2003 News Releases and Charching Documents
12-19-03 -- TRENTON - The former assistant to a bank executive pleaded guilty today to committing mail fraud and tax evasion in connection with embezzling more than $5 million from her former employer's personal accounts. AUSA Stuart Rabner, 973-645-6053.
12-18-03 -- NEWARK, N.J. - A British arms dealer arrested in August as he tried to complete the sale of a shoulder-fired missile imported from Russia was indicted today with new allegations that he also offered to procure anti-aircraft guns, tanks, armored personnel carriers, radar systems and a "dirty bomb." Contact: Michael Drewniak, PIO -- 973-645-2888.
12-17-2003 -- CAMDEN - A federal jury today found a Thai national guilty on charges he conspired with others to transport illegal Thai women within the United States for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and attempting to hire a hit man to murder a Special Agent of the FBI. AUSA Aidan P. O'Connor, 973-645-6546.
12-16-2003 -- CAMDEN - Philadelphia organized crime family associate Daniel M. Daidone and former Camden City Council President James R. Mathes, Jr. were sentenced to federal prison terms today in connection with the influencing of corrupt Camden City officials. AUSAs Mary A. Futcher, 609-656-2504, and Jacqueline Carle, 856-968-4867.
12-16-2003 -- NEWARK - A former Jersey City Police detective pleaded guilty today to extorting the owner of an illegal gambling business in Jersey City. AUSA Deborah Goldklang, 973-645-2729.
12-15-2003 -- TRENTON, N.J. - A federal Indictment was unsealed today, charging a Phillipsburg, N.J. manufacturer of cast iron pipe and five of its managers with committing flagrant environmental abuses, including regular discharge of oil and paint into the Delaware River, and for maintaining a dangerous workplace that contributed to the death of one employee and the maiming of numerous others. Contact: Michael Drewniak, Public Affairs Officer. 973-645-2888.
Atlantic States et al. News Release
Atlantic States et al. Indictment (.pdf file)
12-13-03 -- NEWARK, N.J. - In the first federal prosecution of its kind, a conspiracy Indictment was unsealed today charging an Ohio gun dealer with fostering the illicit flow of guns to a New Jersey street gang via Ohio college students who acted as straw buyers in the transactions. News Conference in Washington at 2:45 p.m. with Attorney General John Ashcroft and U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie.
12-02-2003 -- TRENTON - A programming and information technology manager today admitted to distributing pirated copies of copyright-protected computer software, computer games, movies and music with a retail value over $2.2 million. AUSA Scott S. Christie, 973-645-2884.
12-03-2003 -- CAMDEN -- Jose "JR" Rivera was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison today in connection with his leadership role in the Rivera/Febo/Figueroa drug gang that distributed cocaine through multiple locations in Camden. AUSA Kevin T. Smith, 856-968-4928.
11-25-2003 -- NEWARK - Genovese crime family member Tino Fiumara was sentenced today to eight months in prison for failing to report his contact with an organized crime fugitive charged with murder. AUSA Aidan O'Connor, 973-645-6546.
11-21-2003 -- NEWARK - Cathedral Healthcare System, Inc., a healthcare network with four hospitals and numerous off-site locations in Essex County, today agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle claims that it overcharged Medicare. AUSA Stuart A. Minkowitz, 973-645-2925.
Cathedral Healthcare News Release
11-20-2003 -- CAMDEN - The Cooper Health System, a healthcare network with one hospital and numerous off-site locations throughout southern New Jersey, today agreed to pay $476,544 to settle claims that it overcharged Medicare. AUSA Stuart A. Minkowitz, 973-645-2925.
Cooper Health System News Release
11-18-2003 -- CAMDEN - An unemployed Sewell man pleaded guilty today to defrauding eBay bidders of $42,000 through online auctions of music and sporting event tickets and to cashing $53,000 worth of personal checks contained in stolen mail. AUSA Scott S. Christie, 973-645-2884.
11-14-2003 -- NEWARK - Two former shareholders and principals of restaurants in Ramsey, New Jersey and Orangeburg, New York today admitted that they conspired to evade approximately $835,800 in payroll and sales taxes between 1993 and 2000. AUSA Lorraine S. Gerson, 973-645-2789.
11-13-2003 -- TRENTON - New Hanover Township Mayor Patrick G. Malloy pleaded guilty today to witness tampering in connection with a grand jury investigation of the township Board of Education's award of a federally funded contract to one of his relatives. AUSA Treby Williams, 609-989-0566.
11-7-2003 -- TRENTON - Former Passaic County Republican Party Chairman Peter Murphy pleaded guilty today to mail fraud in connection with a scheme to dole out payments derived from county contracts to his political friends. AUSAs James Nobile B. Nobile, 973-645-2766, and Charles B. McKenna, 973-645-2716.
