Tag:

Official Misconduct

Drugs, Ghost Guns, Corruption: Former Middletown Police Sergeant Indicted, Prosecutors Say Drugs, Ghost Guns, Corruption: Former Middletown Police Sergeant Indicted, Prosecutors Say
Former Middletown Police Sgt. David Ringkamp Indicted A former Middletown police sergeant was given 22 criminal charges after an investigation revealed a web of illegal activity involving untraceable guns, drugs, and abuse of power, authorities said. David Ringkamp, 43, was indicted by a grand jury, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Thursday, Dec. 19. Ringkamp was formerly a Union Beach resident. The investigation into Ringkamp began in December 2021. New York State Police identified Nicholas D’Ambrosio of Millstone as someone purchasing kits to assemble ghost guns, which are illegal in New Jersey.…
South Jersey Jail Officer Who Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate Indicted: Prosecutors South Jersey Jail Officer Who Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate Indicted: Prosecutors
South Jersey Jail Officer Who Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate Indicted: Prosecutors A former sergeant at the Atlantic County Justice Facility was indicted after being accused of hiding or destroying contraband taken from an inmate, prosecutors said. A grand jury handed down the indictment against Fred Gilbert of Egg Harbor City on Thursday, Dec. 12, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release on Monday, Dec. 16. Investigators said Gilbert, 38, "concealed or destroyed contraband" that was taken from an inmate at the Mays Landing jail on Monday, June 12, 2023. Gilbert told a junior officer to create a false report saying the c…
NJ Police Sergeant Tests Positive For Meth, Took Drugs From Evidence Room: Prosecutor NJ Police Sergeant Tests Positive For Meth, Took Drugs From Evidence Room: Prosecutor
NJ Police Sergeant Tests Positive For Meth, Took Drugs From Evidence Room: Prosecutor A police sergeant in Hammonton is facing multiple charges after testing positive for methamphetamine and taking drugs from the department's evidence room, authorities said. Detective Sergeant Robert Zbikowski, 45, of Hammonton, was charged on Monday, Nov. 25, with second-degree official misconduct, second-degree pattern of official misconduct, third-degree theft by unlawful taking, and two fourth-degree charges: tampering with physical evidence and obstruction of law, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office. In 2024, the Hammonton Police Department contacted the Atlantic County…
Six NJ Corrections Officers Indicted For Covering Up Pepper Spray Attack On Inmate, AG Says Six NJ Corrections Officers Indicted For Covering Up Pepper Spray Attack On Inmate, AG Says
Six NJ Corrections Officers Indicted For Covering Up Pepper Spray Attack On Inmate, AG Says Six corrections officers were indicted after an inmate was pepper-sprayed and forcefully removed from his cell at a Burlington County detention center, authorities said. A grand jury indicted a sergeant and five senior corrections officers for the attack and subsequent coverup, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The incident happened at Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, a center for adults 18-30 years old in Chesterfield Township. These were the officers charged in the case: Sgt. Michael Emmert, 40, Toms River Ch…
Manalapan Officer Who Stalked Girl Inappropriately Messaged Second Teen, Prosecutors Say Manalapan Officer Who Stalked Girl Inappropriately Messaged Second Teen, Prosecutors Say
Manalapan Officer Who Stalked Girl Inappropriately Messaged Second Teen, Prosecutors Say A Manalapan police officer was indicted after he was accused of inappropriately contacting a second teen girl, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 47-year-old Kevin Ruditsky on 19 counts, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 24. Ruditsky is suspended without pay from his job as a patrolman for the Manalapan Township Police Department. Ruditsky was facing charges related to accusations of stalking a then-16-year-old girl in 2023. The indictment revealed new allegations against him from a second girl — who was 17 at the time — when…
Atlantic City Mayor, Superintendent Indicted For Violent Abuse Of Daughter: Prosecutors Atlantic City Mayor, Superintendent Indicted For Violent Abuse Of Daughter: Prosecutors
Atlantic City Mayor, Superintendent Indicted For Violent Abuse Of Daughter: Prosecutors Atlantic City's mayor and schools superintendent were indicted after being accused of physically and emotionally abusing the couple's teen daughter, authorities said. A grand jury indicted Mayor Marty Small Sr., 50, and Dr. La'Quetta Small, 47, on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Atlantic City Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. They were originally charged in the case on Monday, Apr. 15. Investigators said the couple violently abused their then-15-year-old daughter several times in December 2023 and January. In one incident, Mayor Small was accused of knocking her unconsc…
Atlantic City HS Principal Indicted In Mayor, Superintendent Child Abuse Cover-Up: Prosecutors Atlantic City HS Principal Indicted In Mayor, Superintendent Child Abuse Cover-Up: Prosecutors
