2002 News Releases and Charging Documents
12-23-2002 -- NEWARK - A former employee of the Immigration and Naturalization Service admitted today that he embezzled thousands of dollars in money orders that applicants for INS benefits had submitted as filing fees, AUSA Michael Hammer, 973-645-2771.
12-19-2002 -- TRENTON - A federal judge this week unsealed a civil complaint alleging that a Jamesburg medical magazine publisher defrauded the United States by failing to pay more than $2 million in postage for mailing its periodicals, AUSA Michael A. Chagares, 973-645-2839.
Medical World Communications News Release
12-18-2002 -- NEWARK - A brother and sister were charged in an Indictment today with identity theft, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
12-18-2002 -- CAMDEN - A Toms River woman was charged in a federal complaint today in connection with an attempt to board an aircraft with a stun gun in her purse, AUSA Thomas DiLeonardo, 973-645-5029.
12-17-2002 -- NEWARK - A disgruntled computer systems administrator for UBS PaineWebber was charged today with using a "logic bomb" to cause more than $3 million in damage to the company's computer network, and with securities fraud for his failed plan to drive down the company's stock with activation of the logic bomb, AUSA William Devaney, 973-645-2713.
12-17-2002 -- NEWARK - Two New York residents were indicted today by a federal grand jury for conspiring to rob armored trucks in Jersey City, AUSA Eli Richardson, 973-645-2002.
Hyman and Williams News Release
12-16-2002 -- NEWARK - The leader of a Colombian organization that exported cocaine to the United States is being sought today in South America, following the unsealing of seven money laundering indictments and numerous arrests last week, AUSA Stephen J. Taylor, 973-645-2824.
Operation Southern Approach News Release
Colombian Government News Release
12-16-2002 -- NEWARK - A former municipal code official and electrical inspector convicted of extortion and tax fraud, in connection with schemes to take corrupt payments from local vendors and intentionally failing to report income and reporting false expenses on his federal tax returns, was sentenced to 41 months in prison today, AUSAs Carlos F. Ortiz, 973-645-2768 and Deborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2729.
12-16-2002 -- NEWARK - A former employee of an agency administering federal housing funds on behalf of Union County was sentenced to 27 months in prison today, for embezzling more than $200,000 and trying to get money from tenants for security payments, AUSA Lorraine S. Gerson, 973-645-2789.
12-11-2002 -- BRIDGEPORT, CT. - A federal grand jury returned new charges this evening against Walter A. Forbes of New Canaan, the former chairman of Cendant Corp., accusing him of selling more than $11 million in company stock about a month before a massive accounting fraud was revealed at Cendant, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, AUSAs John J. Carney, 973-645-6112, Richard J. Schechter, 973-645-2791 and James F. McMahon, 973-645-2897.
Forbes and Shelton Superseding Indictment News Release
Forbes and Shelton Superseding Indictment (Cendant)
Forbes and Shelton First Superseding Indictment News Release (July 18, 2001)
12-11-2002 -- NEWARK - William C. Braker, a Hudson County Freeholder and former deputy director of the Jersey City Police Department, was arrested today on an Indictment charging him with accepting cash bribes from a county vendor, AUSAs Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772 and Philip Kwon, 973-645-2742.
Braker indictment (PDF format)
12-02-2002 -- NEWARK - An Essex County Sheriff's Officer today admitted defrauding a federal housing program that gives law enforcement officers homes at half-price in urban neighborhoods, AUSA Brian R. Howe, 973-645-2853.
11-27-2002 -- NEWARK - A former law partner with a Morristown law firm was arrested today for allegedly defrauding the law firm, various clients he represented and the Millburn Soccer Club, AUSA Robert A. Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
11-27-2002 -- NEWARK - A former Colts Neck man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison in connection with a RICO securities fraud conspiracy, AUSAs John J. Carney, 973-645-6112 and James F. McMahon, 973-645-2897.
11-21-2002 -- NEWARK - A Superseding Indictment was returned today, adding tax charges against West New York businessman Rene Abreu, his wife and others, AUSAs Carlos F. Ortiz, 973-645-2768 and Deborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2729.
Abreu et al. Superseding Indictment News Release
11-20-2002 -- TRENTON - A Bernardsville man was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison in connection with seven bank robberies throughout Somerset and Union Counties, AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-757-5026.