11-05-2003 -- NEWARK - The former assistant to a bank executive was arrested today in Nevada on a criminal complaint charging her in New Jersey with embezzling more than $5 million from her former employer's personal accounts and evading income taxes on the stolen proceeds. AUSA Stuart Rabner, 973-645-6053.
10-30-2003 -- CAMDEN - A major Camden drug wholesaler and four co-conspirators were arrested in early morning raids today, dismantling a ring that used drug proceeds to purchase abandoned and dilapidated residential properties in Camden and fraudulently resell the properties to unqualified, unsophisticated buyers at enormous profit. AUSAs Marc Ferzan, 856-968-4864, and David Bocian, 609-989-2399.
10-23-2003 -- NEWARK - An illegal alien from Jordan admitted today that he recruited dozens of others to commit fraudulent credit card "bust outs" in New Jersey over a seven-year span ending in mid-June 2002. AUSA Robert Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
10-22-2003 -- NEWARK -- A Jersey City man was sentenced to 30 years in prison today for 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.
10-21-2003 -- Newark -- Treffinger Co-Defendant Sentencings
Link to Sentencing Information
10-20-2003 -- NEWARK - A Montville tax consultant has been charged in an Indictment with defrauding clients of nearly $400,000 while asserting that he was negotiating settlements on their behalf with the Internal Revenue Service. AUSA Treby Williams, 609-989-0566.
10-17-2003 -- NEWARK - Former Essex County Executive and two-time candidate for U.S. Senate James W. Treffinger was sentenced today to 13 months in prison for his guilty pleas in May, when he admitted that he caused the creation of phony backdated documents and counseled a witness to lie to thwart a federal investigation into the award of no-bid contracts to United Gunite Construction of Irvington. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Perry Carbone and Nelson Thayer Jr., 973-645-2743
10-17-2003 -- NEWARK - On the second day of trial, a former postal worker and the ringleader of a crew that used private citizens' personal checks to purchase expensive electronic equipment pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge they were both facing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Devaney and Kevin Walsh, 973-645-2713, 2909.
10-15-2003 -- NEWARK -- Hudson County waterfront developer Joseph Barry has been charged in a federal corruption Indictment with paying nearly $140,000 to former county Executive Robert Janiszewski and an associate, in return for Janiszewski's official action in securing federal and state grants and loans for Barry development projects. AUSAs Jeffrey Clark, 973-645-2772, and Deborah Goldklang.
Barry & Byrne Indictment (.pdf)
10-06-2003 -- TRENTON - A former Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Claims manager today was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison on mail fraud charges arising out of her scheme to defraud her employer of $1.7 million. AUSA Norv McAndrew, 609-989-0569.
10-02-2003 -- NEWARK - A former purchasing agent for the North Bergen MUA was sentenced today to 30 months in prison - the maximum allowable under federal Sentencing Guidelines - for accepting cash payments, a jet ski and home improvements from two MUA contractors and concealing his acceptance of the bribes. AUSAs Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2771, and Phillip Kwon, 973-645-2742.
10-01-2003 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency today announced comprehensive Clean Air Act settlements with Coastal Eagle Point Oil Company (CEPOC), CHS Inc. (Cenex), Ergon-West Virginia Inc. and Ergon Refining Inc. (Ergon). These companies have a collective production capacity of approximately 285,000 barrels per day and will reduce air emissions by more than 3,900 tons per year under the terms of settlements being filed with U.S. District Courts in New Jersey, Montana and Mississippi. Contact EPA: 202-564-8684.
Clean Air Act Settlements News Release
09-30-2003 -- CAMDEN - An Absecon man was indicted today by a federal grand jury on a charge that he possessed and intended to sell 100 grams of the new "club-drug" known as "Foxy Methoxy. AUSA R. Stephen Stigall, 856-757-5031.
09-29-2003 -- TRENTON - U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie, along with Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini, Jr., announced the federal Indictment and arraignment today of a major Trenton drug supplier on a charge resulting from his recent arrest for possession of more than a kilogram of crack cocaine.
09-29-2003 -- TRENTON - Two employees of the U.S. Social Security Administration Office in Trenton were arrested today on charges that they illegally sold social security cards to ineligible individuals. AUSA Norville McAndrew, 856-989-0569.
Ascencio & Rivera News Release
09-25-2003 -- TRENTON - Martin Vitale, the former CEO and chairman of the board of Twin County Grocers, Inc., a wholesale supermarket cooperative, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud both Twin County and the IRS by disguising money embezzled from the cooperative as business expenses. AUSA Amy Winkelman, 973-645-2906.
09-25-2003 -- NEWARK - The former mayor of Hoboken, Anthony J. Russo, surrendered to the FBI this morning, after being charged in an Indictment with extortion and bribery for allegedly taking cash from bar owners, and city vendors, including a waterfront parking operator, towing contractor, accounting firm and an attorney, in exchange for official action on municipal contracts. AUSA Luis Valentin, 973-645-3674.