Atlantic City HS Principal Indicted In Mayor, Superintendent Child Abuse Cover-Up: Prosecutors Atlantic City High School's principal was indicted after she was accused of covering up parental abuse claims by the daughter of the mayor and school superintendent, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 39-year-old Constance Days-Chapman of Atlantic City on Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Atlantic City Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. She was previously charged on Thursday, Mar. 28. Investigators said a then-15-year-old told Days-Chapman in December 2023 that she suffered from "continuous headaches" because she was hit by her parents at home. According to prosecutors, Days-Chapman d…
'Send Pics, Pretty Lady': NJ Investigator Harassed Crime Victims With Sexual Messages, AG Says 'Send Pics, Pretty Lady': NJ Investigator Harassed Crime Victims With Sexual Messages, AG Says
'Send Pics, Pretty Lady': NJ Investigator Harassed Crime Victims With Sexual Messages, AG Says A former New Jersey investigator who worked with female victims of crimes was accused of having inappropriate and sexual conversations with those victims, authorities said. Guilherme Jamarino, 47, was charged with second-degree official misconduct, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Tuesday, July 30. The Point Pleasant man was an investigator with the state Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). The VCCO is an agency in the Department of Law and Public Safety. It provides financial help to victims of crimes to "alleviate the economic an…
Former Ocean City Lifeguard Sentenced After Sexual Misconduct Investigation Former Ocean City Lifeguard Sentenced After Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Former Ocean City Lifeguard Sentenced After Sexual Misconduct Investigation A former Ocean City lifeguard and Atlantic County teacher avoided jail time after he was accused of sexual misconduct, authorities said. Jonathan Howell, 42, of Marmora, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 18 to four years probation, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a news release. Howell was a member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol and a teacher in the Pleasantville School District. Investigators said social media posts in April 2021 made several accusations against members of Ocean City Beach Patrol, including Howell. "Since that time the prosecuto…
South Jersey Teacher Who Molested Student, Had Victim's Nude Pics Indicted: Prosecutors South Jersey Teacher Who Molested Student, Had Victim's Nude Pics Indicted: Prosecutors
South Jersey Teacher Who Molested Student, Had Victim's Nude Pics Indicted: Prosecutors A Jackson Township teacher was indicted after being accused of molesting a student and having nude pictures of the victim, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 27-year-old Andrew Fantasia of Beachwood on Thursday, June 20, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was charged with possession of child pornography, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of criminal sexual contact, and official misconduct. Investigators said Fantasia had "inappropriate sexual contact" with a student while on Jackson Memorial High School property bet…
Corrections Officer Accepted Money In South Jersey Jail-Smuggling Scheme: Prosecutors Corrections Officer Accepted Money In South Jersey Jail-Smuggling Scheme: Prosecutors
Corrections Officer Accepted Money In South Jersey Jail-Smuggling Scheme: Prosecutors An Atlantic County corrections officer was among three people accused of a scheme to smuggle contraband into the county's jail, authorities said. In a news release, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said 33-year-old Christopher Piccioni of Swedesboro was charged on Monday, May 20. Piccioni is an officer at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. The county prosecutor's office said it learned in January about contraband being smuggled into the jail in Mays Landing. Piccioni was identified as a suspect during a four-month investigation. Investigators said Piccioni conspired wit…
NJ Police Chief Admits Coverup of Sex Affair With Subordinate NJ Police Chief Admits Coverup of Sex Affair With Subordinate
NJ Police Chief Admits Coverup of Sex Affair With Subordinate A retired New Jersey police chief admitted trying to cover up a sexual affair with a subordinate, authorities said. Andrew Kudrick, 50, will be banned for life from public employment and will receive probation instead of prison time in exchange, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Kudrick, of Farmingdale, lied to Howell Township officials about the affair and “threatened to launch an improper internal affairs investigation” of a captain who called him on it, the attorney general said. A confrontation between the chief’s wife and his alleged mistress during a 2021 retirement party …
Local NJ Police Sergeant Took Child Porn Images From Investigation For Himself: AG Local NJ Police Sergeant Took Child Porn Images From Investigation For Himself: AG