11-18-2002 -- NEWARK - Kenneth E. Nixon, Jr., the former Executive Director of the Asbury Park Housing Authority, was indicted today on charges of mail fraud and aiding and abetting an attempted extortion, AUSA Mark J. McCarren, 973-645-2867.
11-18-2002 -- NEWARK - A former North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority official admitted today that he accepted cash payments, a jet ski and home improvements from two MUA contractors and concealed his acceptance of the bribes, AUSAs Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772 and Phillip Kwon, 973-645-2742.
11-15-2002 -- NEWARK - A Newark man was sentenced today on charges that he passed counterfeit checks totaling more than $4.1 million at banks in Jersey City and East Orange and several Newark businesses, AUSA Scott S. Christie, 973-645-2884.
11-15-2002 -- NEWARK - A Newark priest admitted today that he engaged in tax evasion by failing to report more than $68,000 in income, AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
11-14-2002 -- NEWARK - Eleven workers at Newark Liberty International Airport were arrested today and 10 others were being sought after all 21 were charged with using false identification documents to get jobs at the airport that gave them access to high-security areas, Public Affairs, 973-645-2888.
Newark Liberty International Airport False ID Round-Up News Release
11-12-2002 -- NEWARK - An indictment was unsealed today against an unemployed United Kingdom computer system administrator, who allegedly broke into the computer network at the Earle Naval Weapons Station, stealing computer passwords, and shutting down the network in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, AUSA Scott Christie, 973-645-2884.
Eastern District of Virginia News Release and Indictment
10-31-2002 -- NEWARK - The engineering consulting company owned and operated by former Newark Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson pleaded guilty today to defrauding the Irvington School District, while Gibson himself pleading guilty to a felony charge of filing a false tax return, AUSAs Ralph J. Marra, 973-645-2773, Carolyn Murray and Luis A. Valentin, 973-645-2708.
10-30-2002 -- NEWARK - James Condos, a former Asbury Park Councilman, and Philip Konvitz, a Long Branch developer, were charged in an Indictment with extortion, bribery, mail and wire fraud, AUSA Mark J. McCarren, 973-645-2867.
10-29-2002 -- NEWARK - A Lyndhurst woman pleaded guilty today to bank fraud, admitting that she embezzled more than $500,000 from a security company, AUSA Andrew Kogan, 973-645-2754.
10-29-2002 -- NEWARK - Hudson County Freeholder Nidia Davila-Colon was indicted today on charges that she passed cash bribes from a county vendor to then-Hudson County Executive Robert C. Janiszewski, AUSAs Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772 and Phillip Kwon, 973-645-2742.
10-28-2002 -- NEWARK - The Essex County Executive and former candidate for U.S. Senate, James W. Treffinger, was arrested today, charged in an Indictment with extortion, fraud, obstructing a federal investigation and conspiracy, AUSAs James Nobile, 973-645-2766, Perry Carbone, 973-645-2765 and Nelson Thayer, 973-645-2743.
10-24-2002 -- TRENTON - Two previously convicted state felons were arraigned today, charged under tough federal gun statutes, which provide stiff prison sentences upon conviction, AUSA Jason Richardson, 609-757-5026.
10-23-2002 -- NEWARK - A service representative with the Social Security Administration pleaded guilty today to conspiring to transfer social security cards to illegal aliens, AUSA Matthew Boxer, 973-645-2764.
10-18-2002 -- NEWARK - Three members of the same family pleaded guilty today to charges in connection with contracting work done by their companies with the U.S. Army base at Fort Monmouth, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
10-18-2002 -- NEWARK - An attorney licensed to practice in New Jersey pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Hudson County businessman Rene Abreu and others to commit mail fraud, AUSAs Carlos F. Ortiz and Doborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2768, 2729.
10-17-2002 -- NEWARK - Two North Jersey hospitals have agreed to pay the United States more than $1 million to settle allegations that their facilities unlawfully charged federal health care programs for surgical procedures using experimental cardiac devices, AUSA Stuart A. Minkowitz, 973-645-2925.
General Hospital Center at Passaic/Hackensack University Medical Center Settlement News Release
10-11-2002 -- NEWARK - A former licensed securities broker employed by Seaboard Securities in Florham Park was indicted today of two counts of mail fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud Seaboard clients of more than $350,000, AUSA Michele Brown, 973-645-2905.