09-25-2003 -- CAMDEN - A Philadelphia man today had an initial appearance in federal court on a Criminal Complaint charging him with four bank robberies in New Jersey. AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
09-24-2003 -- CAMDEN - The owner of a Cherry Hill-based telemarketing business was arrested today on a federal Indictment charging him with being the leader of a telemarketing scam that defrauded businesses of approximately $2 million and with possession of child pornograph. AUSA R. Stephen Stigall, 856-757-5031.
09-23-2003 -- NEWARK -- The publisher of the Hudson County Spanish-language newspaper Avance, pleaded guilty today to tax evasion. AUSA Matthew Boxer, 973-645-2764.
09-19-2003 -- CAMDEN - A Camden man pleaded guilty today to committing an armed robbery of a Sun National Bank branch using a sawed-off shotgun to threaten bank tellers. AUSA, David Bocian, 609-989-2399.
09-17-2003 -- NEWARK - An East Orange man was indicted today, charged with purchasing 86 handguns in Colorado and reselling them in New Jersey. AUSA Richard E. Constable III, 973-645-2719.
09-16-2003 -- CAMDEN - The president of a company that purported to manufacture a legitimate medical device for the sick and elderly pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud investors in the private offering of $4 million worth of company stock. AUSA Marc-Phillip Ferzan, 856-968-4864. SEC Branch Chief, Miami, Gary Klein, 305-982-6382.
Mulhearn (SafetyNet) News Release
09-15-2003 -- NEWARK - A New York man pleaded guilty today to attempting to board a commercial airliner with a concealed dangerous weapon, AUSA Matthew Boxer, 973-645-2793.
09-11-2003 -- NEWARK - A Paramus woman who promised her investors large rates of return but instead diverted their money to her own use was arrested today on charges that she defrauded those investors of nearly $2.5 million. AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
09-09-2003 -- NEWARK - Two men who used a real estate business in Lyndhurst to defraud homeowners who had fallen behind on their mortgage or property tax payments were sentenced today to prison terms. AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
Burke & Ligas News Release (.pdf)
09-08-2003 -- NEWARK - A former equity trader at Knight Securities in Jersey City pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and wire fraud, in connection with a scheme that defrauded the company of more than $1.4 million in 11 months. AUSAs John M. Fietkiewicz and Andrew Leven, 973-645-2892.
09-08-2003 -- CAMDEN - A 31-year-old Gloucester City man today admitted defrauding eBay bidders of approximately $15,000 on auctions for Sony Playstation 2 video game consoles and making unauthorized reproductions of the motion picture "Any Given Sunday" and compilations of National Hockey League highlights and professional fight footage. AUSA Scott S. Christie, 973-645-2884.
09-04-2003 -- NEWARK - Two African nationals living in Newark pleaded guilty today to their roles in a phony counterfeiting conspiracy known to federal law enforcement as the "Black Money Scam." AUSA Richard E. Constable III, 973-645-2719.
"Black Money Scam" News Release
09-03-2003 -- NEWARK - The former sales manager of a car dealership in Edison and a Phillipsburg woman admitted today that they used stolen identities to finance high-priced automobiles. AUSA Michell Epner, 973-645-2753.
08-19-2003 -- NEWARK - Three former executives of Medi-Hut Co., Inc., including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Sales and Marketing, pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to inflate the revenue and earnings of the New Jersey corporation and lying to investigators, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.
08-13-2003 -- NEWARK - A British arms dealer appeared in U.S. District Court today, on charges that he tried to complete the sale of a shoulder-fired missile, with the understanding that it was going to be used to shoot down an American commercial airliner, the U.S. Attorney's Office and Justice Department announced today, 973-645-2888.
Lakhani et al. News Release (updated 6:00 p.m.)
Lakhani, Abraham, Hameed Criminal Complaints
08-11-2003 -- TRENTON -- An aspiring songwriter from Brooklyn, N.Y. was sentenced today to 224 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to rob two armored trucks in Jersey City, AUSA Eli Richardson, 973-297-2002.
08-07-2003 -- NEWARK - Two Mexican nationals were sentenced today to 210 months in prison for luring four teenage Mexican girls to the United States and holding them captive as prostitutes at a brothel they ran in Plainfield, N.J., Attorney General John Ashcroft and U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. Contacts: Michael Drewniak, NJUSAO Public Affairs Officer, 973-645-2888; Jorge Martinez, DOJ Press Officer, 202-514-2008.
Jimenez-Calderon & Farfan News Release
08-07-2003 -- NEWARK - A former owner of a Long Branch wholesale food distribution company pleaded guilty today to bank fraud, admitting that he defrauded PNC Bank of approximately $1.8 million through a false invoicing scheme, AUSA Michele Brown, 973-645-2905.
