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Freehold, NJ

Police & Fire
2 Broken Thumbs Down: Gambino Family Hothead Nearly Torches Jersey Shore Restaurant, Feds Say 2 Broken Thumbs Down: Gambino Family Hothead Nearly Torches Jersey Shore Restaurant, Feds Say
2 Broken Thumbs Down: Gambino Family Hothead Nearly Torches Jersey Shore Restaurant, Feds Say Life imitated art when a reputed Gambino crime family captain threatened to burn down a Jersey Shore restaurant, then went to a service station across the street and tried to buy and fill a plastic gas can, federal authorities said. In what could’ve been a scene from any number of modern-day mob movies, Joseph Lanni of Staten Island became a walking cliché, the Justice Department said in announcing an organized-crime takedown that stretched all the way to Sicily. Lanni and fellow Staten Islander Vincent “Vinny Slick” Minsquero “became belligerent” after being asked to leave Roxy’s Bar and G…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Events
Springsteen Retraces His Heritage, Leads Irish Pub Patrons In Song Springsteen Retraces His Heritage, Leads Irish Pub Patrons In Song
Springsteen Retraces His Heritage, Leads Irish Pub Patrons In Song Bruce Springsteen wasn't about to play three sold-out nights in Dublin without retracing his heritage. He played tourist this week, visiting the church in Ireland where great-great-great-relatives were married, christened and more, while conjuring their ancestral spirits. He also dropped in on a fellow living musical legend. Bruce also had a mighty craic at a local pub, leading an impromptu singalong of (what else?) "My Hometown." "You guys are all fired in the E Street Band, I'm hiring these people!" he told his new friends to raucous laughs at The Burrow in Rathangan. The Boss then trie…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Teen Killed In Route 9 Crash Loved To Dance, Was Loving Brother Teen Killed In Route 9 Crash Loved To Dance, Was Loving Brother
Teen Killed In Route 9 Crash Loved To Dance, Was Loving Brother A 15-year-old boy killed in this week's crash on Route 9 was being remembered for his charisma.John Ryan McCarthy and, standout football star Asaivion Whiting, 17, of Manalapan, NJ died in the crash on Tuesday, April 19 in Freehold. A GoFundMe launched for John had raised more than $9,200 as of Thursday, April 21. A campaign for Asaivion had raised more than $24,000. "John was known just to make people laugh, no matter the situation," the page says. "John was a momma's boy at heart, and he was proud of it. He loved to dance his heart out and put on a show always.  "If you knew John, y…

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by Jon Craig & Cecilia Levine
News
Confessed Jersey Shore Gun Trafficker Headed To Federal Prison Confessed Jersey Shore Gun Trafficker Headed To Federal Prison
Confessed Jersey Shore Gun Trafficker Headed To Federal Prison A Monmouth County ex-con must serve a full five-year sentence in federal prison for trafficking guns from Florida to the Jersey Shore. As part of a gun-running network, Javier "Broly" Rodriguez-Valpais, 33, Morganville sold a .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle to a co-defendant -- who, in turn, sold it to an FBI cooperator, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Rather than face trial, Rodriguez-Valpais took a deal from the government, pleading guilty earlier to gun-trafficking conspiracy and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He must serve just about all o…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Feds: Defendant In Florida-to-Jersey Shore Gun Running Ring Takes Plea Feds: Defendant In Florida-to-Jersey Shore Gun Running Ring Takes Plea
Feds: Defendant In Florida-to-Jersey Shore Gun Running Ring Takes Plea A fourth defendant admitted Friday that he was part of a ring that sold guns trafficked from Florida to the Jersey Shore to buyers working for the FBI. Enrique Quijada, 24, of Freehold told a federal judge in Trenton via videoconference on Friday that he worked with ringleader Manuel “Chino” Espinosa-Ozoria of Bartow, FL his brother, Waldin “Manin” Espinosa-Ozoria of Freehold and two others. The crew sold handguns and a semi-automatic rifle, among other weapons, to what turned out to be FBI operatives in and around Monmouth and Ocean counties, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. De…

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by Jerry DeMarco