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Again: Big Purple Bud Bus Guy, Woman Arrested After Series Of Raids Across NJ, NY, Cops Say
The New York owner of a popular cannabis company known for its fleet of purple buses and vans was taken into custody, as was a woman, on Wednesday, July 10, following a series of raids across New Jersey and New York, authorities said.
Searches on Bill Schlette’s Bud Bus Inc. locations Hewitt, Manahawkin, Keyport, and West Nyack, NY turned up $200,000 in cash, according to West Milford Police Capt. Parrello.
Back in May, West Milford police executed search warrants at five Bud Bus locations in town where 150 pounds of marijuana were seized, along with $11,000 in cash, police said. A warrant …
Jersey Shore Contractor Who Stole Nearly $700K From Sandy Victims Sentenced: Prosecutors
An Ocean County contractor will spend time in prison after admitting to stealing nearly $700,000 in funds meant to help victims of Hurricane Sandy, authorities said.
Adam Nevius, 49, of Manahawkin, was sentenced on Friday, May 3 to five years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced in a news release. He pleaded guilty to theft by failure to make required disposition on Monday, June 19, 2023.
Nevius and his wife, 55-year-old Kimberly Atkinson of Manahawkin, owned Coastal Restorations of New Jersey, LLC. Investigators said between Monday, Sept.…
Bergen Dad, Son Busted Again, This Time In $2.5M Jersey Shore ‘Fix-and-Flip’ Scheme
It seemed state and federal prosecutors had thrown all they could at a Bergen County father and son for a series of multi-million-dollar investment scams. But state authorities announced a new indictment against both men on Monday, Nov. 6.
This time, George Bussanich, Sr., 65, of Park Ridge, and George Bussanich, Jr., 43, of Upper Saddle River, are charged with defrauding investors and mortgage lenders out of more than $2.5 million through a “fix and flip” investment scam involving Jersey Shore real estate.
Victims believed they were funding the purchase, renovation, and resale of four…
Boston Woman Charged With Killing Fellow UMass Dartmouth Student From NJ In On-Campus Crash: DA
A 22-year-old Boston woman will face charges after she fatally struck 19-year-old University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student Frank Petillo Jr. earlier this year, authorities said.
Danasia Sampson, of Mattapan, MA, was charged last week with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office said. Sampson is also a student at the university.
Petillo, a Manahawkin, NJ, native, was crossing Ring Road with a friend on April 6 near his dorm when police say Sampson crashed into him with her Honda Accord around 5:30 p.m., the Bristol prosecutor said.…
NJ Drummer Found Dead In Kutztown Dumpster Had Crawled In After Party: DA
A New Jersey drummer found dead at a Berks County dump on Saturday, Nov. 12 had crawled into a dumpster the night before, according to officials and those who knew him.
Kellen J. Bischoff, 19, of Manahawkin, NJ, was found dead at the Total Recycling Facility on Lincoln Road in Birdsboro just after 8:30 a.m., said District Attorney John T. Adams in a release Monday, Nov. 14.
Investigators were able to identify Bischoff by his "unique" tattoos, and eventually learned that he was visiting a family member in Kutztown, the DA said.
Loved ones had last seen the teen i…
Jersey Shore Girl, 15, In Intensive Care After Being Struck By Car
A 15-year-old girl from Ocean County remains in intensive care after being struck by a car.
Makiah was hit on Wednesday, July 13 while crossing Route 72 in Manahawkin, according to a GoFundMe launched for her medical expenses.
Community support is growing for Makian and her mother, Tiffany Worthy of Barnegat, after the crash.
"As a member of our work family, she is well known to everyone here on campus for her loving heart and soul," reads the campaign, which had raised nearly $4,900 in just a few hours.
"Now is the time for us to repay her kindness; we are looking to raise money to help …
Ex-Employees Of Jersey Shore Veterans Group Indicted For Embezzling $30K
Three former employees of a veterans organization have been indicted for stealing about $30,000 in extra pay, authorities said.
Jesse Violante, 34, of Tuckerton; Mary Anne Dileo, 67, of Manahawkin; and Gary Mclain, 34, of Little Egg Harbor, were indicted Thursday by an Ocean County grand jury of theft by unlawful taking, the county prosecutor said.
All three defendants formerly worked for Vetwork, a LaceyTownship-based nonprofit that provides resources and assistance to veterans in Ocean County.
The defendants are accused of embezzling from Vetwork, beyond their approv…
Prosecutor: Jersey Shore Pair Supplied Heroin/Fentanyl In 16-Year-Old Boy's OD Death
A Jersey Shore couple was jailed in connection with an overdose heroin/fentanyl death of a 16-year-old boy last month, authorities said.
David Belk, 45, and Stephanie O’Neill, 44, both of Little Egg Harbor, have been charged with strict liability, endangering the welfare of a child, and drug related charges, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Captain James Hawkins said.
Belk and O’Neill supplied heroin and fentanyl to the 16-year-old boy, who was found unresponsive on the floor of an East Susquehanna Driver on July 3, authorities said.
Responding officers administered li…
Frozen Yogurt Trip Turns Deadly: Support Surges For Jersey Shore Teen Car Crash Victims
What was supposed to be a fun weekend out getting frozen yogurt turned out to be a horrific one for two teenage girls, one now dead and the other critical, following a head-on crash on their way home.
Support is surging for Pinelands Regional High School students, friends and coworkers of Gianna Palmieri, 16, and Kaitlyn, following the Jan. 30 crash.