08-05-2003 -- NEWARK - An East Orange businessman and a person who represented him in dealings with the Internal Revenue Service pleaded guilty today to conspiring to bribe an IRS employee, AUSA Stuart Rabner, 973-645-6053.
07-30-2003 -- NEWARK -- A Pembroke Pines, Florida man was indicted today on charges that he participated in a fraud against a Sayreville cosmetics company, which resulted in a loss to the company of more than $500,000, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
07-29-2003 -- NEWARK - Nine North Jersey residents, including a Maplewood police officer, were arrested today and charged in an Indictment with conspiracy to import the drug commonly called "ecstasy" from the Netherlands via France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal into New Jersey for distribution, AUSA Sarah Coyne, 973-645-2767.
07-25-2003 -- NEWARK - A Hoboken accountant pleaded guilty today to making corrupt payments to former Hudson County Executive Robert C. Janiszewski, AUSA Jeffrey Clark, 973-645-2772.
07-25-2003 -- CAMDEN - Deputy U.S. Attorney Lee A Solomon, along with Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye, Philadelphia ATF Special Agent in Charge Mark Potter and Asbury Park Public Safety Director Louis Jordan, announced today that two previously convicted state felons have been indicted federally, charged under tough federal gun statutes, which provide stiff prison sentences upon conviction, AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
"Operation Cease Fire" News Release
07-25-2003 -- NEWARK - Late yesterday afternoon, at the federal courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut, a Russian computer hacker was sentenced to a prison term of four years for supervising a criminal enterprise in Russia dedicated to computer hacking, fraud and extortion which victimized a Glen Rock financial services company, Scott Chrisite, 973-645-2884.
07-24-2003 -- NEWARK - Two men were sentenced to prison today for their roles in a debt collection scheme that bilked more than $1.1 million from Cathedral Healthcare System of Newark over a 13-year period, AUSA Judith Germano, 973-645-2885.
07-24-2003 -- NEWARK - The former mayor of Guttenberg in Hudson County pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return, admitting that he misappropriated $16,420 in campaign contributions and used them to trade stocks in a personal brokerage account, AUSA Luis A. Valentin, 973-645-2708.
07-23-2003 -- NEWARK - A Deputy U.S. Marshal of the United States Marshals Service was sentenced today to six months in prison for stealing $11,778 in cash that had been seized from a fugitive, AUSA Deborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2729.
07-21-2003 -- NEWARK - Three Essex County men were arrested today and named in an Indictment that charges loansharking, theft and running an illegal gambling business, AUSA Ronald D. Wigler, 973-645-2822.
07-18-2003 -- NEWARK - The former president and a former sales representative of a Jersey City graphics imaging dealer each pleaded guilty today to insider trading in connection with the stock of PrimeSource Corporation, a publicly-traded company formerly headquartered in Pennsauken acquired by Fuji film, AUSA Amy Winkelman, 973-645-2906.
07-18-2003 -- CAMDEN - A Delaware man pleaded guilty today to the armed robbery of a bank in National Park Borough, AUSA Howard Wiener, 856-968-4926.
07-17-2003 -- TRENTON - New Hanover Township Mayor Patrick G. Malloy turned himself in to federal authorities today, to answer criminal charges of witness tampering in connection with a grand jury investigation of the township Board of Education's award of a federally funded contract to a relative of the mayor, AUSA Treby Williams 609-989-0566.
07-15-2003 -- TRENTON - A former investment advisor today pleaded guilty to embezzling $3.3 million from the investment accounts of her clients and evading more than $900,000 in federal income taxes, AUSA Scott S. Christie, 973-645-2884.
07-14-2003 -- NEWARK - A Rahway man was sentenced today to four months in prison and four months of house arrest for his tax fraud conviction based on his failure to report significant income on his 1999 federal tax return, AUSA James Nobile, 973-645-2766.
07-11-2003 -- NEWARK - Former North Bergen Township Administrator and North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority Director of Operations Joseph Auriemma was sentenced today to 36 months in prison, for accepting corrupt cash payments and free home improvements from a contractor with town contracts and concealing his receipt of the benefits, AUSA Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772.
07-10-2003 -- TRENTON - A former hiring agent at International Terminal Operating Company was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment today for his role in an embezzlement scheme that victimized Local 1588 of the International Longshoreman Association in Bayonne, AUSA V. Grady O'Malley, 973-645-2725.
07-09-2003 -- NEWARK - A Willingboro couple was indicted today on charges they defrauded mortgage lenders through the use of fictitious income tax returns, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
07-08-2003 -- CAMDEN - Philadelphia organized crime family associate Daniel M. Daidone and former Camden City Council President James R. Mathes, Jr. were convicted by a federal jury today on all counts against them, including conspiracy and other charges related to the influencing of corrupt Camden City officials, AUSAs Mary A. Futcher, 609-656-2504 and Jacqueline Carle, 856-968-4867.
