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Passaic County Prosecutor's Office

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Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man
Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Reality bit the ex-husband of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member Dina Manzo when he was convicted Tuesday of getting a mob soldier to throw her new beau a beating. Restaurateur Thomas Manzo, 59, who lives in the affluent Bergen County suburb of Franklin Lakes, rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors and took his chances with a jury. That didn’t go so good. Jurors in U.S. District Court in Newark convicted Manzo on June 4 of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, along with conspiracy and falsifying documents during a grand jury investigation. Althou…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
KIDNAPPING: NJ Girl, 11, Returned Home Safely From Delaware, Accused Abductor, 27, Seized KIDNAPPING: NJ Girl, 11, Returned Home Safely From Delaware, Accused Abductor, 27, Seized
Kidnapping: NJ Girl, 11, Returned Home Safely From Delaware, Accused Abductor, 27, Seized An 11-year-old New Jersey girl was returned home safely after she was kidnapped in Wayne and taken to Delaware, authorities said. Darius Matylewich, 27, of Bear, DE. was captured on Sept. 10 after he took the girl earlier in the day from an undisclosed location near the confluence of Routes 46, 80 and 23 without her parents’ knowledge, they said. Certain specific details are being withheld to protect the identity of the child, whom authorities said Matylewich met while playing an online video game. Some information was provided in a joint release from Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. V…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Woman Instructed To Shoot Paterson Victim Misses, 2 Charged With Attempted Murder: Prosecutor Woman Instructed To Shoot Paterson Victim Misses, 2 Charged With Attempted Murder: Prosecutor
Woman Instructed To Shoot Paterson Victim Misses, 2 Charged With Attempted Murder: Prosecutor A Pennsylvania woman and a Newark woman have both been charged with attempted murder after one handed the other a gun, instructing her to shoot at a 31-year-old female victim who was not struck over the weekend in Paterson, authorities said. It started sometime before 3:40 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6 near Wait and Wood streets in Paterson, when Abriyah Griffin, 25, of Newark, gave 31-year-old Lakenya Griffin, of Minersville, PA, the gun and told her to shoot the victim, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Lakenya fired the weapon but missed the victim, who fled the scene — fol…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
PA Woman, 19, Shot In Paterson PA Woman, 19, Shot In Paterson
PA Woman, 19, Shot In Paterson A 19-year-old woman from Allentown, PA was hospitalized after being shot in Paterson on Saturday, Oct. 8, authorities said. The victim was already on her way to  Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center when police arrived at the shooting scene — North 9th Street and Belmont Avenue — around 9:40 p.m., Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Acting Paterson Police Chief Bert Ribeiro said. The investigation remains active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes available. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information …

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by Cecilia Levine
News
UPDATE: Body Found In NJ River Tentatively ID'd, Probe Begun, Following Police Chase UPDATE: Body Found In NJ River Tentatively ID'd, Probe Begun, Following Police Chase
Update: Body Found In NJ River Tentatively ID'd, Probe Begun, Following Police Chase UPDATE: Authorities on Thursday tentatively identified a man whose body was recovered from a New Jersey river following a police chase. They also officially acknowledged that the incident was being investigated. The announcement follows a story by Daily Voice exploring the circumstances that led to the death of Thadius Wilder, a 35-year-old father of five from Passaic whose body apparently was in the water for two days before it was discovered. Wilder’s body was removed from the Passaic River below Route 21 after kayakers spotted it around 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, City of Passaic Police Chief…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ
