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Philip Sellinger

Greek Shipping Firms Fined Millions for Polluting NJ Waters, Falsifying Records Greek Shipping Firms Fined Millions for Polluting NJ Waters, Falsifying Records
Greek Shipping Firms Fined Millions for Polluting NJ Waters, Falsifying Records Two Greek shipping companies were fined millions in federal court in Newark on Monday, Dec. 23 after pleading guilty to polluting waters, falsifying records, and obstructing justice during port calls in New Jersey last year, authorities said. Avin International Ltd. and Kriti Ruby Special Maritime Enterprises, owners and operators of the oil tanker Kriti Ruby, will pay $4.6 million in fines and community service payments, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. They were also placed on probation for five years with mandatory environmental compliance monitoring, Sellinger said The companies illeg…
US Attorney For New Jersey Announces Resignation US Attorney For New Jersey Announces Resignation
US Attorney For New Jersey Announces Resignation Philip Sellinger, the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey announced on Monday, Dec. 23, he is resigning effective 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8. "Serving as the United States Attorney has been the honor of a lifetime," Sellinger said in a statement. "My sincere thanks to President Biden for appointing me the temporary steward of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I leave knowing the storied traditions of this office will continue through our dedicated career Assistant U.S. Attorneys and staff." Sellinger, 70, was nominated by Biden in 2021 upon the recommendation of then-Senat…
Father, Son Admit To Using South Jersey Deli In $100M Stock Inflation Scheme: Feds Father, Son Admit To Using South Jersey Deli In $100M Stock Inflation Scheme: Feds
Father, Son Admit To Using South Jersey Deli In $100M Stock Inflation Scheme: Feds A quiet deli in Paulsboro became the unlikely focal point of a $100 million stock manipulation scheme led by a father and son, authorities said. Peter Coker Sr., 82, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and his son, Peter Coker Jr., 56, pleaded guilty on Thursday, Dec. 19 to securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. Coker Jr. is a former resident of Hong Kong. Prosecutors said the plan started around 2014 when two New Jersey residents opened Your Hometown Deli on Mantua Avenue. The pair soug…
Life Sentences Cut Short For Brothers Convicted In Violent South Jersey Bank Robberies: Feds Life Sentences Cut Short For Brothers Convicted In Violent South Jersey Bank Robberies: Feds
Life Sentences Cut Short For Brothers Convicted In Violent South Jersey Bank Robberies: Feds The life sentences have been reduced for two New Jersey brothers convicted in a string of violent crimes, including armed bank robberies and a thwarted armored car heist in the late 90s, authorities said. Charles Rodriguez, 58, and Joseph Rodriguez, 57, were re-sentenced to 30 years in prison for committing two armed bank robberies and conspiring to rob an armored car, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release on Tuesday, Dec. 17. The brothers were initially convicted in 1999 after a six-week jury trial on conspiracy, carjacking, multiple armed robberies, …
Former South Jersey Corrections Officer Who Didn't Stop Attacks On Inmates Sentenced, Feds Say Former South Jersey Corrections Officer Who Didn't Stop Attacks On Inmates Sentenced, Feds Say
Former South Jersey Corrections Officer Who Didn't Stop Attacks On Inmates Sentenced, Feds Say A former corrections officer in Leesburg will spend more than a year in prison after admitting to not stopping attacks against two inmates, authorities said. Joshua Hand, 35, of Millville, was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 5 to 20 months in prison, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. He was a corrections officer at Bayside State Prison. According to court documents and statements, Hand was in the officers' quarters in the kitchen area when the first victim entered the room in December 2019. "Shortly after the victim entered the officers’ qua…
Man Admits To Vandalizing Rutgers Islamic Center On Muslim Holiday, Feds Say Man Admits To Vandalizing Rutgers Islamic Center On Muslim Holiday, Feds Say
Man Admits To Vandalizing Rutgers Islamic Center On Muslim Holiday, Feds Say A North Plainfield man admitted to trashing an Islamic center at Rutgers University-New Brunswick during an important Muslim holiday, authorities said. Jacob Beacher, 24, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to damage to religious property, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. According to court documents and statements, Beacher broke into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University (CILRU) at around 2:41 a.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 10. That day was Eid-al-Fitr, a holy celebration for Muslims at the end of Ramadan. Prosecutors said Beacher caused m…
NJ-Based TD Bank Fined $3B For Allowing Drug Dealers, Human Traffickers To Launder Money: Feds NJ-Based TD Bank Fined $3B For Allowing Drug Dealers, Human Traffickers To Launder Money: Feds