Daidone & Mathes, Jr. News Release
07-07-2003 -- NEWARK- A Somerset man was sentenced to one month imprisonment today for making false statements to federal law enforcement officers concerning alleged terrorist activities, AUSA Matthew Boxer, 973-645-2764.
07-02-2003 -- TRENTON - A Jamesburg medical magazine publisher today agreed to pay the government $3.7 million to settle allegations that it defrauded the United States by failing to pay adequate postage for mailing its periodicals, AUSA Michael A. Chagares, 973-645-2839.
Medical World Communications News Release
07-01-2003 -- NEWARK - A deputy U.S. Marshal formerly in charge of the U.S. Marshal's Service Asset Forfeiture Unit was convicted by a federal jury today on charges that he arranged cut-rate sales of cars and real estate for family and friends, AUSAs Michael F. Buchanan, 973-645-2778, and Luis A. Valentin, 973-645-2708.
Russo News Release (Indictment)
06-25-2003 -- NEWARK - Three African immigrants living in Newark were arrested earlier this month and arraigned today on charges that they participated in a complex fake counterfeiting conspiracy known to federal law enforcement as a "Black Money Scam," AUSA Richard E. Constable III, 973-645-2719.
"Black Money Scam" News Release
06-24-2003 -- NEWARK - A member of the Bonanno Crime Family and his associate, both from Staten Island, were sentenced to prison today for their roles in a conspiracy to commit extortion by threatening physical violence to the owner of a Bayonne automotive tinting store and garage, AUSA Aidan P. O'Connor, 973-645-6546.
06-23-2003 -- NEWARK - Hudson County Freeholder Nidia Davila-Colon was convicted by a federal jury today on all five counts against her, including charges that she passed cash bribes from a Hudson County psychiatrist to then-Hudson County Executive Robert C. Janiszewski, AUSA Jeffrey Clark, 973-645-2772, and Philip H. Kwon, 973-645-2742.
06-23-2003 -- NEWARK - A former licensed securities broker with Seaboard Securities in Florham Park was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for his role in a scheme that defrauded investment clients of nearly $400,000, AUSA Michele Brown, 973-645-2905.
06-23-2003 -- NEWARK - Two Clifton men pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, admitting they recruited employees of Bergen County restaurants to steal the credit card numbers of unsuspecting patrons, AUSA Robert A. Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
06-17-2003 -- NEWARK - Six Pakistani men were arrested today for illegally sending tens of millions of dollars to Pakistan through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, Marion Percell, 973-645-2733.
06-16-2003 -- TRENTON - Former New Hanover Township Administrator James J. Nash pleaded guilty today to causing fabricated vendors' quotes to be submitted to the New Hanover Township Board of Education to steer a federally funded 1999 contract to a relative of another township official, AUSA Treby Williams, 609-989-0566.
06-16-2003 -- NEWARK - Two men pleaded guilty today to conspiracy, admitting that they attempted to negotiate $25 billion in fictitious U.S. Federal Reserve bonds, Michele Brown, 973-645-2905.
06-12-2003 -- NEWARK - A Passaic County man man was indicted today, charged with possessing an M4 machine gun, AUSA Kevin G. Walsh, 973-645-2793.
06-06-2003 -- NEWARK - A convicted Bergen County con-man pleaded guilty today to soliciting tens of millions of dollars from investors of two companies he controlled, in what was a giant pyramid scheme that collapsed on the investors, AUSAs Ralph J. Marra, 973-645-2773, and Luis Valentin, 973-645-2708.
06-06-2003 -- TRENTON - Eight workers at U.S. Army Fort Dix and five workers at McGuire Air Force Base were arrested today after they all were charged with using false social security numbers to obtain contractor badges that granted access to secure areas of the military bases, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
Operation Secured Eagle News Release
06-04-2003 -- NEWARK - A financial advisor who previously pleaded guilty to defrauding investors and clients of approximately $1.5 million was sentenced today to 33 months in prison, AUSA Robert A. Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
05-30-2003 -- NEWARK - Former Essex County Executive and two-time candidate for U.S. Senate James W. Treffinger pleaded guilty today to obstruction of justice and mail fraud, admitting that he caused the creation of phony backdated documents and counseled a witness to lie to thwart a federal investigation into the award of no-bid contracts to United Gunite Construction, Inc., AUSAs Perry A. Carbone, 973-645-2765 and Nelson S.T. Thayer, Jr., 973-645-2743.
05-29-2003 -- NEWARK - Three men believed to be part of a larger gang that committed dozens of burglaries in upscale homes in New Jersey and New York were indicted today, AUSA Jeffrey S. Chiesa, 973-645-2793.
