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NJ Man Who Paid To Torch $6M PA Book Warehouse, Injuring Firefighter, Sentenced: DOJ
A New Jersey man who orchestrated the arson of a Bucks County book warehouse—injuring a firefighter and causing over $6 million in damages—has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, authorities announced.
Ramiz Duka, 62, of Cherry Hill, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge for his role in the Dec. 10, 2022, fire at Ebooks Web LLC on Bridgewater Road in Bensalem, Acting U.S. Attorney Nelson S.T. Thayer, Jr. said on Monday, March 10.
Duka conspired with two men to set the warehouse ablaze, paying them $15,000 for the job, investigators previously revealed.…
Scammers Stole Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tickets In $600K+ Scheme, Prosecutors Say
Taylor Swift fans are hoping "Karma" comes to whoever scammed them out of expensive tickets to The Eras Tour.
Two people were accused of stealing nearly 1,000 tickets to high-demand events, including the popstar's record-breaking concert tour. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced arrests in the case in a news release on Monday, Mar. 3.
Tyrone Rose, 20, of Kingston, Jamaica, and Shamara Simmons, 31, of Queens, NY, were facing charges including grand larceny, conspiracy, and computer tampering.
"These defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift…
Ghost Guns, Meth, Firearm Seized From Pair In Ocean County Raid: AG
Two Ocean County residents are facing charges following a raid on Wednesday, Feb. 19 that turned up numerous ghost guns and methamphetamine, authorities said.
Law enforcement conducted search warrants at multiple locations and recovered and seized, guns, including guns with no serial number- "ghost guns," extended magazines, and a quantity of methamphetamine, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
The defendants, George Garulle, 56, of Beachwood, and Dana Restaino, 39, of Whiting, conspired to sell a defaced firearm with no serial number, Platkin said.
They were charge…
NJ Museum Heist Crew Convicted In Decades-Long Crime: Feds
It took them 20 years to steal it all—but just four weeks for a jury to take it back.
Three members of a Pennsylvania-based museum heist crew were convicted after a four-week federal trial for their roles in a 20-year conspiracy that saw the theft of fine art, sports memorabilia, and historic artifacts worth over $4 million, the FBI announced on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Nicholas Dombek, 54, of Thornhurst, Damien Boland, 48, of Moscow, and Joseph Atsus, 48, of Roaring Brook were found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate …
Four Charged In Deadly Jersey Shore Shooting
Four people were charged on Friday, Nov. 1, with the fatal shooting of a 36-year-old Monmouth County man in July, authorities said.
At 3:13 a.m. on Wednesday, July, 10, Red Bank police responded to the 100 block of River Street in Red Bank and found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said.
Mikal Muhammad was pronounced deceased on scene, while the other male was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, treated and released, Santiago said.
Lahmeir Hill, a 31-year-old Pemberton resident and Sadiq Palmer, a 25-year-old Fre…
NJ Town's GOP Loser Had Help From Loser's Wife Secretly Record Mayor, Deputy Mayor: Officials
Two women, both with ties to one New Jersey town's local Republican party, have been charged with secretly recording conversations had between their rivals at a local restaurant, officials said.
Christina Albrecht, 45, of Flemington, and Jacqueline Hindle, 49, of Whitehouse Station, are both facing charges for secretly recording conversations between Readington Township Mayor Adam Mueller and Deputy Mayor Vincent Panico in July at The Rail at Readington, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson said.
Albrecht is married to Hindle's running mate, former mayor Ben Smith, who ran agai…
Rhonj Ex-Husband Sentenced For Hiring Mobster To Rough Up Wife’s New Man: Feds
It sounds like a juicy plotline from "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."
Thomas Manzo, a Franklin Lakes resident and the ex-husband of Dina Manzo, one of the former cast members on the hit Bravo reality show, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday, Oct. 15, after being convicted of hiring a mobster to assault Dave Cantin, Dina's now current husband, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.
In the spring of 2015, Manzo, 59 and a co-owner of The Brownstone, a Paterson catering hall, hired Lucchese Crime Family member John Perna to assault Cantin, Dina's then-boyfriend, paying for the …
NJ Luxury Car Trafficking Ring Dismantled, Four Arrests Made, Prosecutor Says
Four teenagers were arrested on Thursday, Sept. 12 and charged for their participation in an auto theft trafficking network in North Jersey, authorities said.
