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Brick Township Cocaine Dealer Gets 10-Year Prison Sentence, Prosecutors Say
A Brick Township man will spend a decade in prison after having more than 100 grams of cocaine and nearly $20,000 in cash, authorities said.
Ezra Wheeler, 27, was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 13 to 10 years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He pleaded guilty on Monday, July 15 to possession of more than one half-ounce but less than five ounces of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Brick Township police established surveillance on a Coventry Court home as part of a drug investigation on Thursday, June 8, 2023. Detectives saw …
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…
Home Invasion: Female Saddle Brook 'Guest' Let Armed Robbers In, Authorities Charge
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A Saddle Brook home invasion in which a group of thugs from Passaic County took $12,500 in cash, $3,000 worth of jewelry and more at gunpoint was made possible by a female "guest," federal authorities revealed.
Lanasia "Lay" Smith, 24 (top left above), sent ex-con Jancarlos "M" Rodriguez, 23 (bottom right), "a picture of a safe located in the residence" hours before the June 28, 2022 robbery, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
Smith then left the front door unlocked for Rodriguez and two cohorts -- fellow ex-con Jahad "Hadie" Foxworth, 25, and Jamere "Rebels" Dixon, 23 --…
2.25 Kilos Cocaine, $545K Seized From Drug-Dealing Network On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor
Five people have been arrested in connection with a major drug-dealing network on the Jersey Shore, authorities said.
A multi-agency investigation identified a residence in South Toms River and a residence in Brick Township, as allegedly being utilized by Octavaeous Jenkins, 49, to store and distribute cocaine, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Additionally, the investigation allegedly identified a residence in Long Branch, as being utilized by Ralph Durand, 56, Krystal Villano, 36, Emily Durand, 53 and Jaiden Durand, 18, to store and distribute cocai…
South Jersey Man Who Stalked VIctim, Plotted To Kill Witness, Gets 55 Years In State Prison
A man who stalked his murder victim and plotted to kill a witness has been sentenced to 55 years in New Jersey State Prison, authorities said.
Former Lindenwold resident Kenneth Saal, 33, previously pleaded guilty to murder, burglary and stalking, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone.
The sentence was in connection with the murder of co-worker Carolyn Byington, 26, of Plainsboro.
During his guilty plea, Saal stated that in April 2019 he copied the victim’s house key while she was at work and used the key to enter her apartment on multiple days …
Armed Robber Admits Role In Multiple Liquor, Convenience Store Holdups In NJ, NY
UPDATE: A member of a New Jersey-based armed robbery crew copped to holding up five liquor and convenience stores in two states, federal authorities said.
Jaime Fontanez, 45, of Elizabeth and two accomplices went on a six-month armed robbery spree beginning in August 2018, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
Federal authorities tied the crew to 13 holdups in all in Essex, Union and Middlesex counties, as well as in the Bronx and upstate New York, the U.S. attorney said.
The robbers followed a basic script, with two of them going into the business with their faces covered while a wheelm…
2 Men Restrained Female Workers With Zipties To Rob $578K From NJ Check Cashers At Gunpoint: DA
Two men from New York City were arrested and jailed after they were apparently connected to a series of gunpoint robberies at check cashing services throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania that involved female workers being restrained with zipties, authorities announced.
Ramel Harris, 40, and Neville Brown, 38, both of Brooklyn, were charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announce…
Guilty: Pair Convicted Of Murder In Passaic Drive-By Shooting After Covid-delayed Case Resumes
Two Passaic men were convicted of murder, among other charges, for the drive-by shooting death of a 23-year-old city resident after a previous attempt at prosecuting them was derailed by COVID.
Jurors in Paterson found Nelson Vargas, 29, and Christopher Reynoso, 22, guilty of attempted murder, as well, for the wounding of another man in the shooting. Both Vargas and Reynoso were also convicted of conspiracy and weapons offenses.
Hansel Castillo was gunned down outside a home on Federal Street on May 15, 2017.
Both he and Bryan Cabrera, 20, of Woodland Park, who was wounded in the shooting…
Man, 29, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Caught On Video In Central Jersey: Prosecutor
A 29-year-old man from Central Jersey has surrendered to police in the fatal daytime shooting of another man in his car last week.
Yhakeem Kornegay, 29, of Carteret turned himself in on Sunday, May 22, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Carteret Police Chief Dennis McFadden.
Kornegay was charged with murder, attempted murder and weapons charges, they said.
Malik Pandy, 27, of Carteret was killed in the shooting. It occurred at 1:09 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 on Lincoln Avenue.
The shooting was captured by surveillance video.
…
4,000+ Wax Folds Of Heroin, Handguns Seized In NJ Drug Trafficking Bust: Prosecutor
More than 4,000 wax folds of heroin, 50 vials of crack cocaine, and two handguns were seized in the bust of a drug trafficking ring, authorities in New Jersey announced.
A joint investigation involving detectives from Essex and Ocean counties resulted in the arrest of four drug-dealing suspects from Newark, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The investigation allegedly identified a residence in Newark as being utilized by Karl Murray, 34, for purposes of storing and distributing heroin and cocaine in Ocean County, Billhimer said.
On Jan. 21, detectives fro…
Man Nabbed For 26 Robberies Across PA, NJ: Police
A Pennsylvania man has been arrested for 26 robberies and burglaries across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to police.
Francisco Cartagena, 45, of Collingdale, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, has been charged in connection with these robberies following a months long investigation and a warranted search of his home, according to a special release by the Manheim Township police.
Cartagena first came to the police’s attention when they were called to at least four forced-entry burglaries in the area of Cobblestone Lane, Waverly Avenue, and Darlington Court in Manheim Township over a …