FBI: Groomed-For-Sex Indiana Girl, 15, Rescued After Paterson Man Pays Uber To Bring Her To NJ A 22-year-old Paterson man showered a 15-year-old Indiana girl he'd met online with money, gifts and compliments before paying an Uber driver to bring her to him for sex, federal authorities said. Arnold Castillo "groomed" the girl, gaining her trust and alienating her from her family and other support systems before convincing her to leave Lawrence, IN, for New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern Indiana charged. Castillo "paid and arranged for an Uber driver to pick up the minor and transport her across state lines to him," alleges to an FBI complaint on file in U.S. District …

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by Jerry DeMarco
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'Drop The Gun!' Video Shows Paterson Police Officer Shooting Fleeing Suspect In Foot Chase 'Drop The Gun!' Video Shows Paterson Police Officer Shooting Fleeing Suspect In Foot Chase
'Drop The Gun!' Video Shows Paterson Police Officer Shooting Fleeing Suspect In Foot Chase Footage from the body camera of a Paterson police officer who shot a fleeing suspect during a foot chase was released by Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes on Friday. "Drop the gun!" Officer Jerry Moravek shouts several times as he chases Khalif Cooper, 28, down John Street around 3:30 a.m. June 11. Suddenly, two shots ring out and Cooper falls face down in the street. Moravek handcuffs Cooper, who repeatedly says, "I don't got no gun." "Shots fired," the officer says into his radio. "Send ALS [Advanced Life Support] and supervisors. Send ALS." Moravek repeatedly asks for an ambul…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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GUILTY: Kidnapping Rapist Who Cancelled Plea Deal Convicted In Rampage Through PA, NJ, NY GUILTY: Kidnapping Rapist Who Cancelled Plea Deal Convicted In Rampage Through PA, NJ, NY
Guilty: Kidnapping Rapist Who Cancelled Plea Deal Convicted In Rampage Through PA, NJ, NY An ex-con who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend in Pennsylvania, torched a used car dealership in Paterson and crashed a stolen SUV into police cars on either side of the George Washington Bridge rolled the dice and lost. After originally pleading guilty to several charges, Luis Figueroa, 41, withdrew his plea and took his chances with federal jurors in Newark. They ended up convicting him following a two-week trial. So now, instead of the 26-year deal that he originally accepted from the government, Figueroa could be sentenced to nearly 50 years in federal prison. The rampage had an “…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Federal Jurors Convict Ex-Paterson Police Sergeant Of Civil Rights Violations Federal Jurors Convict Ex-Paterson Police Sergeant Of Civil Rights Violations
Federal Jurors Convict Ex-Paterson Police Sergeant Of Civil Rights Violations UPDATE: A federal jury convicted a now-former Paterson police sergeant of stealing money from a suspect, then lying on reports to protect himself and his department accomplices. The guilty verdicts against Michael Cheff, 51, of Oakland on Thursday followed a five-day trial in U.S. District Court in Newark. They also prompted a statement from Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh: "Michael Cheff was fired [Thursday]. His trial revealed sickening and horrific acts committed by former officers who violated their oath to protect and serve. Paterson has taken significant steps to root out such conduct an…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Paterson Officer Indicted In Accused Beating Of Arab-American Resident Paterson Officer Indicted In Accused Beating Of Arab-American Resident
Paterson Officer Indicted In Accused Beating Of Arab-American Resident A Paterson police officer beat a 19-year-old Arab-American man and then lied about it, a federal grand jury charged. Officers Kevin Patino, 29, violated the civil rights of the victim, according to the indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Newark, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Osamah Alsaidi was walking with his hands in his pockets the night of Dec. 14, 2020 when Patino and Officer Kendry Tineo-Restituyo approached him, the U.S. attorney said. What they didn’t know was that area surveillance cameras were recording the incident (see below). “Patino grabbe…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Authorities: Paterson Tenant Kills Roommate With Rock Authorities: Paterson Tenant Kills Roommate With Rock
