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US Attorney

Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds
Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds Two Newark men pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to being members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues, authorities said. From January 2014 through September 2020, Thomas Padovano, 50, and Bartholomew Padovano, 72, agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methylone, and ketamine, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. The Padovanos placed orders with a source in China and distributed the controlled substances and analogues in Ne…
West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds
West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds  A 55-year-old West New York financial advisor was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Monday, Nov. 18, for orchestrating a $4 million scheme to defraud public health insurance plans, authorities said. Kaival Patel was convicted last December in Camden federal court of conspiracy, health care fraud, and money laundering, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Patel must also pay $4.72 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release, Sellinger said. According to court documents and trial evidence, Patel operated ABC Healthy Living LLC, a company that marketed high-cost c…
Feds Dismantle Luxury Interstate Car Ring, 7 NJ Men Charged Feds Dismantle Luxury Interstate Car Ring, 7 NJ Men Charged
Feds Dismantle Luxury Interstate Car Ring, 7 NJ Men Charged Eight men, including seven from New Jersey, have been charged in Newark federal court on Thursday, Nov. 7, for their roles in a conspiracy to steal luxury cars and transport them across state lines, authorities said. Arrested were: Ahmad Franks, 24, Shaquan White, 23, Nathan Braswell, 20, Ibn Bellamy, 24, Zamir Wright, 20, all Newark residents, Ryan Bowen, 26, Khyree Lawrence, 20 both East Orange residents and Mohammed Buhari, a 45-year-old Virginia resident. Federal officials detailed the thefts: Audi Q5, Jersey City: On Nov. 5, 2021, a 2021 Audi Q5 was reported stolen in Jersey City…
Newark Man Gets 4+ Years For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl: Feds Newark Man Gets 4+ Years For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl: Feds
Newark Man Gets 4+ Years For Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl: Feds A 37-year-old Newark man was sentenced to 4.8 years in prison on Tuesday, Nov. 5,  for distributing cocaine and fentanyl in 2022, authorities said. In December 2022, Carlos Gonzalez and another individual conspired to distribute approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 100 grams of fentanyl and were arrested shortly after arriving at an agreed-upon location in Kearny to complete the sale, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said.  After their arrests, a search of Gonzalez’s home and an apartment uncovered two loaded firearms, an unloaded firearm, ammunition, drug packaging materials, a…
Newark Man Robbed Pharmacy At Gunpoint: Feds Newark Man Robbed Pharmacy At Gunpoint: Feds
Newark Man Robbed Pharmacy At Gunpoint: Feds A 26-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged on Monday, Nov. 4, with robbing a pharmacy at gunpoint last year, authorities said. On Saturday, Dec. 30, Nariq Petes and an accomplice drove to a pharmacy wearing black masks, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Once inside the pharmacy, Petes brandished a handgun and demanded prescription drugs, Sellinger said. Petes and his conspirator took at least six bottles of prescription medication, Sellinger said. Petes was charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a weapon, Sellinger said. He faces…
'I'll Give You The Steel Bat:' NJ Man Sent Death Threats To Political Commentator, Feds Say 'I'll Give You The Steel Bat:' NJ Man Sent Death Threats To Political Commentator, Feds Say
'I'll Give You The Steel Bat:' NJ Man Sent Death Threats To Political Commentator, Feds Say A 45-year-old Morris County man has been arrested and charged after posting an online death threat at a political commentator, authorities said. Last month, Haim Braverman, of Morris Plains, posted a video of himself on a social media platform in which he made various threats to a political commentator who had publicly commented on a prominent, now-deceased rabbi, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said.  In the video, Braverman threatened to use a bat against the commentator, stating: “You’ll get what’s coming to you . . . , I’ve never met someone . . . if I could [expletive] kill you right…
Two Hudson County Men Get Lengthy Sentences For Gas Station Robberies: Feds Two Hudson County Men Get Lengthy Sentences For Gas Station Robberies: Feds
Two Hudson County Men Get Lengthy Sentences For Gas Station Robberies: Feds Two Hudson County men were sentenced to years in prison on Tuesday, Oct. 15 for their role in a series of robberies at gas stations in 2022, authorities said. From January to February 2022, Wendell Bradley, a 27-year-old Bayonne resident, – either alone or with Joseph Brown, a 26-year-old Jersey City resident – would drive to a gas station, pull up to a gas pump, ask the gas station attendant to put gas in the car’s tank, and, while the tank was being filled, would pull a gun on the attendant and demand money, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. On Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, in Union, Brown po…