10-10-2002 -- NEWARK - Terrance D. Weldon, the mayor of Ocean Township and the city manager for Asbury Park, pleaded guilty today to three counts of extortion, admitting that he took more than $60,000 in cash bribes from three different developers between 1998 and 2001 in connection with his official duties as mayor, AUSAs Mark McCarren and Nelson Thayer, Jr., 973-645-2867, 2743.
10-09-2002 -- CAMDEN - Atlantic City-area resident Chang Ping Lin was convicted by a jury today on all four counts against him in connection with loansharking and kidnaping of a gambler in Atlantic City, AUSAs William Fitzpatrick and Scott Resnik, 856-757-5026.
10-06-2002 -- NEWARK - Two Short Hills restaurant owners pleaded guilty today to conspiring to structure currency transactions for the purpose of evading their income taxes, AUSA Perry A. Carbone, 973-645-2765.
10-03-2002 -- NEWARK - Former Hudson County Executive Robert C. Janiszewski pleaded guilty today to charges of extortion and tax evasion, admitting that he took more than $100,000 in cash bribes in connection with his official duties, AUSAs Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772 and Stuart Rabner, 973-645-6053.
10-03-2002 -- NEWARK - Kevin Jackson, a self-employed auto mechanic, was sentenced today to fifty-one months after his conviction in a fraud conspiracy involving his attempt to redeem a fraudulent bond purportedly worth more than $200 million, AUSA Robert Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
09-30-2002 -- NEWARK - A friend and associate of Hudson County businessman Rene Abreu pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Abreu, former West New York Chief of Police Alexander Oriente and others to extort money for the protection of illegal gambling, AUSAs Jeffrey Clark and Deborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2768, 2729.
09-26-2002 -- NEWARK - A Jersey City man pleaded guilty today to murder and bank robbery as part of an organized criminal enterprise involving a Jersey City gang named Van Nostrand Soldiers Out Politicking, or VSOP, AUSA Marc A. Agnifilo, 973-645-3987.
09-26-2002 -- NEWARK - A grand jury today added new charges against five people previously indicted in connection with a scheme to lure young, undocumented Mexican girls into the United States and force them into prostitution at a Plainfield brothel, AUSA Robert Holmsen, 973-645-2769.
Jimenez-Calderon et al. News Release
09-26-2002 -- NEWARK - Memorial Hospital of Salem County reached a settlement today that requires the not-for-profit hospital to pay a civil penalty of $1 million for violations in the management of its inventory of controlled substances, AUSA Michael A. Chagares, 973-645-2839.
Memorial Hospital News Release
09-25-2002 -- NEWARK - A Certified Public Accountant was indicted today for conspiring with the management of the collapsed Millburn securities brokerage firm First Interregional Equity Corp. to obstruct the collection of income taxes, for assisting in the preparation of a false and fraudulent tax return, and for perjury in connection with Trustee depositions, AUSA Amy Winkelman, 973-645-2906.
09-20-2002 -- NEWARK - Former North Bergen Township Administrator and North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority Director of Operations Joseph Auriemma pleaded guilty today to accepting benefits in the form of home improvements from a contractor with town contracts and concealing his receipt of the benefits, AUSA Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772.
09-19-2002 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced today that the former president of a national testing laboratory was sentenced in federal court in Newark to 11 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for obstructing a federal proceeding by lying to federal investigators about his role in the alteration of lab results relating to fuel oil, DOJ, 202-514-2007.
09-13-2002 -- CAMDEN - The leader and co-conspirators of a notorious drug-trafficking gang were arrested in early morning raids today, taking down the main players in an organization that peddled heroin and crack cocaine and protected its operations by threats and violence, including murder, AUSA Kevin T. Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally M. Smith, 856-968-4928.
Perez Organization News Release
09-04-2002 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice initiated proceedings today to revoke the U.S. citizenship of a Mays Landing, New Jersey, man based on his service during World War II as an armed guard at three Nazi slave labor camps.
08-27-2002 -- NEWARK - Three people were indicted today for allegedly inducing Russian women to enter the United States illegally and compelling and extorting them to dance nude in New Jersey strip clubs, AUSA Leslie F. Schwartz and Deputy Attorney General in New Jersey, Saima Mohsin.
Trakhtenberg et al. News Release
Trakhtenberg et al. Indictment
08-16-2002 -- TRENTON - A Haddonfield accountant was arrested today on an indictment charging conspiracy to commit bank fraud, AUSA Norv McAndrew, 609-989-0569.