Authorities: Paterson Tenant Kills Roommate With Rock A Paterson man bashed his roommate in the head with a rock, killing him, authorities said Tuesday. The victim – initially identified only by the initial M.B. – was found face down on the living room floor of the 12th Avenue apartment he shared with Raymond Menafield, 40, at 6:20 a.m. Sunday. He had a large gash in the back of his head, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora said in a joint announcement. The victim was pronounced dead 20 minutes later, they said. Menafield killed him during some type of dispute, Valdes and Baycora said. He w…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
3rd Suspect Charged In Cold-Blooded Killing Of Paterson Man Gunned Down In Front Of His Mom 3rd Suspect Charged In Cold-Blooded Killing Of Paterson Man Gunned Down In Front Of His Mom
3rd Suspect Charged In Cold-Blooded Killing Of Paterson Man Gunned Down In Front Of His Mom A third arrest was made nearly two weeks ago in the cold-blooded ambush killing a 22-year-old Paterson man in front of his mother last Fourth of July weekend, authorities announced Monday. Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim Baycora didn’t explain why they waited nearly two weeks to announce the arrest of Dashawn A. Rhoden, 22, in the shooting death of Juan Garcia, 28 last July 3. They'd done the same earlier Monday when they announced the capture of a suspect in another murder case,  Garcia was gunned down in front of his mother in a targeted…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Paterson Ex-Con Sent To Fed Pen For Nearly 5 Years For Selling Revolvers, Pistols, Rifles, Ammo Paterson Ex-Con Sent To Fed Pen For Nearly 5 Years For Selling Revolvers, Pistols, Rifles, Ammo
Paterson Ex-Con Sent To Fed Pen For Nearly 5 Years For Selling Revolvers, Pistols, Rifles, Ammo UPDATE: An ex-con from Paterson who'd already done state prison time for a gun conviction is headed to federal prison for nearly five years for selling 16 weapons smuggled into New Jersey. Rather than face trial, Floyd “HK” Henry, 36, took a deal from the government, pleading guilty via videoconference with a federal judge in Newark last summer to gun selling, as well as being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammo. Henry sold two semi-automatic rifles, three revolvers and 11 semi-automatic pistols – as well as over 100 rounds of ammunition -- when ATF agents arrested him in S…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
20 Years Later, Detectives Still Pursue Cold-Blooded Christmastime Killing Of Clifton Grandma 20 Years Later, Detectives Still Pursue Cold-Blooded Christmastime Killing Of Clifton Grandma
20 Years Later, Detectives Still Pursue Cold-Blooded Christmastime Killing Of Clifton Grandma Before the explosion of social media and cold-case TV shows and streams, a beloved grandmother was stabbed dead in her Clifton home. Known for her generous volunteer work, Gertrude Bizarro, 72, was the matriarch of her family and the de facto grandmother of her Dutch Hill neighborhood, a row of two-story homes near the Passaic border. She was "all-around great woman loved by many," recalled Clifton Police Detective Lt. Robert Bracken, who knew her. Twenty years ago this Saturday, Bizarro's husband took their youngest daughter to a hair appointment in anticipation of a Christmas gathering i…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Ex-Pompton Lakes Police Officer Admits Exchanging Nude Pics With Underage Teen Ex-Pompton Lakes Police Officer Admits Exchanging Nude Pics With Underage Teen
Ex-Pompton Lakes Police Officer Admits Exchanging Nude Pics With Underage Teen A now-former Pompton Lakes police officer avoided potential prison time by pleading guilty to exchanging nude photos online with an underage teenager, authorities said. Mark Stinnard, 37, engaged in the relationship with the Riverdale youngster on his own time 3½ years ago and not while he was on the clock, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said. Stinnard was arrested in late September and charged with “engaging in sexual conduct with a child” and endangerment for manufacturing child pornography and “causing harm to a child,” the prosecutor said. No sexual assault charges were fi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Drugged Driver Takes Plea In Route 23 Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teenage Son, Attendant Drugged Driver Takes Plea In Route 23 Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teenage Son, Attendant
Drugged Driver Takes Plea In Route 23 Gas Station Crash That Killed Dad, Teenage Son, Attendant UPDATE: A drug-addicted Sussex County driver who killed a father, son and gas station attendant in a horrific crash on Route 23 in Wayne two years ago will be sentenced to a minimum of 25½ years without parole after pleading guilty Friday to three counts of aggravated manslaughter, authorities said. Jason Vanderee, 29, told a state judge in Paterson that he’d used heroin and fentanyl in combination with other drugs when he blacked out behind the wheel on Feb. 19, 2019. Jon Warbeck, a former Carlstadt firefighter from Fair Lawn and his 17-year-old son, Luke, of Lincoln Park, had stopped for…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Wallington Mom, Paterson Man Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old Wallington Mom, Paterson Man Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old