Nj-based TD Bank Fined $3B For Allowing Drug Dealers, Human Traffickers To Launder Money: Feds TD Bank has agreed to pay about $3 billion in historic penalties after its relaxed policies allowed criminals to launder their money, authorities said. The Canadian bank with U.S. headquarters in Cherry Hill pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to not maintain an anti-money laundering program that complies with the Bank Secrecy Act, filing inaccurate currency transaction reports, and laundering money, the Justice Department said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 10. TD Bank will pay more than $1.8 billion to resolve the DOJ's investigation and $1.3 billion in a penalty f…
OceanFirst Bank Agrees To $15M Settlement For Redlining In Monmouth County, Feds Say OceanFirst Bank Agrees To $15M Settlement For Redlining In Monmouth County, Feds Say
OceanFirst Bank Agrees To $15M Settlement For Redlining In Monmouth County, Feds Say A Jersey Shore bank will pay more than $15 million in a settlement for racially discriminatory lending practices known as redlining, authorities said. OceanFirst Bank agreed to the settlement to resolve the accusations that date back to 2018, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. The Toms River-based bank was accused of redlining in predominantly non-white neighborhoods in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. The $15 million settlement came after the Department of Justice launched its Combating Redlining Initiative in October 2021, aiming to s…
Jersey Shore Man Admits To Having Unregistered Machine Guns, Modified Weapons: Feds Jersey Shore Man Admits To Having Unregistered Machine Guns, Modified Weapons: Feds
Jersey Shore Man Admits To Having Unregistered Machine Guns, Modified Weapons: Feds A Somers Point man admitted to having unregistered machine guns and modified firearms, authorities said. Michael James, 30, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Aug. 20 to possessing unregistered machine guns and other firearms, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. James had been given a federal charge on Wednesday, May 15. According to court documents and statements, Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted two packages with suspected drugs addressed to James' home in February. Investigators "conducted a controlled delivery of the packages" on&nb…
Central Jersey Man Sexually Assaulted Two Children, Uploaded Pics On Dark Web: Feds Central Jersey Man Sexually Assaulted Two Children, Uploaded Pics On Dark Web: Feds
Central Jersey Man Sexually Assaulted Two Children, Uploaded Pics On Dark Web: Feds A Plainsboro man was accused of sexually assaulting two children and uploading pictures of the abuse on the dark web, authorities said. Anthony Lagotta Jr., 54, was charged with one count each of production and possession of child pornography, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 20. He appeared in front of a federal judge and was detained. According to court documents and statements, Lagotta sexually assaulted two children and took photos of what happened about 15 years ago. He then uploaded 30 of the pictures to a child po…
NJ Pilot Who Went To Philippines For Sex With Underage Sisters Sentenced, Feds Say NJ Pilot Who Went To Philippines For Sex With Underage Sisters Sentenced, Feds Say
NJ Pilot Who Went To Philippines For Sex With Underage Sisters Sentenced, Feds Say A Mercer County pilot will spend more than a decade in prison for traveling to the Philippines to have sex with girls, authorities said. Frank Maile, 68, of Hamilton Township, was sentenced on Thursday, Aug. 15 to 12 years in prison, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. Maile is also a former New Egypt resident and pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2023, to illicit sexual conduct abroad. According to court documents and statements, Maile went to the Philippines as early as 2013 for "sexual contact" with two girls who were sisters and paid to sexually assaul…
Jersey Shore Healthcare Company To Pay $3.15M For Improperly Taking Pandemic Loan: Feds Jersey Shore Healthcare Company To Pay $3.15M For Improperly Taking Pandemic Loan: Feds
Jersey Shore Healthcare Company To Pay $3.15M For Improperly Taking Pandemic Loan: Feds An Atlantic County healthcare system will pay more than $3 million for improperly receiving a loan from a COVID-19 pandemic program, authorities said. Shore Memorial Health System has agreed to pay the federal government $3.15 million, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The settlement comes from Shore Memorial Physicians’ Group receiving $2.78 million in a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The physicians' group wasn't eligible for a PPP loan because it isn't a small business since it's an affiliate of Shore Mem…
Four Jersey Shore Men Charged After Selling Ghost Guns To FBI Informant: Feds Four Jersey Shore Men Charged After Selling Ghost Guns To FBI Informant: Feds
Four Jersey Shore Men Charged After Selling Ghost Guns To FBI Informant: Feds Four Ocean County men were accused of using a 3D printer to sell ghost guns to an FBI informant, authorities said. The men facing charges in the case are James Hyres, 38, of Toms River; Dennis McMickle, 35, of Brick Township; James Opalenik, 51, of Ocean Gate; and Edward Trost III, 36, of Toms River. New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced the charges in a news release on Monday, July 29. According to the criminal complaint, the four men were part of a gun-trafficking conspiracy throughout Ocean County in April and May 2024. Hyres created the ghost guns by using seve…