NJ Construction Business Owner Who Owes $1.3M+ In Taxes Admits To Evasion Scheme: Feds NJ Construction Business Owner Who Owes $1.3M+ In Taxes Admits To Evasion Scheme: Feds
NJ Construction Business Owner Who Owes $1.3M+ In Taxes Admits To Evasion Scheme: Feds A New Jersey construction company owner admitted to using his personal bank account to evade more than $1.3 million in taxes, authorities said. Alain Rodrigues, 49, of Old Bridge, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Aug. 1 to tax evasion and failure to collect and pay over taxes, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Rodrigues owned and operated a construction company in Old Bridge and Newark. According to court documents and statements, Rodrigues deposited some customers' payments into a business bank account and converted the ba…
6 Charged In Luxury NJ Car Thefts: Prosecutor 6 Charged In Luxury NJ Car Thefts: Prosecutor
6 Charged In Luxury NJ Car Thefts: Prosecutor Five men and one juvenile were recently arrested and charged with numerous residential and vehicle burglaries in Somerset County, authorities said. In October 2023, broke into a Bernards Township home through a rear sliding window and stole a 2023 Mercedes Benz, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald announced. A 2020 Kia, previously stolen from Newark, was let behind at the scene. Several days later, entry was made into a home in Bernardsville and two BMWs were stolen, authorities said. In November, a Dodge Charger and BMW were stolen, authorities said. In December, police from Gre…
Jersey Shore Judoka Eliminated From 2024 Olympics, Enjoys 'Unreal Experience' In Paris Jersey Shore Judoka Eliminated From 2024 Olympics, Enjoys 'Unreal Experience' In Paris
Jersey Shore Judoka Eliminated From 2024 Olympics, Enjoys 'Unreal Experience' In Paris A West Long Branch man from a storied judo family had his quest for Olympic gold in Paris cut short after losing his first contest. Jack Yonezuka was defeated 10-0 by Adil Osmanov of Moldova in a round of 32 fight in the 73-kilogram weight class on Monday, July 29. He lost by ippon (points) after he was given his third shido (a penalty) three minutes and 40 seconds into the match. Before his fight, the 2021 Shore Regional High School graduate shared Instagram pictures and videos of his view aboard Team USA's boat during the opening ceremony along the River Seine on Friday, Ju…
These 23 New Jersey Athletes Are At The Paris Olympic Games: Here's When To Watch These 23 New Jersey Athletes Are At The Paris Olympic Games: Here's When To Watch
These 23 New Jersey Athletes Are At The Paris Olympic Games: Here's When To Watch The Paris Olympics have begun!  And, in case you missed it, several of Garden State's fittest and most athletic residents are there (scroll for their names, sports, and hometowns). A total of 23 athletes from New Jersey have qualified for the Olympics and are ready to make their run at the gold. Events kicked off Friday, July 26. Click here for a complete schedule of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Garden State athletes include: Paxten Aaronson, of Medford: Soccer Bam Adebayo, of Newark, and 2020 Olympian: Basketball Jack Alexy, of Morristown: Swimming Jackie Dubrovich, of Riverda…
Drunk Driver Going 114 MPH Sentenced For Garden State Parkway Crash That Killed Amazon Worker Drunk Driver Going 114 MPH Sentenced For Garden State Parkway Crash That Killed Amazon Worker
Drunk Driver Going 114 MPH Sentenced For Garden State Parkway Crash That Killed Amazon Worker A 47-year-old Newark man was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday, July 19, for a deadly 2021 crash on the Garden State Parkway where he was driving intoxicated at 114 mph, authorities said. On Feb. 15, 2021, Rolando Godwin was driving a Range Rover when he struck a Lexus SUV driven by Christopher Meikle, a 46-year-old East Orange resident, causing his car to be engulfed in flames on the Garden State Parkway in Clark, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. Following the crash, Godwin requested he be transported away from the scene, indicating he was prepared to offer an unsp…
Uncle Junior's Newark Home On 'The Sopranos' Re-Listed At Slightly Higher Price With New Photos Uncle Junior's Newark Home On 'The Sopranos' Re-Listed At Slightly Higher Price With New Photos
Uncle Junior's Newark Home On 'The Sopranos' Re-Listed At Slightly Higher Price With New Photos A New Jersey home featured in some epic episodes of "The Sopranos" is back n the market. The home at 480 Highland Ave., in Newark was that of Corrado John “Junior” Soprano Jr., or Uncle Junior, in the hit HBO series. Courtesy of Maikol Puebla Courtesy of Maikol Puebla The 3,000-square-foot property features four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a 2-car driveway and a 2-car garage.  The house was made famous by the first episode of season six. You might remember it by this line: "I'm halfway to China! There's nothing here!" That was Tony digging in the garden outside, looking for hi…