08-03-2002 -- CAMDEN - A serial bank robber who held up six banks in New Jersey and six in New York was sentenced today to 110 months in prison for the New Jersey crimes, AUSA William H. Devaney, 973-645-2713.
07-31-2002 -- NEWARK - A federal roundup of some of the nation's most egregious child-support defaulters has netted about 61 individuals, including a man living in Oklahoma who owes $297,204 in child support to his ex-wife and son in New Jersey, AUSA Deborah Gannett, 973-645-2781.
07-30-2002 -- NEWARK - Five people were arrested today and charged in federal criminal Complaints with conspiracy to pass $125 billion in counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes and other U.S. government instruments, AUSA Michele Brown, 973-645-2905.
07-25-2002 -- NEWARK - A former employee of an agency administering federal housing funds on behalf of Union County admitted today that she embezzled more than $200,000 and tried to get money from tenants for security payments, AUSA Lorraine Gerson, 973-645-2789.
07-25-2002 -- NEWARK - Two home mortgage underwriters admitted their roles today in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than 40 federally guaranteed loans for ineligible borrowers, causing a loss of more than $2 million in defaulted loans to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, AUSA Treby Williams, 973-645-0566.
07-24-2002 -- NEWARK - A federal grand jury today indicted a Social Security Administration employee and another individual for conspiring to transfer social security cards that had been produced without lawful authority, AUSA Matt Boxer, 973-645-2764.
07-24-2002 -- NEWARK - A Yemeni national pleaded guilty today to operating an unlicenced money transmitting business, AUSA Leslie Faye Schwartz, 973-645-3986.
07-22-2002 -- NEWARK - A Paterson man pleaded guilty today to charges that he fraudulently incurred about $620,000 in credit card debt and then sought to eliminate the debt by filing for bankruptcy, AUSA James McMahon, 973-645-2897.
07-18-2002 -- NEWARK - Five people were indicted today in connection with a scheme to lure young, undocumented Mexican girls into the United States and force them into prostitution, AUSA Robert M. Holmsen, 973-645-2769.
Jimenez-Calderon et.al. News Release, [July 18, 2002]
Prior case-related news releases:
Jimenez-Calderon et.al. News Release
07-18-2002 -- NEWARK - The government and Hackensack University Medical Center today entered into a $4.2 million settlement of claims in connection with the Medical Center's disclosure that it had overbilled Medicare, AUSA Michael A. Chagares, 973-645-2839.
Hackensack University Medical Center News Release
07-17-2002 -- NEWARK - A North Bergen town commissioner admitted today that he accepted home improvements and cash payments worth approximately $26,000 from a contractor with municipal contracts and that he concealed receipt of the benefits, AUSA Jeffery D. Clark, 973-645-2772.
07-15-2002 -- NEWARK - Former Paterson director of public works Conway Mangullo pleaded guilty today to extortion, admitting that he demanded and obtained money from a contractor who sought and received a new paper goods contract with the city, AUSAs Perry A. Carbone and Michael F. Buchanan, 973-645-2765, 2778.
07-12-2002 -- CAMDEN - A Garfield man today admitted conspiring to stage an extortion hoax in which he telephoned his California relatives and falsely told them that he had been kidnaped and beaten by persons to whom he owed a gambling debt, AUSAs Norman Gross and Howard Weiner, 856-968-4930/4926.
Alexander News Release
07-11-2002 -- NEWARK - Following is a link to the criminal complaint against Steven Gold, a New York real estate executive charged with arranging over the Internet to have sex with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, who was, in fact, an FBI agent. Gold made an intial appearance in Federal Court in Newark today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk, who set bail at $250,000 to be secured by equity in Gold's Rockville Center, N.Y. residence. The Magistrate also ordered that Gold be confined to his home with electronic monitoring except to go to work, meet with his attorney or attend church services. The Magistrate further ordered that Gold have no contact with minors, except relatives, that he not use the Internet, including at his place of employment, that he relinquish his passport and that his travel be limited to New York and New Jersey.
