared videos of infant and toddler pornography was sentenced to a plea-bargained 10 years in federal prison, after which he's expected to be deported. Ramy Mercado, 29, transmitted more than 20 child sex abuse videos and expressed a "desire for sexual encounters with young children," U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Mercado took a deal from the government rather than risk the potential outcome of a jury trial. He pleaded guilty to child porn possession, as well as to naturalization fraud, in exchange for leniency at sen…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
SEE ANYTHING? Bicyclist, 21, Critically Injured By Hit-Run Driver Near JC/Bayonne Line SEE ANYTHING? Bicyclist, 21, Critically Injured By Hit-Run Driver Near JC/Bayonne Line
SEE Anything? Bicyclist, 21, Critically Injured By Hit-Run Driver Near JC/Bayonne Line Authorities turned to the public for help identifying a hit-and-run driver who critically injured a 21-year-old bicyclist from Bayonne in Jersey City as the 2024 Memorial Day weekend was beginning. The victim was struck on Garfield Avenue between Gates and Seaview avenues near the city line at 5 a.m. Saturday, May 25, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. He remained in critical but stable condition at Jersey City Medical Center, the prosecutor said. Members of her Regional Collision Investigation Unit and Jersey City police identified a vehicle and a person of interest, Suarez said…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Movie Filming In NJ Casting Soldiers, Topless Woman Movie Filming In NJ Casting Soldiers, Topless Woman
Movie Filming In NJ Casting Soldiers, Topless Woman A feature film shooting in New Jersey throughout the summer is casting a variety of paid roles. "Retrograde Victory" is about  a young man who finds new importance in life after the psychological toll inflicted on himself while being inducted to the Vietnam war, the casting call reads. The director and producer is M.J. Walker of Superion Films.  Actors are needed to play a young solder age 7 to 12; a mourning woman 25 to 40; an M60 solder ages 18 to 25; a variety of other solders; and a topless woman. Roles pay between $100 and $150 for one hour of work. The casting call say…

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by Cecilia Levine