Local NJ Police Sergeant Took Child Porn Images From Investigation For Himself: AG A local South Jersey police sergeant cherry-picked child porn images for himself from a case that his department was investigating, a grand jury indictment charges. Suspended Vineland Police Officer Christopher Ortiz, 39, of Estell Manor "requested from a subordinate and obtained via email" at least 17 images from a child pornography investigation for unauthorized use, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. All told, investigators found that Ortiz "possessed, viewed, or had under his control at least 100 items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children," the attorney …
Atlantic City HS Principal Didn't Report Child Abuse Claim By Student: Prosecutors Atlantic City HS Principal Didn't Report Child Abuse Claim By Student: Prosecutors
Atlantic City HS Principal Didn't Report Child Abuse Claim By Student: Prosecutors The principal of Atlantic City High School was accused of failing to properly report a student's claim of being abused by their parents, authorities said. Constance Days-Chapman was charged via summons on Thursday, Mar. 28 with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree hindering apprehension of another, fourth-degree obstruction of justice, and disorderly persons failure to report child abuse. The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced the charges in a news release. Investigators said an ACHS student told a school staff member on Monday, Jan. 22 about physical and emotional abu…
Paterson Officers Charged With Covering For NYPD Captain Indicted For Brutally Beating Woman Paterson Officers Charged With Covering For NYPD Captain Indicted For Brutally Beating Woman
Paterson Officers Charged With Covering For Nypd Captain Indicted For Brutally Beating Woman UPDATE: The other shoe finally dropped with the arrests of three Paterson police officers in connection with what authorities said was the kidnapping and brutal beating of an off-duty female NYPD commander from New Jersey by a fellow captain she'd been dating. Giuseppe Ciarla, Juan Cruz-Fernandez and Jason Schmid let then-NYPD Capt. Hariton Marachilian leave after finding the victim with clearly visible injuries from a vicious beating outside a Paterson restaurant in December 2022, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Marachilian and the female captain had been out to dinner wi…
NJ National Guard Recruiter Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen NJ National Guard Recruiter Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen
NJ National Guard Recruiter Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen A New Jersey Army National Guard recruiter was accused of sexually assaulting a teen girl, authorities said. Shawn Nguyen, 44, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested on Monday, Mar. 11. The Township of Hamilton Police Department announced his arrest in a news release.  An investigation into Nguyen began in June 2022 when Township of Hamilton officers responded to a report of a "female in distress" at the Wawa gas station on Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing. Investigators said Nguyen used his position as a recruiter to sexually assault the 16-year-old girl.  Nguyen was cha…
Former South Jersey Police Officer Indicted For Leaking College Women's Nude Pics: Prosecutors Former South Jersey Police Officer Indicted For Leaking College Women's Nude Pics: Prosecutors
Former South Jersey Police Officer Indicted For Leaking College Women's Nude Pics: Prosecutors A former Mount Laurel police officer was indicted after prosecutors said he hacked into the social media accounts of female college students and leaked nude pictures of them. A grand jury issued an indictment against 24-year-old Ayron Taylor of Moorestown on 96 counts, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw announced on Tuesday, Feb. 22. He was charged in 2022 and investigators said he illegally accessed more than 5,000 student email accounts from Rowan College at Burlington County. Taylor was indicted on Thursday, Feb. 15. He was charged with 54 counts of elements of computer th…
Former Jersey Shore Mayor Sentenced For Taking Money From Parking Meters, Government Auctions Former Jersey Shore Mayor Sentenced For Taking Money From Parking Meters, Government Auctions
Former Jersey Shore Mayor Sentenced For Taking Money From Parking Meters, Government Auctions A former mayor of Ocean Gate will spend time in state prison for pocketing money from government auctions, parking meter funds, and scrap metal sales, authorities said. Paul Kennedy, 68, of Ocean Gate, was sentenced on Friday, Jan. 26 to three years in prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced. Kennedy pleaded guilty on Friday, Sept. 22 to pattern of official misconduct. As part of his plea deal, Kennedy is banned from holding public office or employment. Investigators said that while he was mayor, Kennedy took money from borough assets sold on the government auc…
NJ Corrections Officer Sentenced For Smuggling Phones Into Jail NJ Corrections Officer Sentenced For Smuggling Phones Into Jail
NJ Corrections Officer Sentenced For Smuggling Phones Into Jail A former Atlantic County corrections officer will spend time in prison after he smuggled cell phones into the county's jail, authorities said. Gerald Oquendo, 35, of Mays Landing, was sentenced on Tuesday, Jan. 23 to three years in state prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced. He'll be eligible for parole after two years. Investigators said two family members of an inmate paid Oquendo to bring cell phones into the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Recorded audio captured the family members and inmate talking about the smuggling.  Surveillance video showed Oquendo br…