07-11-2002 -- NEWARK - A Nigerian national was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for fraud convictions in two separate trials. The defendant was convicted at the first trial for having defrauded American businesses and individuals by posing as the operator of African television and satellite outlets and soliciting money from them. He was convicted at the second trial for immigration fraud, AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
07-09-2002 -- NEWARK- A Somerset man was arrested today, charged with making false statements to federal law enforcement officers concerning alleged terrorist activities, AUSA Matthew Boxer, 973-645-2764.
07-01-2002 -- NEWARK - Former Paterson mayor Martin G. Barnes pleaded guilty today to mail fraud, and tax evasion, admitting that he took free trips, home improvements, a swimming pool and more from city vendors or prospective vendors, AUSAs Perry A. Carbone, 973-645-2765 and Michael F. Buchanan, 973-645-2778.
07-01-2002 -- NEWARK - A federal jury today convicted former municipal code official and electrical inspector of extortion and tax fraud, in connection with schemes to take corrupt payments from local vendors and intentionally failing to report income and reporting false expenses on his federal tax returns, AUSAs Carlos F. Ortiz, 973-645-2768 and Deborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2729.
06-27-2002 -- NEWARK - A Jersey City woman employed by Valley National Bank was arrested today, charged with operating a money transmitting business without a license, tax evasion, and other charges, AUSA Marion Percell, 973-645-2733.
06-24-2002 -- PHILADELPHIA - Third Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates conspiracy convictions against five Orange police officers, ordering that the case be remanded to U.S. District Judge John C. Lifland for sentencing (no date yet). Each of the officers faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years on the conspriacy convictions. Linked below is the Third Circuit decision.
06-19-2002 -- NEWARK - A Califon woman who was in the management of the now-defunct Walsh Securities Inc., a Parsippany wholesale mortgage lender, was indicted today on charges that she committed mortgage fraud, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
06-17-2002 -- NEWARK - Saint Clare's Health Services, a multi-campus healthcare system with four hospitals and numerous off-site locations throughout Morris and Sussex counties, today agreed to pay over $1 million to settle claims that it overcharged Medicare, AUSA Stuart A. Minkowitz, 973-645-2925.
Saint Clare's Health Services News Release
06-12-2002 -- NEWARK - A North Bergen public official admitted to participating in a scheme to defraud an insurance company, AUSA Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772.
06-12-2002 -- NEWARK - A recruiter of individuals who engaged in credit card scams was arrested today on charges that his recruits ran up more than $1 million in fraudulent credit card charges and sought to eliminate the debt by filing for bankruptcy, AUSAs Robert A. Kirsch, 973-645-2846 and Donna D. Galluchio, 973-645-2786.
Ali Madh Ayed Qareen, et.al. News Release
06-11-2002 -- NEWARK - A deputy U.S. Marshal formerly in charge of the Asset Forfeiture Unit was arrrested this morning, charged in an Indictment with arranging cut-rate sales of cars and real estate for family and friends, often at a fraction of market value, AUSA Michael F. Buchanan, 973-645-2778.
06-06-2002 -- NEWARK - Former North Bergen Township administrator and North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority director of operations Joseph Auriemma was indicted today for accepting more than $35,000 in cash payments and free work on his residences, and for attempted witness tampering, AUSA Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772.
06-05-2002 -- TRENTON - A vascular surgeon from Somers Point in Atlantic County admitted in federal court today that he obstructed justice in an investigation into his Medicare billing practices by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AUSA Joan Thomas, 609-989-0565.
06-03-2002 -- TRENTON - The founder of a Long Branch accounting firm was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and ordered to make $4.2 million in restitution for his role in a massive international Ponzi scheme which bilked victims here and in Europe of more than $6 million, AUSA Michael A. Guadagno, 973-645-2790.
05-30-2002 -- NEWARK - The owners of a Fair Lawn beauty salon pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to file false tax returns, which concealed cash paid to themselves and to employees of the salon, AUSA Amy Winkelman, 973-645-2906.
05-24-2002 -- NEWARK - U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie today announced the restructuring of the U.S. Attorney's Office, merging the Criminal, Frauds and Strike Force Divisions and dividing them into new units targeting more specific types of crime, and appointing new supervisors.
U.S. Attorney's Office Restructuring News Release
05-21-2002 -- NEWARK - A former employee of the U.S. Department of Commerce stationed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, pleaded guilty today to accepting and soliciting bribes in exchange for assisting foreign nationals obtains visas to enter the United States under false pretenses, AUSA Lee H. Vilker, 973-297-2076.
