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Public Office

Clark, NJ
News
Longtime Clark Mayor Resigns, Admits To Using Town Employees For Private Business: State AG Longtime Clark Mayor Resigns, Admits To Using Town Employees For Private Business: State AG
Longtime Clark Mayor Resigns, Admits To Using Town Employees For Private Business: State AG This story has been updated with a statement from Salvatore Bonaccorso The mayor of Clark Township pleaded guilty on Friday, Jan. 10, to using township employees to help him run his landscaping company, authorities said. Salvatore Bonaccorso, who has been mayor since 2001, resigned as part of his plea, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. As part of the agreement, he is permanently barred from holding any future public office or employment, Platkin said. In November 2023, Bonaccorso, 64, was charged with forging paperwork to nearly 24 New Jersey towns to allow his landscaping c…

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by Sam Barron
Paterson, NJ
News
Ex-Paterson Mayor Avoids Jailtime In Admitting To Violating Public Office Ban Ex-Paterson Mayor Avoids Jailtime In Admitting To Violating Public Office Ban
Ex-Paterson Mayor Avoids Jailtime In Admitting To Violating Public Office Ban Former Paterson Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres pleaded guilty to criminal contempt for defying a 2017 court order permanently barring him from running for or holding public office, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced. Torres, 66, admitted during a hearing on Thursday, Dec. 19, in Passaic County Superior Court that his 2022 bid to reclaim the mayor’s seat violated the judicial order. The plea, to a fourth-degree criminal contempt charge, followed an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA)’s Corruption Bureau. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the St…

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by Cecilia Levine
Harrisburg, PA
Politics
Former Dauphin Co. Commissioner Stripped Of Board Roles Amid Allegations Former Dauphin Co. Commissioner Stripped Of Board Roles Amid Allegations
Former Dauphin Co. Commissioner Stripped Of Board Roles Amid Allegations Former Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste has been stripped of multiple board positions following public outcry and corruption allegations, county officials confirmed on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Jeff Haste, the former Dauphin County Commissioner who served since 2003 and recently announced his retirement, has been removed from his board roles amid accusations of corruption, officials announced. Haste’s decades-long tenure has recently come under scrutiny, with residents and other county officials calling for accountability in the face of corruption concerns. At a heated public meeting, Comm…

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by Jillian Pikora
Wildwood, NJ
Police & Fire
Former Wildwood Mayor Admits To Healthcare Fraud, NJ Attorney General Says Former Wildwood Mayor Admits To Healthcare Fraud, NJ Attorney General Says
Former Wildwood Mayor Admits To Healthcare Fraud, NJ Attorney General Says A former mayor of Wildwood admitted to his role in a healthcare fraud scheme that stole more than $600,000 in government funds, authorities said. Peter Byron, 68, pleaded guilty to three charges on Friday, Sept. 27, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Monday, Sept. 30. Byron resigned as mayor in September 2023 after he was indicted in the case. According to court documents and statements, Byron, current Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., and Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) despite being ineligible. The SHBP is only open…

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by Chris Spiker
Vineland, NJ
News
NJ State Trooper Admits Punching Handcuffed Woman After She Spits At Troopers, Loses Job: AG NJ State Trooper Admits Punching Handcuffed Woman After She Spits At Troopers, Loses Job: AG
NJ State Trooper Admits Punching Handcuffed Woman After She Spits At Troopers, Loses Job: AG A New Jersey State Police trooper from Gloucester County has admitted punching a woman in the face with a metal flashlight in his hand while the victim was handcuffed in the backseat of a patrol vehicle, authorities said. The incident occurred after the drunken woman spat toward troopers following a trespassing complaint, according to Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin Trooper Nicolas J. Hogan, 28, of Gibbstown, pleaded guilty on Thursday, July 25 in Cumberland County to aggravated assault, Platkin said. Hogan entered into a consent order banning him for life from holding public offi…

