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Nyack Native, Podcaster Armando Mercado Dies, 39
Shock and sadness spread following the death of Armando Francisco Mercado, a Paterson resident who passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 25 after a four-year battle with cancer, according to his obituary on the Shook Funeral Home website and a GoFundMe launched for his support.
Born in Nyack, NY, Armando aka Mandi was a "proud" Paterson resident of 35 years, who spent most of his career working in sales, most recently at Verizon in Butler, his obituary says.
A lifelong movie lover, Armando shared his opinions on film through his podcast, The DRD Show, which has nearly 200 episodes, according to his…
Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says
The US population is rapidly diversifying, with cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at the forefront, according to a new study.
WalletHub released its 2025 ranking of the nation's Most Diverse Cities on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Three Maryland communities topped the list of 501 locations, which were evaluated based on socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious diversity.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2 percent of Americans identified as multiracial in 2020, a sharp increase from just 2.9 percent in 2010.
"The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many …
9 NY, NJ Spas Selling Sex For Cash Exposed In Federal Investigation, US Attorney Says
Four people have been charged with offering sexual favors at nine different massage parlors and spas across North Jersey and New York, federal officials said.
Zhejun Piao, 37, a Chinese national, Miyeon Choi, 37, a South Korean national, Shangxian Cui, 36, Chinese national, and Meixiang Jin, 34, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate travel or transportation in aid of a racketeering enterprise., U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday, Aug. 9.
The following nine spas and massage parlors owned and operated by …
Teen Trio From Rockland All Caught Packin' Pistols On Street Corner, Police Say
Three Rockland County teens mingling on a street corner were all carrying guns when detectives in Paterson, New Jersey, rolled up on them, authorities said.
Detectives Jonathan Traynor and Kenneth Kerwin approached the trio at the corner 5th Avenue and East 12th Street shortly before 12:30 a.m. last Sunday, Nov. 27, city Police Director Jerry Speziale said.
Joined by detectives Suquan Gary and Joseph Aboyoun, the investigators found all three packing, he said.
Sent to the Passaic County Jail on weapons charges were Christain Martinez, age 18, of Suffern, who Speziale said was caught with a…
Nine Charged With Stealing $1.3M Worth of Vehicles In NY, NJ, CT, MA, PA Shipping Them Overseas
An international ring of identity thieves stole $1.3 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, using fraudulently obtained digital driver's licenses, authorities charged.
Nine defendants used the stolen identities of US citizens in Puerto Rico -- along with fake Puerto Rico driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, debit cards, and birth certificates -- to obtain the licenses from motor vehicle agencies in Jersey City and North Bergen, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said.
They used tho…
Rapper Fetty Wap Trafficked 100 Kilos Of Opioids From NY Across US, Federal Officials Say
Rapper Fetty Wap was among six men charged with running an elaborate cross-country drug distribution ring out of New York, authorities announced.
The rapper, whose real name is Willie Junior Maxwell II, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 28 by FBI agents at Citi Field.
An indictment was unsealed on Long Island, in Central Islip federal court, Friday, Oct. 29, charging six men with conspiring to distribute and possess controlled substances, including five of them also charged for using weapons in connection to drug trafficking.
The six men distributed more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, …
Man Wanted For Murder Nabbed During Traffic Stop In Hudson Valley, Police Say
A Hudson Valley man wanted for murder in New Jersey was nabbed by police during a traffic stop that also netted two loaded handguns.
Rockland County resident Jack D. Ramirez, age 20, of Spring Valley, was arrested in Dutchess County on Thursday, July 8 by the City of Poughkeepsie Police.
During the stop, two unlawfully possessed, loaded handguns, both equipped with high-capacity magazines, were recovered, Det. Sgt. Terrence Beam said.
While running his record, police discovered that Ramirez was wanted for intentional murder with a gun in Paterson, New Jersey, Beam said.
He was charge…
Man Arrested On Thruway For Fleeing Police In Stolen Car, Police Say
A 33-year-old man who allegedly fled from state troopers on the Thruway was nabbed for driving a stolen vehicle.
John C. Johnson, 33, of Paterson, New Jersey, was arrested around 10 a.m., Thursday, March 5, after troopers received a report of a vehicle pursuit entering the state from New Jersey, involving a stolen vehicle, said New York State Police.
Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle on I-87 in the town of Tuxedo. While attempting to avoid police, Johnson's vehicle struck the guide rail sustaining heavy damage and continued for a short time before driving off the road.
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NJ Ex-Con Gets 25 Years In Fed Pen For Flooding Bergen, Passaic, Rockland Suburbs With Heroin
A Paterson ex-con is headed to federal prison for 25 years for distributing heroin by the pound in Bergen, Passaic and Rockland counties.
Reinaldo “Memo” Rodriguez, 30, was part of a network that that stretched from the Bronx to Paterson and into suburban towns in all three counties, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.
One ring member, Edwin Lopez of Elmwood Park, was sentenced to 13½ years in federal prison in July 2017 as part of a plea. Another, Carolina Almonte of the Bronx, also negotiated a deal and got four months in May 2017.
Rodriguez opted instead for a trial, whi…
Death Of Worker Caught In Cheese Mixing Machine Ruled Accidental
The death of a 41-year-old worker who was caught in a cheese mixing machine has been ruled accidental, police said.
Orangetown Police said Edwin Nunez was found dead around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, inside a mixing machine at ICCO Cheese Co. in Orangeburg.
Nunez, who died of blunt impact and crushing injuries, had worked for the company, which makes grated cheese and bread crumbs, among other items, for about 18 months, according to the Orangetown Police. He was a resident of Paterson, New Jersey.
On Friday, the department announced that the Rockland County Medical Examiner's Offic…