05-21-2002 -- NEWARK - A former executive of a Ramsey-based mortgage brokerage firm pleaded guilty today to making false statements to a bank, Public Affairs Officer Micheal Drewniak 973-657-2888.
05-20-02 -- NEWARK - The former director of public utilities and superintendent of water and sewer for the City of Camden pleaded guilty today to extorting cash payments from a city vendor in return for taking favorable action to assist the vendor, AUSA Perry A. Carbone, 973-645-2765.
05-10-2002 --NEWARK - U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie today directed attorneys, investigators and other staff of his office to be dispatched as federal election monitors on May 14 to locations throughout Newark.
Election Monitors News Release
05-10-2002 -- NEWARK - The chief engineer of an oil tanker that transports petroleum products to and from various ports in the United States and abroad pleaded guilty today to submitting false documents to the U.S. Coast Guard in an effort to cover up the illegal dumping of thousands of gallons of waste oil and sludge at sea, AUSA Nicholas S. Acker, 973-645-2752.
05-10-2002 -- CAMDEN - A New Jersey doctor admitted today that he conspired to distribute the drugs OxyContin and Percocet by writing false prescriptions which would be filled and then sold, AUSA R. Stephen Stigall, 856-757-5031.
05-08-2002 -- NEWARK - A well-known Hudson County businessman and his wife were charged in an Indictment unsealed today with multiple bank fraud schemes, including mortgage fraud, check-kiting, money laundering, cash structuring in excess of $2 million, bribery of bank officials, and more, AUSAs Carlos F. Ortiz, 973-645-2768 and Deborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2729.
05-07-2002 -- NEWARK, N.J. - Dozens of foreign nationals enrolled in colleges, universities and other schools in the United States were arrested today in connection with a scheme in which they paid others to take English-language proficiency tests to satisfy enrollment standards at their respective schools, and thus stay legally in this country.
05-03-2002 -- CAMDEN - An Airborne Express courier from Medford pleaded guilty today to a felony charge of sending threats to injure others in connection with an anthrax and smallpox hoax he perpetrated in October, AUSA James F. McMahon, 973-645-2897.
05-02-2002 -- NEWARK - A contract employee of First Union Bank in Paterson is among dozens of suspects charged nationwide - many of them arrested in a sweep today - with committing a variety of "identity thefts."
05-01-2002 -- NEWARK - The New Jersey man accused of unleashing the "Melissa" computer virus in 1999, causing millions of dollars in damage and infecting untold numbers of computers and computer networks, was sentenced today to 20 months in federal prison.
05-01-2002 -- NEWARK - A Union County social worker was accused today in a federal criminal complaint of engaging in acts of prostitution with young girls he knew to be illegal aliens being held captive in Plainfield, AUSA Robert Holmsen, 973-645-2769.
Sergio Farfan Criminal Complaint
04-26-2002 -- NEWARK - An Indictment was unsealed today charging Tino Fiumara of Spring Lake, an imprisoned high-ranking member of the Genovese Crime Family in New Jersey, and his associate, Stephen DePiro, with conspiring with others to assist a fugitive in his flight to avoid apprehension and prosecution, AUSA Laura J. Kaplan, 973-645-5984.
04-24-2002 -- NEWARK - Three persons who allegedly participated in an "equity-skimming" scheme involving properties throughout New Jersey were indicted today on charges of diverting tens of thousands of dollars per month in rental income to their own use, rather than towards mortgage or tax payments, AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
04-23-2002 -- NEWARK - Three men have been sentenced to life in federal prison - one of them today - in connection with a multi-state drug distribution ring that operated primarily out of Plainfield, AUSAs Stephen Taylor, 973-645-2824 and Philip Kwon, 973-645-2742.
04-23-2002 -- NEWARK - A New Jersey company and three employees pleaded guilty today to charges they conspired to violate the Clean Air Act and to defraud the United States in connection with the illegal removal of asbestos from buildings being demolished under an Army Corps of Engineers contract at a marine terminal in Bayonne, AUSA Nicholas S. Acker, 973-645-2752.
Spartan Environmental Remediation Barons Inc. News Release
04-17-2002 -- NEWARK - A former vice president of a multinational petroleum products testing company was indicted today on charges of conspiring to violate the federal Clean Air Act and a variety of fraud statutes, as well as for obstructing justice, AUSA Mark A. Winston, 973-645-2874.