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by Jon Craig
Cherry Hill, NJ
Police & Fire
SLEAZEBAG: NJ Case Worker Admits Groping Clients, Sexting Wank Pics, Threatening To Take Kids SLEAZEBAG: NJ Case Worker Admits Groping Clients, Sexting Wank Pics, Threatening To Take Kids
Sleazebag: NJ Case Worker Admits Groping Clients, Sexting Wank Pics, Threatening To Take Kids It’s about as low as someone who works in child welfare services can go. A now-former case worker with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families admitted groping women he was investigating, sending unwanted masturbation pics and threatening to have children taken from those who didn’t go out with him, authorities said on Friday. Gilberto Ortiz Jr., a 53-year-old bilingual family services specialist, told a mom he was investigating that he’d “help her” if she had a relationship with him, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Ortiz warned the woman during a home visi…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Worcester, MA
News
List Of Far-Right Militia Oath Keepers Members Includes 2 Massachusetts Elected Officials List Of Far-Right Militia Oath Keepers Members Includes 2 Massachusetts Elected Officials
List Of Far-Right Militia Oath Keepers Members Includes 2 Massachusetts Elected Officials Elected officials in Massachusetts are among thousands of names appearing on leaked membership lists for the far-right extremist group, the Oath Keepers, according to a report released Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Center on Extremism examined more than 38,000 names on leaked Oath Keepers membership rolls and identified more than 470 people who currently work in law enforcement or serve in the military. It also identified more than 80 people who were running for or served in public office in the United States as of early August 2022. The names were pulled from a c…

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by Michael Mashburn
Hartford, CT
News
List Of Far-Right Militia Oath Keepers Members Includes 5 CT Law Enforce Officials List Of Far-Right Militia Oath Keepers Members Includes 5 CT Law Enforce Officials
List Of Far-Right Militia Oath Keepers Members Includes 5 CT Law Enforce Officials Several law enforcement officials in Connecticut are among thousands of names appearing on leaked membership lists for the far-right extremist group, the Oath Keepers, according to a report released Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Center on Extremism examined more than 38,000 names on leaked Oath Keepers membership rolls and identified more than 470 people who currently work in law enforcement or serve in the military. It also identified more than 80 people who were running for or served in public office in the United States as of early August 2022. The names were p…

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by Michael Mashburn
Yonkers, NY
News
Leaked Members List Of Far-Right Militia Group Oath Keepers Includes 5 NY Elected Officials Leaked Members List Of Far-Right Militia Group Oath Keepers Includes 5 NY Elected Officials
Leaked Members List Of Far-Right Militia Group Oath Keepers Includes 5 NY Elected Officials Several elected officials in New York are among thousands of names appearing on leaked membership lists for the far-right extremist militia group, the Oath Keepers, according to a report released Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Center on Extremism examined more than 38,000 names on leaked Oath Keepers membership rolls and identified more than 470 people who currently work in law enforcement or serve in the military. It also identified more than 80 people who were running for or served in public office as of early August 2022. The names were pulled from a cache of da…

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by Michael Mashburn
Paterson, NJ
News
ONLY IN JERSEY: Convicted Paterson Mayor Busted For Illegally Trying To Run Again ONLY IN JERSEY: Convicted Paterson Mayor Busted For Illegally Trying To Run Again
Only IN Jersey: Convicted Paterson Mayor Busted For Illegally Trying To Run Again People told former Paterson Mayor Joey Torres that he couldn't run for mayor again after being convicted of corruption in office. He wasn't listening, though. That changed on Friday, March 11, when state authorities announced that they'd charged Torres, 63, with criminal contempt. “State law provides that any person convicted of a crime involving their public office will be forever barred from holding another public position in New Jersey,” Acting New Jersey Attorney General Platkin said. “To promote public trust and integrity in government, we must ensure that this law and the court orders…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Middletown, NJ
News
Tinton Falls Elects One Of Nation's Oldest Mayors Tinton Falls Elects One Of Nation's Oldest Mayors
Tinton Falls Elects One Of Nation's Oldest Mayors At 97, Mayor Vito Perillo is one of America's oldest mayors. He's now considering whether to seek another four-year term, which would make him a centenarian municipal chief executive. It’s hard to know for certain if Perillo is the oldest person ever elected mayor -- he was born in in September 1918 -- but folks who know him call him tough to beat. Perillo was re-elected to his second four-year term as mayor of Tinton Falls on Tuesday, according to unofficial tallies from the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office. “They tell me I’m the oldest mayor in the country,” Perillo told NJ Advance Media.&…