"James Bond Gang" News Release
05-19-2003 -- NEWARK- A former Social Security Administration employee was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegally generating approximately 64 Social Security cards for illegal immigrants, AUSA Serina Vash, 973-297-2050.
05-19-2003 -- TRENTON - A Trenton man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison today for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a handgun, AUSA Jason Richardson, 856-968-4869.
05-16-2003 -- NEWARK - Two North Jersey men, one of whom was arrested today, were charged in an Indictment with running an illegal gambling business and loansharking, Ronald D. Wigler, 973-645-2822.
05-14-2003 -- NEWARK - A Flemington man was indicted today for allegedly soliciting investments in real estate, using investors' names and credit histories to acquire properties, and then taking the rents but failing to make mortgage payments, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
05-13-2003 -- TRENTON - The owner of a Farmingdale defense contractor pleaded guilty today to overbilling the Navy by falsifying cost information in connection with a contract for anti-submarine warfare devices, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
05-13-2003 -- CAMDEN - A former Fort Dix federal prison guard today admitted taking bribes from inmates in return for smuggling contraband into the prison, AUSA Kevin T. Smith, 856-968-4928.
05-12-2003 -- NEWARK - The former Executive Director of the Asbury Park Housing Authority pleaded guilty today to mail fraud in connection with the federal Monmouth County corruption probe, Mark J. McCarren, 973-645-2867.
05-12-2003 -- NEWARK - A former Manhattan real estate executive pleaded guilty today to traveling from New York to New Jersey with the intent of committing a sexual act with a minor who was actually an undercover FBI agent, AUSA Andrew Kogan, 973-645-2754.
05-09-2003 -- CAMDEN - Seven were arrested in early morning raids today, taking down the main players in an organization that produced well over $10 million worth of fictitious money orders that appeared to be issued by the federal government, R. Stephen Stigall, 856-757-5031.
Money Order Scam News Release, Harris et al.
05-05-2003 -- NEWARK - A federal grand jury today returned a six-count Indictment against two union officials and a building contractor in an embezzlement scheme against Local 148 of the Novelty and Production Workers Union in Jersey City, AUSA V. Grady O'Malley, 973-645-2725.
Nardone Jr. et al News Release
05-02-2003 -- NEWARK - The U.S. Attorney's Office today intervened in a lawsuit brought by a former manager with a Canadian electronics company which allegedly sold used and surplus parts to the Army for support of the Patriot Missile program in Saudi Arabia after the 1991 Gulf War, AUSA James Clark, 973-645-6548.
04-30-2003 -- CAMDEN - A federal grand jury today returned an Indictment against an Egg Harbor Township doctor in connection with his filing of false bankruptcy documents on behalf of his medical practice, AUSA Thomas DiLeonardo, 856-757-5231.
04-29-2003 -- NEWARK - An excavation contractor admitted today that he made cash payments, provided free construction work and gave a jet ski to a former North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority official and concealed the corrupt payments, AUSA Jeffrey Clark, 973-645-2772.
04-29-2003 -- CAMDEN - A federal grand jury today returned an Indictment charging a self-employed man with possession of child pornography, AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5232.
04-28-2003 -- NEWARK - A judge today sentenced former Paterson mayor Martin G. Barnes to 37 months in federal prison for accepting 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.
Barnes Sentencing News Release
Barnes Plea News Release (July 1, 2002)
04-23-2003 -- NEWARK - The former mayor of Irvington Township, Sara B. Bost, pleaded guilty today to attempted witness tampering amid the third week of testimony in her corruption trial, AUSAs James B. Nobile, 973-645-2766 and Paula T. Dow, 973-645-2718.
04-23-2003 -- NEWARK - A federal grand jury today returned a Superseding Indictment against a Thai national, charging him with attempting to hire a hitman to kill an FBI agent, 973-645-6546.
04-21-2003 -- NEWARK - The former president of the New Jersey State Patrolman's Benevolent Association pleaded guilty today to defrauding the organization and to filing a false tax return, AUSA Mark J. McCarren, 973-645-2867.
Ginesi News Release (Nov. 16, 1999)
Saksinsky News Release (August 8, 2000)
04-15-2003 -- TRENTON - Two pharmacists were sentenced to federal prison terms today in connection with a conspiracy to distribute illegal pharmaceuticals, defrauding the Medicaid system, obstruction of justice and filing false tax returns, AUSA Marc P. Ferzan, 856-968-4864 and AUSA Norville McAndrew, 609-989-0569.
04-15-2003 -- NEWARK - An employee of the U.S. Postal Service who became known in the media as "The Puffy Cheek Bandit" pleaded guilty today to committing a spree of 27 bank robberies at banks located in five different states over a four year period, AUSA Deborah J. Gannett, 973-645-2781.
