NJ Human Trafficker Gets 50 Years For Forcing Girl, 17, Into Prostitution NJ Human Trafficker Gets 50 Years For Forcing Girl, 17, Into Prostitution
NJ Human Trafficker Gets 50 Years For Forcing Girl, 17, Into Prostitution A Trenton woman who cruelly forced an underage girl into prostitution must spend at least 20 years in state prison before she’ll be eligible for parole. Superior Court Judge Darlene J. Pereksta on Thursday sentenced Ashley Gardener, 32, for a series of jury convictions for human trafficking, promoting prostitution and child endangerment, among other crimes. Pereksta sentenced Gardener to 50 years altogether, 40% of which she must serve before she can seek a parole hearing.  It marked the final chapter in what authorities said was a prime example of a crime that occurs “in the shadows,…
Indictment: Sex Offender, Felons Drove Unsafe Buses For NJ Company Without Checks, Drug Tests Indictment: Sex Offender, Felons Drove Unsafe Buses For NJ Company Without Checks, Drug Tests
Indictment: Sex Offender, Felons Drove Unsafe Buses For NJ Company Without Checks, Drug Tests A Paterson-based school bus company owner from Wayne and his manager hired criminals as drivers – including a registered sex offender – and covered it up, a state grand jury indictment charges. Shelim Khalique, the 52-year-old owner/operator of A-1 Elegant Tours on Paterson Street, and manager Henry Rhodes, 57, of Paterson, hired drivers without background checks or mandatory drug tests while operating unsafe buses, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. Personnel files seized in 2019 revealed that A-1 – which has serviced Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties -- employed several…
NJ: Montclair Retiree Shared Sex Chats, Child Porn Pics With Boys, Tried To Lure One NJ: Montclair Retiree Shared Sex Chats, Child Porn Pics With Boys, Tried To Lure One
NJ: Montclair Retiree Shared Sex Chats, Child Porn Pics With Boys, Tried To Lure One A Montclair retiree had sex chats with underage boys, sent them pornographic images and even tried to lure one to have sex with him, said authorities who urged any other potential victims to come forward. An unidentified social media service tipped off authorities that Keith Matheis, 67, had messaged a child exploitation file to someone, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Tuesday. The Elmwood Park native, it turned out, “engaged in sexually explicit chats with multiple users he believed were under 16 years old,” Grewal said. He also “arranged to meet one suspected minor chi…
Authorities: Jersey City Officer Went To AC To Have Sex With Young Girls Found On Incest App Authorities: Jersey City Officer Went To AC To Have Sex With Young Girls Found On Incest App
Authorities: Jersey City Officer Went To AC To Have Sex With Young Girls Found On Incest App A Jersey City police officer drove to Atlantic City expecting to have sex with two girls – ages 8 and 10 -- for $200, state authorities charged. Stephen Wilson, 34, of Bayonne was carrying condoms and $500 in cash when State Police and federal Homeland Security agents arrested him in a parking lot of the city known as “The World’s Playground,” state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. Wilson had agreed to bring the condoms to a meeting there with adults who Grewal said “offered him access to the girls” after they connected on an incest app. He was charged with conspiracy to commit huma…
Here's How NJ's End To Small-Time Pot Busts, Pending Cases Immediately Affects Adults, Teens Here's How NJ's End To Small-Time Pot Busts, Pending Cases Immediately Affects Adults, Teens
Here's How NJ's End To Small-Time Pot Busts, Pending Cases Immediately Affects Adults, Teens With two-bit pot busts officially now history in New Jersey, the state's top lawman issued directives Tuesday to prosecutors, police departments and other crime fighters to stop making minor weed busts and drop pending cases immediately. Here are some of the things you should know: 1. You can legally possess up to six ounces of pot. 2. You can't gift or sell more than an ounce. 3. All previous convictions for crimes involving those amounts must be vacated. 4. Driving under the influence of marijuana is still illegal -- but the smell of pot itself is no longer a legal probable cause for a…
'Old School' Corruption: Morris Freeholder Hopeful Admits Taking $10G Bribe In Failed Campaign 'Old School' Corruption: Morris Freeholder Hopeful Admits Taking $10G Bribe In Failed Campaign
'Old School' Corruption: Morris Freeholder Hopeful Admits Taking $10G Bribe In Failed Campaign UPDATE: Not only did Mary Dougherty lose a Morris County freeholder election three years ago. She also admitted Friday that she accepted an illegal $10,000 contribution to the failed campaign. What Dougherty didn’t know at the time was that the contributor was working for state prosecutors. Dougherty, 60, of Morristown was one of five politicos from Morris and Hudson counties snared in the sting, which targeted what state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal called “old school” New Jersey corruption. Rather than go to trial, she took a deal from the government, pleading guilty Friday via tele…