04-17-2002 -- TRENTON - A federal judge today entered an order appointing a Monitor to reform the union representing hotel, catering and food service workers at the Meadowlands and other New Jersey locations amidst allegations of corruption and organized crime influence, AUSA Michael A. Chagares, 973-645-2839.
04-15-2002 -- TRENTON - Three executives of a Hammonton-based armored car company were sentenced today for conspiring to launder more than $1 million in funds belonging to customer banks and conspiring to defraud customer banks out of approximately $33 million, AUSA Norv McAndrew, 609-989-0569.
04-11-2002 -- NEWARK - Three people, including a certified public accountant, pleaded guilty today to evading federal income tax on more than $900,000 in cash proceeds they received in connection with the operation of Hoboken Auto Body in Hoboken. AUSA Carolyn A. Murray, 973-645-2746.
04-11-2002 -- NEWARK - A federal grand jury today returned a new indictment against three men - two of them former employees of Lucent Technologies - for stealing trade secrets from Lucent for transfer to a joint venture with a Chinese telecommunications company. AUSA Scott A. Christie, 973-645-2884.
04-08-2002 -- U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and Essex County Prosecutor Donald C. Campolo, in continued cooperation in the Greater Newark Safer Cities Initiative, today announced arrests and charges against 25 offenders alleged to have violated state and federal gun laws.
04-04-2002 -- NEWARK - The mayor of Irvington Township, Sara B. Bost, was indicted today for accepting $8,500 in corrupt payments in two separate schemes, and for attempted witness tampering. AUSA James B. Nobile, 973-645-2766.
04-04-2002 -- NEWARK - A Connecticut man pleaded guilty today to paying $9,000 to a Passaic County employee as a reward for steering window replacement business at the County Annex Building to his company, AUSA Perry A. Carbone, 973-645-2765.
04-03-2002 -- TRENTON - The former mayor of Washington Township in Gloucester County was sentenced to 13 months in prison for misappropriating for his personal use legislative and mayoral campaign funds, as well as money from a community programs fund, AUSA Treby Williams, 609-989-0566.
04-02-2002 -- NEWARK - A Bridgeton man was sentenced today to life in prison for his conviction last May on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, AUSAs Matthew S. Queler and Howard Wiener, 973-645-2704.
03-28-2002 -- CAMDEN - A Buena Borough company and three of its former officers pleaded guilty today to charges arising out of the company's unlawful sales in violation of the United States' trade embargo with Iran and its efforts to obstruct investigations into its conduct, AUSA Andrew O. Schiff, 856-968-4931.
03-27-2002 -- CAMDEN - The owner of a contracting company with alleged ties to the Philadelphia Organized Crime Family turned himself in to federal Marshals today in connection with an Indictment charging him with conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud in a scheme to defraud the government and subcontractors, AUSA Mary A. Futcher, 856-968-4929.
03-25-2002 -- NEWARK - Four people appeared today before a federal Magistrate on charges that they smuggled teenage girls from Mexico and confined them to a house in Plainfield where they were forced to work as prostitutes. AUSA Robert Holmsen, 973-645-2769.
03-22-2002 -- TRENTON - A West Orange man pleaded guilty today to charges that he fraudulently incurred about $250,000 in credit card debt and then sought to eliminate the debt by filing for bankruptcy, AUSA Donna D. Gallucio, 973-645-2786.
03-22-2002 -- CAMDEN - A Brigantine man pleaded guilty today to an Information charging him with conspiracy to transmit in interstate commerce an extortion hoax against relatives of a co-conspirator in Los Angeles, AUSAs Norman J. Gross and Howard Wiener, 856-968-4926.
03-18-2002 -- NEWARK - A former employee of The Princeton Review pleaded guilty today to defrauding the company of more than $400,000. AUSA Michael A. Guadagno, 973-645-2790.
03-14-2002 -- NEWARK - Follow this link to the Indictment against Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh, the Pakistani accused of a role in the kidnaping and death of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. This Indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Trenton. There was no news release on the case, only a news conference in Washington with Attorney General John Ashcroft and U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announcing the Indictment.
03-13-2002 -- NEWARK - A Brielle man pleaded guilty today, admitting that he ran a Ponzi scheme that resulted in the more than $23 million in losses to investors. AUSA James F. McMahon, 973-645-2897.