Atlantic County Jail Officer Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate: Prosecutor Atlantic County Jail Officer Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate: Prosecutor
Atlantic County Jail Officer Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate: Prosecutor A sergeant at the Atlantic County Justice Facility is accused of hiding or destroying contraband taken from an inmate, prosecutors said. Fred Gilbert, 37, of Egg Harbor City is facing six charges related to an incident last year at the jail in Mays Landing, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday, Jan. 10.  Gilbert is charged with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree witness tampering, fourth-degree obstruction, two counts of fourth-degree false reporting to law enforcement authorities, and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence. Prosecut…
Correctional Officer Charged With Taking Bribes To Smuggle Drugs, Tobacco, More Into NJ Jail Correctional Officer Charged With Taking Bribes To Smuggle Drugs, Tobacco, More Into NJ Jail
Correctional Officer Charged With Taking Bribes To Smuggle Drugs, Tobacco, More Into NJ Jail A New Jersey correctional police officer pocketed thousands of dollars in bribes from inmates in exchange for smuggling drugs, tobacco and other contraband into the Mercer County jail, authorities charged. Tyree L. Hobbs, 39, of Hamilton, was on the take for nearly five years, beginning in 2017 -- less than a year after he joined the Mercer County Department of Corrections, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. And although he paid some inmates in cash, others paid the $300 to $2,500 fee per delivery through mobile apps, the attorney general said. A grand jury in Trenton ind…
Clark Township Mayor Charged With Forging Signatures In 24 Towns To Benefit Landscaping Biz: AG Clark Township Mayor Charged With Forging Signatures In 24 Towns To Benefit Landscaping Biz: AG
Clark Township Mayor Charged With Forging Signatures In 24 Towns To Benefit Landscaping Biz: AG Clark Township Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso was charged Monday, Nov. 20 with forging paperwork to nearly 24 New Jersey towns to allow his landscaping company to remove underground tanks, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Bonaccorso, 63, used township employees to help him run his private business, Bonaccorso and Son LLC, along with township devices like computers and fax machines, Platkin said following an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability Corruption Bureau. While running his business, Bonaccorso posed as an engineer, using his name, license num…
South Jersey School Janitor's Lab Results Show No Communicable Diseases: Prosecutor South Jersey School Janitor's Lab Results Show No Communicable Diseases: Prosecutor
South Jersey School Janitor's Lab Results Show No Communicable Diseases: Prosecutor Returned lab results show an elementary school janitor accused of contaminating food and utensils with his own bodily fluids at his place of employment show no communicable diseases, authorities in South Jersey said. Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, was previously charged with aggravated assault, tampering with food and official misconduct for the heinous incidents at the Elizabeth Moore School in the Upper Deerfield School District, where he has worked since 2019, as previously reported by Daily Voice. "Based upon all available test results and clinical criteria, we have d…
Corrections Officer Accused Of Smuggling Cold Cuts, Espresso Into NJ Prison For Inmate Indicted Corrections Officer Accused Of Smuggling Cold Cuts, Espresso Into NJ Prison For Inmate Indicted
Corrections Officer Accused Of Smuggling Cold Cuts, Espresso Into NJ Prison For Inmate Indicted UPDATE: A corrections officer who was charged with collecting up to $500 a month in bribes to smuggle cold cuts, espresso, jewelry and cologne into a New Jersey prison for a convict known as “Tommy Two Times” is now under indictment. Werner Gramajo, a 46-year-old senior correctional officer at Northern State Prison in Newark, admitted only to delivering the pressed meats -- and not any of the other items -- after he was caught, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Gramajo, of Newark, also claimed that he wasn’t paid for it, Platkin said in announcing the indictment on Wednes…
South Jersey School Janitor Contaminated Food, Utensils With Bleach, Bodily Fluids: Prosecutor South Jersey School Janitor Contaminated Food, Utensils With Bleach, Bodily Fluids: Prosecutor
South Jersey School Janitor Contaminated Food, Utensils With Bleach, Bodily Fluids: Prosecutor An elementary school janitor in South Jersey faces multiple charges, including child endangerment, for allegedly contaminating food and utensils with bleach and bodily fluids. UPDATE: Police Papers Detail Heinous Accusations Against NJ School Janitor, Parents Livid Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, also is charged with aggravated assault, tampering with food and official misconduct. Impellizzeri was employed by the Elizabeth Moore School in the Upper Deerfield School District. According to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, New Jersey State Police were contacted by scho…
Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor
Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor A middle school teacher and high school advisor has been hit with new charges in a case involving a student and nude photos, authorities said. Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, originally was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and official misconduct, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz. On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Fantasia was additionally charged with possession of child pornography and an additional count of child endangerment, Billhimer said. A full forensic analy…
Jersey Shore Code Enforcement Officer Double-Dipped In 3 Towns He Worked For: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Code Enforcement Officer Double-Dipped In 3 Towns He Worked For: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Code Enforcement Officer Double-Dipped In 3 Towns He Worked For: Prosecutor A former code enforcement officer who worked for three towns in Ocean County has been charged with official misconduct, authorities said. Michael Ruvo, 56, of Toms River, was charged on Wednesday, Sept. 20, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Among the offenses were instances of double-dipping in the towns he worked for, totaling more than 150 excess hours paid, the prosecutor said. The investigation revealed that while Ruvo was employed in Beachwood as the Code Enforcement-Zoning Officer, he was also employed by the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach as a Code Enf…
Inmate's Relatives Paid Burlington Corrections Officer To Bring Him Pot, Tobacco: Prosecutor Inmate's Relatives Paid Burlington Corrections Officer To Bring Him Pot, Tobacco: Prosecutor
Inmate's Relatives Paid Burlington Corrections Officer To Bring Him Pot, Tobacco: Prosecutor A former corrections officer at the Burlington County Jail has been arrested on accusations he supplied an inmate with marijuana and tobacco, authorities announced. Abraham Olmedia's arrest comes after the odor of burnt tobacco emanated from a cell, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said. The 27-year-old Burlington resident had supplied the inmate in that cell at the Mount Holly facility with tobacco and marijuana on multiple occasions, and was compensated financially by the inmate's relatives, Bradshaw said. Olmeida was charged with Official Misconduct (Second Degr…
Cop Stalked Teen Girl, Sent Sexual Photos, Handcuffed Her On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor Cop Stalked Teen Girl, Sent Sexual Photos, Handcuffed Her On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor
Cop Stalked Teen Girl, Sent Sexual Photos, Handcuffed Her On Jersey Shore: Prosecutor A patrolman at the Jersey Shore has been arrested and charged with engaging in a pattern of illegal behavior with a teenage girl, authorities said. Kevin Ruditsky, 46, who works in Manalapan Township, is believed to have sent the 16-year-old girl sexually explicit photos and handcuffed her during a traffic stop, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago. An investigation by the MCPO Professional Responsibility Unit was initiated earlier this month upon learning that Ruditsky had been sending inappropriate messages and photos to a 16-year-old girl, …
Current, Former Wildwood Mayors, Commissioner Reindicted For Scamming Health Benefits Program Current, Former Wildwood Mayors, Commissioner Reindicted For Scamming Health Benefits Program
Current, Former Wildwood Mayors, Commissioner Reindicted For Scamming Health Benefits Program State authorities rebounded from a dismissed case with a new indictment against Wildwood’s mayor, a former mayor, and a city commissioner on health fraud charges. Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury, Jr. cited a technicality in deep-sixing the state’s initial case against Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron, former Mayor Ernest Troiano Jr. and current City Commissioner Steve Mikulski nearly six weeks ago. The judge left the door open for state prosecutors to take another crack at it. A grand jury, in turn, returned a new indictment that New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said “demonstrates …
Suspended NJ Police Chief Indicted As Sexual Predator, New Charges Added: State AG Suspended NJ Police Chief Indicted As Sexual Predator, New Charges Added: State AG
Suspended NJ Police Chief Indicted As Sexual Predator, New Charges Added: State AG A local New Jersey police chief who’d already been charged with sexually preying on women is facing new allegations, the state’s top cop announced on Tuesday. Following his suspension amid sexual assault allegations, Manville Police Chief Thomas Herbst wrongfully held onto his badge, then displayed it as if was still on active duty to a police officer who’d pulled him over late this past January, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. The charge was contained in an eight-count indictment returned by a state grand jury that focused mostly on what the attorney general called “sexually pred…