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by Jon Craig
Lakewood, NJ
News
Married State Police Couple Who Lied About Jersey Shore Bar Brawl Lose Their Jobs Married State Police Couple Who Lied About Jersey Shore Bar Brawl Lose Their Jobs
Married State Police Couple Who Lied About Jersey Shore Bar Brawl Lose Their Jobs UPDATE: A married New Jersey State Police detective couple caught lying about a North Wildwood bar fight agreed to give up their jobs on Monday, authorities said. Detective Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Ogden, 52, and Detective Sgt. Dorothy Ogden, 46, cut a deal with the state Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) rather than go to trial, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. Besides forfeiting their jobs, the Ogdens -- both of Hammonton – must successfully complete a pre-trial intervention program that will clear their records of false swearing charges, the attor…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Armonk, NY
Politics
Westchester Mayor Calls For Probe, Resignation Of Board Of Ethics Chair Westchester Mayor Calls For Probe, Resignation Of Board Of Ethics Chair
Westchester Mayor Calls For Probe, Resignation Of Board Of Ethics Chair Mount Vernon’s top lawmaker is calling for an investigation of the city’s Board of Ethics chair following allegations that he made threats and sought to coerce a Councilperson. Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard issued a statement late on Thursday, April 22 calling for Gregory Cannata’s resignation and a thorough probe into his actions after he allegedly targeted City Councilwoman Janice Duarte. Original story - Board Of Ethics Chair In Westchester Facing Charges After Allegedly Attempting To Coerce Rival “The recent allegations and arrest of Board of Ethics chair Gregory Cannata r…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
Politics
Attorney For Cuomo Accuser Says Governor Lied In Apology 'Full Of Falsehoods' Attorney For Cuomo Accuser Says Governor Lied In Apology 'Full Of Falsehoods'
Attorney For Cuomo Accuser Says Governor Lied In Apology 'Full Of Falsehoods' An attorney for one of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment accusers wasn’t a fan of the apology he issued during his first public comments since multiple claims of sexual harassment were made against him. On Wednesday, March 3, Cuomo got emotional while addressing the sexual harassment scandal following claims from three women in the past two weeks, saying that he was “embarrassed” and that “he's sorry for whatever pain (he) caused anyone.” Earlier story - Cuomo Says He Won't Resign In First News Briefing Since Three Sexual Harassment Allegations However, one of Cuomo’s accuser…

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by Zak Failla
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
County Legislators Propose 52 Percent Pay Raises For Themselves: Here's Rundown Of Voting County Legislators Propose 52 Percent Pay Raises For Themselves: Here's Rundown Of Voting
County Legislators Propose 52 Percent Pay Raises For Themselves: Here's Rundown Of Voting Have you ever received a 52 percent pay raise—from $49,200 to $75,000—in one year? That adds up to a quarter-million more dollars over a decade. That's what 10 Westchester County legislators think they should be paid each year starting next month The county Board of Legislators approved the raise this week—just three weeks after Election Day. it will be one of their final orders of business for the two-year legislative session. The raise is effective on New Year's Day 2020. In a separate, but related development on Tuesday, Dec. 10, County Executive George Latimer signed a $2.1 billion annu…

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by Jon Craig
West Milford, NJ
Politics
BREAKING: Bribe-Taking Passaic Councilman Hired By Murphy Resigns, Grewal Launches Hiring Probe BREAKING: Bribe-Taking Passaic Councilman Hired By Murphy Resigns, Grewal Launches Hiring Probe
Breaking: Bribe-Taking Passaic Councilman Hired By Murphy Resigns, Grewal Launches Hiring Probe A former Passaic councilman who was hired by Gov. Murphy even though he served federal prison time for taking bribes has resigned amid a firestorm of controversy. At the same time, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal -- a former federal prosecutor himself -- said he's ordered an investigation into how Marcellus Jackson was able to get the job in the first place. Other people with criminal records who've been hired by the state will be forced to resign, as well, and steps will be taken to prevent it from happening again, the attorney general said. In a statement issued early Friday even…

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by Jerry DeMarco