03-11-2002 -- NEWARK - A Florida man pleaded guilty today to trying to conceal approximately $4.9 million in ATM cash that was stolen by his roommate, Jersey City businessman Michael Schwartz. AUSA Deborah Gannett, 973-645-2781.
03-07-2002 -- NEWARK - A former computer specialist with the United States Army at Fort Monmouth was arrested today, charged in an Indictment with two fraud schemes, including submitting false claims to the government to cover costs of a subscriber-based, interactive adult website. AUSA Michael A. Guadagno, 973-625-2790.
03-07-2002 -- NEWARK - The former manager of travel services at a multi-national corporation was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for defrauding her employer of more than $3.1 million and for evading income taxes on the stolen proceeds. AUSA Stuart Rabner, 973-645-6053.
03-06-2002 -- NEWARK - A Manasquan man pleaded guilty today to bank fraud, admitting that he participated in a $1.15 million check-kiting scheme using multiple business bank accounts. AUSA Robert A. Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
02-28-2002 -- NEWARK - The son of jailed mob boss Nicodemo D. Scarfo pleaded guilty today to running an illegal gambling business in North Jersey. AUSA Ronald D. Wigler, 973-645-2822.
02-26-2002 -- NEWARK - A former computer network administrator was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for unleashing a $10 million "time bomb" that deleted all the production programs of a New Jersey-based high-tech measurement and control instruments manufacturer. AUSA V. Grady O' Malley, 973-645-2725.
02-26-2002 -- TRENTON - A former Morris County Rabbi, who now lives in Georgia, pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography. AUSA Donna A. Krappa, 609-989-2258.
02-13-2002 -- NEWARK - A New York couple pleaded guilty today to tax evasion and perjury charges arising out of their relationship with the collapsed Millburn securities brokerage firm First Interregional Equity Corp. AUSA Amy Winkelman, 973-645-2906.
02-08-2002 -- NEWARK - Five suspected gang members with links to a local set of the "Bloods" street gang were arrested early today on various weapons and drug trafficking charges committed in Seth Boyden Court, a federally funded public housing complex in Newark AUSA Scott A. Resnik, 973-645-2737.
02-08-2002 -- NEWARK - Former Somerset County Superior Court Judge John F. Richardson pleaded guilty today, admitting that he failed to maintain records relating to his receipt of cash from a client in amounts in excess of $10,000. AUSA Perry Carbone, 973-645-2765.
02-06-2002 -- NEWARK - Three former senior executives of a now-defunct women's shoe company based in Pennsauken were indicted today in a 24-count Indictment on charges of conspiracy and fraud in connection with a $10 million line of credit from a New Jersey bank. AUSA Mark Winston, 973-645-2874.
02-06-2002 -- NEWARK - A Monmouth Beach man was indicted today on charges that he committed mortgage fraud by using "straw buyers" in 200 mortgage loan transactions and that he evaded more than $555,000 in taxes on the illegal proceeds of the scheme. AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
01-24-2002 -- NEWARK - The Mayor of Paterson, Martin G. Barnes, was indicted today, charged with accepting cash, vacation trips, home improvements, a swimming pool with a waterfall, designer suits, furniture and other bribes from city vendors or prospective vendors. AUSAs Perry Carbone and Michael Buchanan, 973-645-2765, 2778.
01-15-2002 -- NEWARK - A Matawan attorney admitted in court today his role in a scheme to defraud purchasers of over-valued and fraudulently mortgaged homes in Monmouth County and elsewhere and to engaging in more than 200 "land flip" transactions with straw buyers. AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
01-14-2002 -- NEWARK - Two former employees of Millburn securities brokerage firm First Interregional Equity Corp. were sentenced today for their roles in a $150 million fraud of First Interregional customers. AUSA Amy Winkelman, 973-645-2906.
01-04-2002 -- TRENTON - The owner of the now-defunct Clayton Emergency Transportation of Westville was sentenced today to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution for filing hundreds of inflated Medicare claims totaling more than $430,000 for ambulance services provided by her company. AUSA Joan Thomas, 609-989-0565.
01-03-2002 -- CAMDEN -A New York woman was sentenced today to 31 months in prison for her transportation from New York to Atlantic City of millions of dollars in cash and checks that she had embezzled from her long time employer. AUSA Howard Wiener, 856-968-4926.
For questions or comments call 973-645-2888.