NJ: Indictments In ‘Old School’ Corruption Sting Name Ex-Officials, Political Candidates NJ: Indictments In ‘Old School’ Corruption Sting Name Ex-Officials, Political Candidates
NJ: Indictments In ‘Old School’ Corruption Sting Name Ex-Officials, Political Candidates Indictments were returned against four former New Jersey public officials and political candidates accused of taking bribes in a major corruption probe in Hudson and Morris counties, authorities announced Tuesday. Former Jersey City School Board President Sudhan Thomas, former state Assemblyman and Bayonne mayoral candidate Jason O’Donnell, former Morris County Freeholder John Cesaro and former Mount Arlington Council Member John Windish are charged in separate indictments with pocketing thousands of dollars in bribes from a campaign contributor. A fifth defendant, former Morris County free…
Trouble Collecting Unemployment? Working NJ Man Pocketed $96,437 Before COVID, Authorities Say Trouble Collecting Unemployment? Working NJ Man Pocketed $96,437 Before COVID, Authorities Say
Trouble Collecting Unemployment? Working NJ Man Pocketed $96,437 Before COVID, Authorities Say Before the coronavirus pandemic drove claims to unprecedented heights, a South Jersey man collected $96,437 in unemployment benefits from the state while holding down a job, said authorities who charged him with theft. Brian Peyton, 50, of Vineland had worked for a major food packaging company in Cumberland County for 27 years, in fact, records show. A state grand jury in Trenton indicted Peyton late last week after prosecutors said he had the benefits directly deposited from July 2010 through January 2017 while remaining employed the entire time, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal sai…
VIDEO: Authorities Investigating Alleged Police Beating Of Arab-American Paterson Resident, 19 VIDEO: Authorities Investigating Alleged Police Beating Of Arab-American Paterson Resident, 19
Video: Authorities Investigating Alleged Police Beating Of Arab-American Paterson Resident, 19 State authorities confirmed Monday that they’re reviewing surveillance video as part of an investigation into an alleged unprovoked assault by Paterson police on a 19-year-old Arab-American city resident. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal issued a two-sentence statement confirming an investigation of the Dec. 14 incident, which he said was being conducted by his Office of Public Integrity and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. “The video shows the truth, it shows what actually happened,” Osamah Alsaidi said. “These officers came out of nowhere to block me from walking and be…
NJ: 2020 Traffic Deaths Increased During COVID-19 NJ: 2020 Traffic Deaths Increased During COVID-19
NJ: 2020 Traffic Deaths Increased During Covid-19 Even though COVID-19 took countless vehicles off the road, the number of fatal crashes in New Jersey – and throughout the country -- actually increased last year, authorities announced Tuesday. We all know why. Even though fewer people drove, those who did took more risks and were involved in more deadly collisions, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. Irresponsible driving led to a 5% increase in fatal crashes statewide last year, to 552 from the year before, State Police reported. This comes at a time when traffic volumes were drastically reduced because of stay-at-home ord…
This One Rivals Madoff: $1.8B Ponzi Scheme Victimizes Hundreds Of NJ Investors, Authorities Say This One Rivals Madoff: $1.8B Ponzi Scheme Victimizes Hundreds Of NJ Investors, Authorities Say
This One Rivals Madoff: $1.8B Ponzi Scheme Victimizes Hundreds Of NJ Investors, Authorities Say Hundreds of New Jersey investors were among those scammed in a $1.8 billion Ponzi scheme that authorities said was orchestrated by a trio of partners in a Manhattan-based advisory firm who projected an “aura of success” while hemorrhaging losses. Instead of securing returns for clients, the founder and CEO of GPB Capital Holdings, David Gentile, and his associates used investments to cover shortfalls and pay for private jets, a Ferrari and other personal luxuries, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. Victims from the Garden State alone pumped more than $70.4 million into the s…
Three Prison Officers Charged Criminally In Vicious Beating Of Inmates At NJ Women’s Prison Three Prison Officers Charged Criminally In Vicious Beating Of Inmates At NJ Women’s Prison
Three Prison Officers Charged Criminally In Vicious Beating Of Inmates At NJ Women’s Prison One of three correctional police officers charged with severely beating and pepper-spraying inmates at New Jersey’s notorious women’s prison last month punched one of them in the face 28 times, state authorities said Thursday.  And it was all caught on video, they said. Sgt. Amir Bethea, Sgt. Anthony Valvano and Officer Lisando “Luis” Garcia were all charged with official misconduct for what Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal described as a vicious and unrelenting attack on several inmates at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County beginning shortly before mid…