Newark Man Gets Nearly 11 Years For Firing Gun During Robbery: Feds Newark Man Gets Nearly 11 Years For Firing Gun During Robbery: Feds
Newark Man Gets Nearly 11 Years For Firing Gun During Robbery: Feds A 25-year-old Newark man was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison on Thursday, Sept. 5 after he pleaded guilty to firing a gun during an armed robbery of an Essex County store in 2021, authorities said. In December 2021, Quayon Moore entered a store and pointed a gun at an employee, demanding the employee give Moore everything he had, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Moore fired the gun toward the employee's direction and the bullet hit the wall behind the employee, Sellinger sad. While continuing to point the firearm at the employee, Moore took money from the cash register, and an iPh…
East Orange Man Gets Nearly 12 Years For Dealing Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds East Orange Man Gets Nearly 12 Years For Dealing Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds
East Orange Man Gets Nearly 12 Years For Dealing Fentanyl, Cocaine: Feds A 50-year-old East Orange man was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison on Thursday, Sept. 5 after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, cocaine and possessing firearms, authorities said. Carlos Santiago had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said.  On Oct. 24, 2022, federal agents encountered Santiago as he was moving controlled substances from a storage unit to his vehi…
NJ Real Estate Developer Fred Daibes Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud NJ Real Estate Developer Fred Daibes Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud
NJ Real Estate Developer Fred Daibes Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud Fred Daibes, a 67-year-old real estate developer previously convicted of bribing disgraced New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, pleaded guilty to bank fraud on Thursday, Sept, 5, authorities said. The former CEO and chairman of the board of directors at Mariner's Bank pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to making false entries in connection with a $1.8 million loan from his bank in 2008, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Daibes said the line of credit was for someone else, when it was actually for his benefit, Sellinger said. The loan said the source of repayment would be from the p…
Saudi Arabian Stole School Bus From NJ, Busted In PA: Feds Saudi Arabian Stole School Bus From NJ, Busted In PA: Feds
Saudi Arabian Stole School Bus From NJ, Busted In PA: Feds A 24-year-old Saudi Arabian pleaded guilty on Thursday, Aug. 14, to stealing a school bus from Livingston last year and transporting it across state lines, authorities said. In Jan. 2023, police in Livingston responded to a report of a break-in and during a search of a backpack at the home, found a Saudi Arabian passport with the name Bader Alzaharani, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Two days later, a Livingston school bus was reported stolen from a parking lot across the street from the home where the break-in occurred, Sellinger said. Alzahrani was located in Stroudsburg, PA, and …
NJ Woman Who Dealt Meth, Cocaine Via FedEx Gets 10 Years, US Attorney Says NJ Woman Who Dealt Meth, Cocaine Via FedEx Gets 10 Years, US Attorney Says
NJ Woman Who Dealt Meth, Cocaine Via FedEx Gets 10 Years, US Attorney Says A 32-year-old Newark woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday, July 11, after being convicted of possessing cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, authorities said.  In March 2021, two FedEx parcels addressed to a "John Brown" in Newark were intercepted by law enforcement and found to contain cocaine, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. An undercover officer disguised as a FedEx driver delivered the package of cocaine to Mahogany Hawkins, Sellinger said. Officers showed up at Hawkins' place again, but when they identified themselves as law enforcement, Hawki…
Ex-Deputy Mayor Of Newark Admits Taking $25K Bribe In Restaurant Bathroom: Feds Ex-Deputy Mayor Of Newark Admits Taking $25K Bribe In Restaurant Bathroom: Feds
Ex-Deputy Mayor Of Newark Admits Taking $25K Bribe In Restaurant Bathroom: Feds Carmelo Garcia, who previously served as deputy mayor of Newark and one term in the state General Assembly, admitted to taking $25,000 in bribes, federal authorities said.  Garcia, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiring with two Newark business owners to obtain corrupt payments intended to influence and reward him for assisting them with the acquisition and redevelopment of various city-owned properties while serving on the Newark Department Economic and Housing Development, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Between 2017 and 2019, Garcia sought and received significant mone…