04-14-2003 -- NEWARK - A former partner at a Morristown law firm and treasurer of the Millburn Soccer Club was sentenced to 18 months in prison in connection with a scheme to defraud the law firm, various clients he represented and the soccer club of approximately $120,000, AUSA Robert Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
04-14-2003 -- TRENTON - A federal grand jury indicted the former owner of an automatic teller machine servicing company for bank fraud, cash structuring and tax evasion, in connection with a scheme to divert funds from customer banks for his own use, AUSA Norville McAndrew, 856-989-0569.
04-14-2003 -- TRENTON - A former appraiser who worked at a warehouse used to store goods seized by the United States Customs Service and other federal agencies was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for stealing government property valued at more than $200,000, AUSA Steven Stigall, 856-757-5031.
04-11-2003 -- CAMDEN - A Clementon man pleaded guilty today to executing a scheme to defraud First Union National Bank out of approximately $386,117, AUSA Marc-Phillip Ferzan, 856-968-4864.
04-10-2003 -- NEWARK -- A Chester man today admitted to masterminding a fraud scheme to obtain more than 48,000 music compact discs - valued at approximately $290,000 - from mail order companies, AUSA Scott S. Christie, 973-645-2884.
04-02-2003 -- NEWARK - Former mayor of Asbury Park Kenneth E. Saunders, Sr. was arrested this morning, charged in an Indictment with conspiracy to bribe a member of the Asbury Park City Council in connection with the redevelopment of the Asbury Park oceanfront, AUSA Mark J. McCarren, 973-645-2867.
Saunders & James Indictment (PDF)
04-02-2003 -- NEWARK - Two Amtrak employees pleaded guilty today to stealing thousands of dollars by misusing government-issued credit cards to buy gasoline for their own cars and to share with a gas station attendant the cash value of fictitious charges on those cards, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
03-28-2003 -- CAMDEN - Two major Camden drug wholesale suppliers and the leader and members 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, 856-968-4928.
03-27-2003 -- CAMDEN - Luis Figueroa was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison today in connection with his leadership role in the Rivera/Febo/Figueroa drug gang that distributed cocaine through multiple locations in Camden, AUSA Kevin T. Smith, 856-968-4928.
03-25-2003 -- TRENTON - Three members of the same family were sentenced today in connection with a tax and fraud scheme involving contract work done by their companies with the U.S. Army base at Fort Monmouth, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
03-25-2003 -- CAMDEN - A federal grand jury today returned a one-count Superseding Indictment against five men and one woman charging them with conspiring to possess and distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, AUSA Diana V. Carrig, 856-968-4927.
03-24-2003 -- TRENTON - An aspiring songwriter from Queens, N.Y. was convicted today at trial for conspiring to rob armored trucks in Jersey City, AUSAs Eli Richardson, 973-292-2002 and Scott S. Christie, 973-645-2884.
03-21-2003 -- NEWARK - Alleged Genovese crime family member Tino Fiumara and an associate both pleaded guilty today to conspiring to conceal and fail to report to law enforcement an organized crime fugitive charged with murder with whom they had been in contact, AUSA Aidan P. O'Connor, 973-645-6546.
03-21-2003 -- NEWARK - Two former real estate businessmen pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit equity skimming and mail fraud, in connection with a scheme in which they convinced homeowners in default on mortgages to deed their homes to them, AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
03-18-2003 -- NEWARK - A Holmdel man today pleaded guilty to participating in a fraud against his father-in-law's cosmetics company, resulting in a loss to the company of more than $500,000, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
03-17-2003 -- TRENTON - A Monmouth County man pleaded guilty today to communicating false distress messages to the Coast Guard that caused rescue vessels to respond in an attempt to save lives and property, AUSA Ronald Chillemi, 856-757-5026.
03-14-2003 -- NEWARK - A Deputy U.S. Marshal of the United States Marshals Service pleaded guilty today to stealing $11,778 in cash that had been seized from a fugitive, AUSA Deborah L. Goldklang, 973-645-2729.
03-12-2003 -- NEWARK - A former employee of The Princeton Review was sentenced to prison today in connection with a $400,000 fraud against the company, AUSA Michael A. Guadagno, 609-989-2354.
03-10-2003 -- NEWARK - Two men admitted today to bilking approximately $1.1 million from Cathedral Healthcare System of Newark, in a debt collection scheme that spanned 13 years, AUSA Judith H. Germano, 973-645-2885.
03-07-2003 -- NEWARK - A Newark priest who evaded taxes by failing to report over $68,000 in taxable income for the year 2000 was sentenced today to six months in a community correctional center, three years probation and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, AUSA Bohdan Vitvitsky, 973-645-2879.
03-06-2003 -- NEWARK - A former licensed securities broker with Seaboard Securities in Florham Park pleaded guilty today to mail fraud, in connection with his scheme to defraud clients of more than $350,000, 973-645-2905.