Two juveniles, a 16-year-old Newark resident and a 17-year-old Jersey City resident would use stolen Kias, Hondas and Hyundais to look for high-end luxury vehicles like BMWs and Mercedes, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said.
After identifying target vehicles, they would go to target homes and search for keys/key fobs, Daniel said. Once they got the vehicles, they would contact Tikeem Shearin, 18, and Carlos Espi…
Pickpocketing Somerset County Family Steals $1,400 From Unsuspecting Victim: Police
A family of pickpocketers from Somerset County are facing charges after police allege they stole more than $1,400 from an unsuspecting victim in Hudson County.
Anthony Curichumbe-Guilcapi, 21, Luis Cholota-Maldonado, Silvia Curichumbe-Guilcapi, 38, and Dolores Cholota-Curichumbe, 21, who live together in North Plainfield, conspired to steal the cash from the victim at Sneaker Expo on Plaza Drive in Secaucus on Aug. 22 around 9:30 a.m., Secaucus Police Deputy Chief Joseph Baccola said.
"Anthony, Luis and Dolores bumped into the victim to distract the victim, while Silvia stole the cash …
Central Jersey Couple Admits To Lying On Asylum Applications For Sri Lankans
A Lawrence Township couple admitted to submitting fraudulent asylum applications for clients from Sri Lanka, authorities said.
Zuwairul Ameer, 61, and Claudette Ameer, 63, pleaded guilty on Monday, Aug. 26 to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. They were indicted in the immigration fraud case on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.
According to court documents and statements, Zuwairul Ameer, also known as "Zuwairul Thowfeek," submitted false asylum applications for non-citizen clients since at least 2007. Claudette Am…
Duo Steals $10K In Supplies From Westchester Store, Caught Selling Stolen Items: Police
A man and woman from New Jersey face burglary charges after allegedly stealing $10,000 in merchandise from a Westchester County business and selling it, police announced.
New Jersey residents James Kralovich, age 39, and Olivia Barbarito, age 29, both from the Union County city of Summit, were arrested on Friday, July 19 in connection with a burglary at Mangone's Garden Center in Mamaroneck at 1427 East Boston Post Rd. (Route 1), the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department announced on Sunday, July 21.
The events leading up to the duo's arrests began on Sunday, July 7 just after…
Fake NJ Doc, Wife Sentenced For Unlawful Medical Practice, Sex Assaults On Patients
A New Jersey married couple was sentenced to prison time after both were caught running an unlicensed medical practice where he posed as a doctor and sexually assaulted patients, authorities said.
The medical practice of Orger Sibaja-Bolanos, 67, and his wife, Rosa Perez, 64, both of Old Bridge, came under investigation in 2022 after two patients reported being sexually assaulted by Sibaja-Bolanos, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said (scroll down for sentencings).
An investigation found he posed as a doctor and gave two patients injections and sexually assaulted …
Member Of 'Hit List' Burglary Crew That Targeted Asian Homeowners In NJ, NY, PA Sentenced
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A member of a burglary ring that specifically targeted Asian-American small business owners in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware was sentenced to a plea-bargained 33 months in federal prison.
James Hurt, 48, of New York, and other members of the second-story crew worked from what the FBI called a hit list of dozens of homes in the four states based on “stereotype and opportunity" from Dec. 2, 2016, to March 20, 2019.
The burglars often got into homes through unsecured upper-floor windows before seeking out cash, jewelry and guns, the FBI said
In one instance, th…
Pair Who Dumped Body In NYC Face Murder Charges: Somerset County Prosecutor
The two men who killed a 46-year-old Somerset County resident and then dumped his body in Brooklyn last December were indicted on Thursday, April 25, with first degree murder, authorities said.
A grand jury in Somerset County levied the indictments against Daniel Matthews, a 44-year-old Brooklyn resident, and and Andrew Mumby, a 47-year-old New Brunswick resident in the murder of Artis Young, a Franklin Township resident, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Franklin Township Public Safety …
Victims Scammed Out Of $2.2M By NJ Couple In 'Publishers Clearing House Lottery' Scheme: Cops
A couple from Secaucus is facing a litany of charges after scamming residents in multiple states out of more nearly $2.2 million, police said.
Akeem Lee and Majda Hodzic-Lee called victims in Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Nebraska, saying they'd won the "Publishers Clearing House Lottery," Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said.
In exchange for the vehicles and large sums of money the victims were told they won, they were required by Lee and Hodzic-Lee to send cash, money orders and/or gift cards for taxes, fees and IRS …