Wallington Mom, Paterson Man Charged With Murder In Death Of 8-Month-Old A 20-year-old Wallington woman and an accused heroin dealer from Paterson were both charged with murder in the death of her 8-month-old baby. Ashley Roman and Joshua Delgado, 22, brought the infant to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center on Oct. 25, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Ibrahim M. Baycora said in a joint announcement. The child died soon after, they said without elaborating on the cause or circumstances. The New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide, Valdes and Baycora said. Both Roman and Delgado, who they said i…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
IT'S OFFICIAL: NJ Woman Who Drowned Weeks-Old Puppy Gets 180 Days In Jail, Community Service IT'S OFFICIAL: NJ Woman Who Drowned Weeks-Old Puppy Gets 180 Days In Jail, Community Service
IT'S Official: NJ Woman Who Drowned Weeks-Old Puppy Gets 180 Days In Jail, Community Service UPDATE: A Morris County woman was formally sentenced Tuesday to 180 days in jail followed by five years probation for deliberately drowning a 10-week-old puppy in a West Milford lake. Superior Court Judge Marilyn C. Clark, sitting in Paterson, approved the terms of a plea deal under which Tonya Fea, 49, must complete 100 days of community service following her release. She also can no longer own a dog, under agreement with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Fea, of Boonton, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Paterson to third-degree animal cruelty two months ago, admitting u…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Deportee Who Raped Paterson Girl, 15, After Illegally Re-Entering US Gets 7¾ Years Deportee Who Raped Paterson Girl, 15, After Illegally Re-Entering US Gets 7¾ Years
Deportee Who Raped Paterson Girl, 15, After Illegally Re-Entering US Gets 7¾ Years UPDATE: A deportee who snuck back into the U.S. and was living illegally in Paterson was sentenced Tuesday to 95 months in federal prison for raping a 15-year-old city girl. Juan Carlos Morales-Pedraza, a 35-year-old Mexican citizen who was born in Ecuador, had been deported in 2010, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. He'd re-entered the United States when he approached the girl in Passaic County in April 2019, had sex with her, then took her with him on a planned trip to Chicago, Honig said. They never made it that far, however. An Ohio state trooper pulled Morales-Pedraza’s 201…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
UPDATE: Pennsylvania Driver Critical After Passaic County Tree Crash UPDATE: Pennsylvania Driver Critical After Passaic County Tree Crash
Update: Pennsylvania Driver Critical After Passaic County Tree Crash A Pennsylvania driver was critically injured when her compact car struck a tree in West Milford during the Independence Day weekend, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The 32-year-old Bethel, PA resident was driving a 2006 Toyota Scion xB that crashed outside the Secluded Acres Horse Boarding farm on Union Valley Road shortly after 6 p.m., they said. Both she and a 34-year-old male passenger from Lake Hopatcong were taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and West Milford Police Chief James DeVore said. The driver remained there in…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Illegal Immigrant Admits Raping Paterson Girl, 15, Taking Her Across State Lines Illegal Immigrant Admits Raping Paterson Girl, 15, Taking Her Across State Lines
Illegal Immigrant Admits Raping Paterson Girl, 15, Taking Her Across State Lines A deportee who'd been living illegally in Paterson after sneaking back into the country admitted Tuesday that he raped a 15-year-old city girl whom he convinced to travel out of state with him, federal authorities said. Juan Carlos Morales-Pedraza, a 34-year-old Mexican citizen, also pleaded guilty via video conference with a U.S. District Court judge in Newark to illegally re-entering the United States. The Ecuadoran-born Morales-Pedraza, who’d been deported in 2010, approached the girl in April 2019, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. After having sex with her, he took the girl …

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by Jerry DeMarco