The speeding driver who struck them -- Michael Pillarella, 26, of Manahawkin -- was slapped with new charges of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide after Palmieri died of her injuries Tuesday, authorities said.
A GoFundMe for Gianna's…
Winners: Pair Of $50K Powerball Tickets Sold In Bergen, Ocean Counties
Two New Jersey Lottery tickets good for $50,000 a piece were sold in Bergen and Ocean counties.
The tickets from the Saturday, Jan. 16 Powerball drawing win the third-tier prize.
The winning tickets were sold at the following locations:
Bergen County: Fort Lee Stationary, 236 Main St., Fort Lee
Ocean County: Hometown Market Manahawkin, 857 Mill Creek Road, Plaza, Manahawkin.
The winning numbers were 14, 20, 39, 65, and 67. The Red Power Ball number was 02. The Multiplier number was 03.
More than 206,600 New Jersey players took home an estimated $1,076,572 in prizes ranging fr…
Report: GNC Closes Additional 40 New Jersey Stores
After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June, GNC has announced closures of an additional 40 stores.
The nutritional supplement company had originally planned on closing just 10 stores.
According to NJ.com, the following 50 stores have either closed, or will soon:
Blackwood, Gloucester Premium Outlets
Bridgewater, Bridgewater Commons
Cinnaminson, The Shoppes At Cinnaminson
Closter, Heidenberg Plaza
Delran, Hartford Corners
Denville, The Shoppes At Union Hill
Denville, Diamond Spring Road
Deptford, Deptford Mall
East Hanover, Hanover Commons
East Rutherford, American Dream Mall
E…
Feds Charge Jersey Shore Pain Management Doc With Massive $24.6M Billing Fraud
A Jersey Shore pain management doctor accused of running a $24.6 million fraud scheme billed insurance plans for more than 24 hours worth of services in a single day no fewer than 900 times, federal authorities said Monday.
Morris Antebi, 68, of Long Branch, also billed Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies frequently on dates when travel records show he was overseas -- including trips to China, Israel, Turkey, the Dominican Republic and across Europe – and at other times when he was otherwise out of state, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
Antebi, who specializes in pain ma…
These New Jersey MVC Centers Are By Appointment Only Starting Monday
New Jersey drivers' prayers have been answered.
Staring Monday, Nov. 2., the following Motor Vehicle Commissions centers will be by appointment only:
Cherry Hill, Hazlet, Jersey City, Lakewood, Manahawkin, Medford, Somerville, Springfield, Turnersville and Wallington. No walk-in customers will be accepted at those locations.
Designated licensing centers are only taking appointments for commercial driver's license renewals and license transfers, for drivers who recently moved to New Jersey. Click here for the full release from the NJMVC.
To make an appointment, visit https://www.state…
Prosecutor: Jersey Shore Trio's $30K Embezzlement From Lacey Veterans Group 'Truly Shameful'
Three former employees of a veterans organization in Ocean County stole at least $30,415 from the non-profit, authorities said.
Jesse Violante, 33, of Tuckerton, Mary Anne Dileo, 67, of Manahawkin, and Gary Mclain, 33, of Little Egg Harbor, were each charged with theft by unlawful taking on Thursday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
The three suspects formerly worked at Vetwork, a Lacey Township-based nonprofit organization that provides resources and assistance to veterans in Ocean County, according to Billhimer.
Violante and Dileo have turned themse…
Winner: Mega Millions Ticket Worth $40K Sold in Ocean County
While the $119 jackpot prize was not sold in New Jersey, there was a third-tier winning ticket sold in Ocean County.
That winning ticket, drawn on Tuesday, was sold at Super Shop Rite, 297 Route 72 West in Manahawkin, according to New Jersey lottery officials.
The Ocean County winner matched four of the five white balls and the Gold Mega Ball drawn to win a $10,000 prize.
Luckily, the winning NJ ticket was bought using the Megaplier option, multiplying the prize by four to $40,000.
The winning numbers for the Tuesday Sept. 15, drawing were: 25, 28, 38, 59 and 62. The Gold…
Video: 'I'll Knock You Out,' Angry NJ Costco Customer Growls Before Terroristic Threat Arrest
A Costco customer is accused of making "terroristic threats" after losing his temper on a Jersey Shore cashier, authorities said.
In a heated exchange posted on TikTok, the 48-year-old Barnegat man bad-mouths a cashier, calling her "an old, ugly hag," Stafford Township police said.
At one point, the customer threatens to smack the cashier's husband and beat up her manager, according to this TikTok video.
"I'll knock you out, too. Get out of here, you little bitch," William Commauf of Cannonball Drive is captured snapping in a profanity-laced tirade, police said.
The video — tak…
Winner: Mega Millions Ticket Worth $10K Sold In Ocean County
A winning Mega Millions lottery ticket was sold in Ocean County, officials said.
The lucky ticket was purchased at McKinley Convenience Store, 100 McKinley Ave. in Manahawkin, New Jersey Lottery officials said.
The winner matched four of the five white balls and the Gold Mega Ball for Tuesday's third-tier $10,000 prize.
The winning numbers for the Aug. 4 drawing were: 02, 22, 30, 42, and 62. The Gold Mega Ball was 20, and the Megaplier Multiplier was 03.
The Mega Millions Jackpot rolls to $22 million for the Friday, Aug. 7 drawing.