02-28-2003 -- NEWARK - Acting New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey will be the keynote speaker tomorrow at the annual Black History Month program sponsored by the United States Attorney's Office in Newark.
Black History Month News Release
02-24-2003 -- NEWARK - A contractor admitted to making corrupt payments to numerous North Bergen public officials as part of a scheme to defraud the township, its Municipal Utilities Authority and its citizens, AUSAs Jeffrey D. Clark, 973-645-2772 and Phillip Kwon, 973-645-2742.
02-19-2003 -- NEWARK - A Florida man was arrested today in connection with a fraudulent commodities scheme, in which investors in New Jersey and across the country lost millions of dollars, AUSAs John J. Carney, 973-645-6112 and Robert A. Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
02-19-2003 -- CAMDEN - A federal judge today approved a settlement under which Ganes Chemicals Inc. in Salem County will pay the United States a civil penalty of $303,600 for violations of the Clean Air Act, AUSA Louis J. Bizzarri, 856-757-5139.
02-12-2003 -- CAMDEN - A federal judge has approved a settlement under which dredge spoils will be removed from Stone Harbor Point, and more than four acres of new nesting habitat will be created for the threatened piping plower shorebird, AUSA Michael A. Chagares, 973-645-2839.
02-10-2003 -- CAMDEN - A federal jury today determined that the Rivera/Febo/Figueroa organization was responsible for distributing in excess of five kilograms of cocaine, making Luis "Tun-Tun" Figueroa eligible for a sentence of life in prison, AUSA Kevin T. Smith, 856-968-4928.
02-06-2003 -- TRENTON - A former manager of the Associated Press' Cranbury office and his girlfriend pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the AP out of $53,000, AUSA Lynn A. Neils, 973-645-2788.
02-05-2003 -- NEWARK - A financial adviser from Holmdel admitted today to engaging in a scheme to defraud numerous investors and clients of more than $1 million, AUSA Robert A. Kirsch, 973-645-2846.
02-03-2003 -- NEWARK - A Brick Township man who, along with his wife, owns a flooring store was arrested today on an unsealed Indictment charging that they committed tax fraud by skimming more than $350,000 in receipts from their businesses, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
02-03-2003 -- NEWARK - Two home mortgage underwriters, a loan processor, a real estate developer and an attorney were sentenced today for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than 40 federally guaranteed loans for ineligible borrowers, which caused a loss of more than $2 million in defaulted loans to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, AUSA Treby Williams, 609-989-0566.
02-03-2003 -- NEWARK - A Somerset man pleaded guilty today to making false statements to federal law enforcement officers concerning alleged terrorist activities, AUSA Matthew Boxer, 973-645-2764.
01-31-2003 -- NEWARK - An Irvington man was sentenced today to 23 years in prison in connection with his heroin and cocaine distribution ring that operated out of an apartment building in Newark, AUSA Sherry Hutchins Henderson, 973-645-2723.
01-30-2003 -- NEWARK - An Edison man pleaded guilty today to committing fraud in more than 200 real estate transactions involving straw buyers who had no intention of owning the properties, AUSA Alain Leibman, 973-645-2793.
01-24-2003 -- CAMDEN - An Airborne Express courier was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stephen M. Orlofsky to five months in federal prison and five months of house arrest for sending threats to injure others in connection with an anthrax and smallpox hoax he perpetrated in October 2001, AUSA James F. McMahon, 973-645-2897.
01-24-2003 -- NEWARK - A Queens man pleaded guilty today to using a mobile telephone to conspire to distribute and to possess with intent to import approximately 3,004 grams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("MDMA"), a controlled substance also known as "ecstasy," AUSA Aidan P. O'Connor, 973-645-2897.
01-21-2003 -- NEWARK - A sixth defendant, a former Union County Jail social worker, pleaded guilty today in the case of 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.
01-13-2003 -- NEWARK - Robert Burrick of Short Hills, a former law partner at the Morristown firm of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch, L.L.P. and Treasurer at the Millburn Soccer Club, pleaded guilty today to embezzling from the law firm, various clients he represented, and the soccer club, 973-645-2846.
01-10-2003 -- CAMDEN - Cooper Health System, Inc., a healthcare network with one hospital and numerous off-site locations throughout southern New Jersey, today agreed to pay $400,000 to settle claims that it overcharged Medicare, AUSA Stuart A. Minkowitz, 973-645-2925.
Cooper Health System News Release
01-08-2003 -- CAMDEN - The United States today filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to compel Stone Harbor Borough to remove dredge spoils from alongside its beaches in a nesting area for the endangered piping plover, AUSA Micheal A. Chagares, 973-645-2839.
Stone Harbor Borough News Release
01-02-2003 -- TRENTON - A vascular surgeon practicing in Somers Point was sentenced today for obstructing a health care fraud investigation, AUSA Joan Thomas, 609-989-0565.
For questions or comments call 973-645-2888.