Meek Mill Joins NJ Gov. Murphy To Celebrate Landmark Clemency Effort On Juneteenth Meek Mill Joins NJ Gov. Murphy To Celebrate Landmark Clemency Effort On Juneteenth
Meek Mill Joins NJ Gov. Murphy To Celebrate Landmark Clemency Effort On Juneteenth Gov. Phil Murphy celebrated Juneteenth by announcing a historic initiative in an effort to improve racial justice in New Jersey. The governor signed an executive order on clemency at Saint James AME Church in Newark on Wednesday, June 19. The order establishes standards for people to receive expedited consideration for pardons and commutations. Gov. Murphy said the goal is to fix the racial inequalities that have existed in the criminal justice system. "As we celebrate Juneteenth and reflect on our nation’s ongoing journey toward racial justice for Black and Brown …
Jon Stewart Plays Drums In Band's Surprise Performance At Asbury Park Music Festival Jon Stewart Plays Drums In Band's Surprise Performance At Asbury Park Music Festival
Jon Stewart Plays Drums In Band's Surprise Performance At Asbury Park Music Festival Comedian Jon Stewart is finding time to rock out on the Jersey Shore after returning to host 'The Daily Show' on Mondays in 2024. Stewart played the drums for the band Church and State at Asbury Park Brewery on Saturday, June 15. The appearance was during the Asbury Underground arts and music crawl that was part of the statewide North to Shore Festival.  The comedian who owns a Colts Neck animal sanctuary said the band made its "premiere performance" at the Cookman Avenue brewpub. "We have never played in public," Stewart said at the beginning of the band's set. "I certainly have nev…
ATTEMPTED MURDER: Bergen Man Chokes, Tries To Sexually Assault Pre-Teen: Authorities ATTEMPTED MURDER: Bergen Man Chokes, Tries To Sexually Assault Pre-Teen: Authorities
Attempted Murder: Bergen Man Chokes, Tries To Sexually Assault Pre-Teen: Authorities A 33-year-old Ridgefield man choked a Fairview pre-teen “to the point of unconsciousness” and had removed both his and the incapacitated child's clothes before he was stopped, authorities said. Julio Amaro-Vasquez, who lives on Bergen Boulevard just off Oakdene Avenue, was charged with attempted murder, attempted aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, attempted sexual assault by contact and child endangerment. He wasn't the only person arrested in connection with the alleged incident, however. Amaro-Vasquez's girlfriend, Marlin Cervantes Santos, 30, of Fairview, “directed…
Dad, Motorcyclist Killed In Crash On NJ Turnpike: State Police Dad, Motorcyclist Killed In Crash On NJ Turnpike: State Police
Dad, Motorcyclist Killed In Crash On NJ Turnpike: State Police A 37-year-old Monmouth County motorcyclist was killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Newark on Saturday June 8, authorities said. At 2:31 a.m. Ryan Schamlz, a Keyport resident, was opearting a Harley Davidson south on the ramp of the Turnpike by Interchange 14 when he crashed into an international truck hauling a utility trailer that was stopped on the access road at the intersection, Jeffrey Lebron, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police said. Schmalz suffered fatal injuries, Lebron said. The crash remains under investigation, Lebron said.  I have no words right no…
Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man
Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Reality bit the ex-husband of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member Dina Manzo when he was convicted Tuesday of getting a mob soldier to throw her new beau a beating. Restaurateur Thomas Manzo, 59, who lives in the affluent Bergen County suburb of Franklin Lakes, rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors and took his chances with a jury. That didn’t go so good. Jurors in U.S. District Court in Newark convicted Manzo on June 4 of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, along with conspiracy and falsifying documents during a grand jury investigation. Althou…
New Jersey Cocktail Bar Named Among Best In America New Jersey Cocktail Bar Named Among Best In America
New Jersey Cocktail Bar Named Among Best In America A Monmouth County cocktail bar picked up another national recognition after just one year of serving specialty drinks. Esquire named La Otra in Aberdeen Township on its list of 42 Best Bars in America for 2024. The bar is next to its sister restaurant Lita on Route 34, and both businesses are run by chef David Viana and his girlfriend Neilly Robinson. Bar manager Ricardo Rodriguez has a more "free-wheeling" approach to mixology at La Otra, compared to the Iberian classics at Lita. "Like the best bars attached to restaurants, the drinks are on the culinary side, such as the Tzatziki, which …