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NJ Museum Heist Crew Sentenced In Decades-Long Crime: Feds
It took them 20 years to steal it all—but just four weeks for a jury to take it back. Now, multiple members of the Pennsylvania-based museum heist crew are heading to prison.
Thomas Trotta, 49, of Dunmore, was sentenced on Friday, March 14 to serve 96 months in prison, followed by supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,759,073 in restitution for his role in the massive multi-state theft operation targeting fine art, sports memorabilia, and historic artifacts worth over $4 million the FBI announced on Tuesday, March 18.
Trotta and his co-conspirators carried out a string of museum heists …
NJ Man Helps Cousin Kill Girlfriend’s Brother In PA, Sentenced To Decades
A Pennsylvania man was gunned down while sitting in a parked car with his family, and two men—including his sister’s abusive boyfriend and his cousin—have now been sentenced to decades in prison for his murder, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday, March 14, 2025.
Breon D. McRae, 34, of Morrisville, PA, and Pacqi S. Lassiter, 29, of Trenton, New Jersey, were each sentenced to 40 to 80 years in state prison for conspiring to kill Clifton “CJ” Burgess-Williams Jr., 26, on Dec. 22, 2022, prosecutors said. McRae received an additional 4 ½ to 9 years for witness intimid…
NJ Man Who Paid To Torch $6M PA Book Warehouse, Injuring Firefighter, Sentenced: DOJ
A New Jersey man who orchestrated the arson of a Bucks County book warehouse—injuring a firefighter and causing over $6 million in damages—has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, authorities announced.
Ramiz Duka, 62, of Cherry Hill, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge for his role in the Dec. 10, 2022, fire at Ebooks Web LLC on Bridgewater Road in Bensalem, Acting U.S. Attorney Nelson S.T. Thayer, Jr. said on Monday, March 10.
Duka conspired with two men to set the warehouse ablaze, paying them $15,000 for the job, investigators previously revealed.…
Scammers Stole Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tickets In $600K+ Scheme, Prosecutors Say
Taylor Swift fans are hoping "Karma" comes to whoever scammed them out of expensive tickets to The Eras Tour.
Two people were accused of stealing nearly 1,000 tickets to high-demand events, including the popstar's record-breaking concert tour. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced arrests in the case in a news release on Monday, Mar. 3.
Tyrone Rose, 20, of Kingston, Jamaica, and Shamara Simmons, 31, of Queens, NY, were facing charges including grand larceny, conspiracy, and computer tampering.
"These defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift…
Four Involved In Shooting Of Njsp Detective At Salem County Mobile Home Park Plead Guilty: AG
Four people recently admitted to their role in the 2020 shooting of a New Jersey State Police detective in Salem County, authorities said.
Markese Rogers, a 30-year-old Pittsgrove resident, Ashley Acevedo Diaz, 27, Shakeem Waters, 36 and Noel Lazu, 35, pled guilty this month for their involvement in an incident that led to NJSP Detective Richard Hershey being shot at the Harding Woods mobile home park in Pittsgrove, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
Hershey was on scene investigating a report of a woman beaten and robbed during a home invasion, Platkin said. While Hersh…
Ghost Guns, Meth, Firearm Seized From Pair In Ocean County Raid: AG
Two Ocean County residents are facing charges following a raid on Wednesday, Feb. 19 that turned up numerous ghost guns and methamphetamine, authorities said.
Law enforcement conducted search warrants at multiple locations and recovered and seized, guns, including guns with no serial number- "ghost guns," extended magazines, and a quantity of methamphetamine, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
The defendants, George Garulle, 56, of Beachwood, and Dana Restaino, 39, of Whiting, conspired to sell a defaced firearm with no serial number, Platkin said.
They were charge…
Atlantic City Man Used Drones To Dump Dye Packs In Swimming Pools, Prosecutors Say
An Atlantic City man was accused of using drones to drop dye packs into pools more than a year ago, causing thousands of dollars in damage, authorities said.
Anthony Spina, 31, was indicted for third-degree criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release on Monday, Dec. 16.
Investigators said Spina plotted with another person to fly drones over commercial and residential properties between Thursday, June 1, 2023, and Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. The pair reportedly dropped dye packs into swimming pool…
Home Invasion Convict Who Sold Fentanyl, Meth At Atlantic City Hotel Sentenced: Prosecutors
An Absecon man serving more than half a century for a violent home invasion was additionally sentenced for running a drug ring out of an Atlantic City hotel, authorities said.
Michael Hayes, 47, was given an eight-year state prison sentence on Tuesday, Nov. 12 for second-degree conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The sentence will run concurrently with the 60-year term he's serving for a September 2020 home invasion.
The drug charges stem from a Sunday, Dec. 16, 2020, search of Hayes’ secon…
Four Charged In Deadly Jersey Shore Shooting
Four people were charged on Friday, Nov. 1, with the fatal shooting of a 36-year-old Monmouth County man in July, authorities said.
At 3:13 a.m. on Wednesday, July, 10, Red Bank police responded to the 100 block of River Street in Red Bank and found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said.
Mikal Muhammad was pronounced deceased on scene, while the other male was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, treated and released, Santiago said.
Lahmeir Hill, a 31-year-old Pemberton resident and Sadiq Palmer, a 25-year-old Fre…
Man Sentenced To 90 Years For 2020 Killing, Robbery At South Jersey Hotel: Prosecutors
A Lindenwold man will spend up to nine decades in prison after helping lure another man into a Mount Laurel hotel room and killing him, authorities said.
Jawaad Ali, 33, was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 27 to 90 years in state prison, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw said in a news release. He was convicted of murder in the killing of 31-year-old Samer Alhalayqa of Camden on Friday, May 8, 2020.
Investigators said Ali, Anthony Sermond-Guyton of Clayton, and Asia Boone of Camden lured Alhalayqa to the Fairfield Inn on Century Parkway to rob him.&n…
Central Jersey Couple Admits To Lying On Asylum Applications For Sri Lankans
A Lawrence Township couple admitted to submitting fraudulent asylum applications for clients from Sri Lanka, authorities said.
Zuwairul Ameer, 61, and Claudette Ameer, 63, pleaded guilty on Monday, Aug. 26 to conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. They were indicted in the immigration fraud case on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023.
According to court documents and statements, Zuwairul Ameer, also known as "Zuwairul Thowfeek," submitted false asylum applications for non-citizen clients since at least 2007. Claudette Am…
Fake NJ Doc, Wife Sentenced For Unlawful Medical Practice, Sex Assaults On Patients
A New Jersey married couple was sentenced to prison time after both were caught running an unlicensed medical practice where he posed as a doctor and sexually assaulted patients, authorities said.
The medical practice of Orger Sibaja-Bolanos, 67, and his wife, Rosa Perez, 64, both of Old Bridge, came under investigation in 2022 after two patients reported being sexually assaulted by Sibaja-Bolanos, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said (scroll down for sentencings).
An investigation found he posed as a doctor and gave two patients injections and sexually assaulted …
Two Men Stole Cellphones From Store In Atlantic City, Police Say
Two Atlantic City men were accused of breaking into a cellphone store and stealing several phones, authorities said.
Keith Faulkner, 51, and Scott Sewell, 56, were arrested on Friday, July 5, the Atlantic City Poice Department said in a news release on Monday, July 8. Officers responded to Metro by T-Mobile on the 1400 block of Atlantic Avenue at around 6:41 a.m.
Investigators said two suspects entered the store when it was closed and took several cellphones, along with other items. Police found Faulkner and Sewell in a rideshare vehicle during a vehicle stop on the 300 block…
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…
