Former Madison Municipal Court Administrator Pleads Guilty
Wednesday, September 23, 2009Denis Murray age 66, of Madison, New Jersey plead guilty on September 23, 2009, to Theft By Deception in the third degree before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan. The plea agreement called for a term of probation with 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Facility, forfeiture of any future public employment, and restitution of $2,700.00 to the Borough of Madison. The defendant was the Madison Municipal Court Administrator. Between September 2006 and April 2008 Denis Murray falsely submitted approximately 45 "call-outs" (after hour calls) that resulted in him being financially compensated. The investigation which was jointly conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Professional Standards Unit and the Madison Borough Police Department determined that the calls that Mr. Murray was compensated for either did not require Mr. Murray to physically respond or did not exist at all. Mr Murray will be sentenced before Judge Manahan on November 13th, 2009.
Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi stated "Once again we sadly and regrettably witness the downfall of yet another public official, who while being well-compensated and placed in a position of trust, chose to defraud the taxpayers. I applaud the efforts of all of the otherwise fine public servants of Madison who assisted in this investigation and brought this matter forward to us."
Lincoln Park's former Chief Financial Officer was sentenced to jail
Tuesday, September 22, 2009Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., Chief of Investigations William Schievella, and Lincoln Park Police Chief Sean Canning announce Lincoln Park's former Chief Financial Officer was sentenced today in connection with his guilty plea to second-degree Official Misconduct before Superior Court Judge Thomas Manahan.
Today, September 22, 2009, Dennis Gerber, age 59 of Saddle Brook was sentenced before Judge Thomas Manahan in connection with his guilty plea to one count of second-degree Official Misconduct. The sentencing requires Gerber to serve 5 years in New Jersey State Prison before he is eligible for parole. Gerber was also ordered to forfeit his pension and pay restitution in the amount of $20, 916.00 to the Borough of Lincoln Park. Additionally, he is barred from seeking future public employment
Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi stated, "Public officials who have taken an oath to serve the public cannot abuse that trust given to them. We will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who takes hard-earned taxpayer money and illegally uses it for their own personal gain. I applaud the work of Morris County Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Weber, Esq. and Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo, Esq., as well as, the Prosecutor's detectives, and the excellent police work of the Lincoln Park Police Department who brought this defendant to justice."
Undercover Sting Leads to Bust
Sunday, September 20, 2009
David Bell
William Gary
Hakim Shaheed
In June 2008 Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. initiated a Jewelry Store Liaison Program in conjunction with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force and Burglary Task Force. The program was designed to share information with regard to questionable and/or suspicious jewelry transactions within Morris County while at the same time identify individuals who were suspected of committing burglaries throughout Morris County. As part of this program and its successful intelligence gathering, in excess of 100 burglaries have been solved during the first year in operation.
On 04/03/2009, The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force received a telephone tip that on 03/31/2009 a black male who was later identified by law enforcement entered a jewelry store with a 1 oz. gold Canadian Maple Leaf coin. The suspect indicated that he had 78 more he received as an inheritance and wanted to sell them for cash.
The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force initiated an investigation which determined that an organized criminal group was traveling hroughout New Jersey perpetrating what was described as a "confidence scam" which involved counterfeit Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins. The investigation determined that members of this organized criminal group would travel to jewelry stores throughout the State of New Jersey. An individual from the group would approach the jewelry store owner/employee and inform them that they wanted to sell a quantity of 1 oz. Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins. The individual who was engaged in the dialogue with the jewelry store owner/employee would present a real gold coin. In several instances the coin would be left with the jewelry store overnight in an effort to allow the jewelry store owner/employee to determine the authenticity of the coin. The group member would inform the jewelry store owner/employee that they had access to a large quantity of these coins should the store owner/employee be interested in the purchase. A general conversation would take place with regard to price' and an offer would be given that was generally below the fair market value for gold in order to entice the sale. When the cash deal was arranged, members of the group would arrive at the jewelry store with counterfeit coins and attempt to defraud the buyer by exchanging the counterfeit coins for the cash. In some cases the group would commit an armed robbery.
After identifying the activity of this group and tracking their activity in Morris County as well as throughout the State of New Jersey, the Morris County Prosecutor's Intelligence Crime Task Force, through proactive educational outreach, notified area jewelry stores of the activity of this group.
Through various law-enforcement agencies, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force has pieced together the following:
On 03/02/2009, a black male entered a jewelry store in Red Bank NJ. The male subject provided a 1 oz. gold Canadian Maple Leaf coin and informed the business owner that he had 100 more. The suspect informed the jewelry store owner that had received an inheritance and wanted to sell the coins for cash. The suspect left one gold coin, which was tested as pure gold, and the jewelry store owner agreed to purchase a quantity of coins. The suspect left his telephone number and returned on 03/09/2009 with another black male, in his 40s and provided a quantity of gold coins, which tested as counterfeit. The suspect then pulled out a black handgun and demanded the cash.
On 04/03/2009, the owner of a Rockaway Borough, NJ jewelry store contacted the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force. The owner reported that on 03/31/2009 a black male who was later identified by law enforcement entered his jewelry store with 1 oz. gold Canadian Maple Leaf coin and indicated that he had a large quantity that he received as an inheritance and wanted to sell them for cash.
On 04/13/2009, the owner of a Dover, NJ, jewelry store reported to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force that on 04/06/2009 or 04/07/2009 a black male known to law enforcement came into the business indicating that he had a large quantity of gold coins he received as an inheritance and he wished to sell them. The Intelligence Crime Task Force received similar reports of a black male attempting to sell a large number of gold coins from other Morris County jewelry stores.
On 04/16/2009 The Intelligence Crime Task Force received information that on 04/15/2009, a black male entered a Phillipsburg, NJ jewelry store with a 1 oz. gold Canadian Maple Leaf coin and indicated that he had had a large quantity that he received as an inheritance and wanted to sell for cash.
On 04/22/2009, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force received information that on that date, a black male entered a jewelry store in Passaic, NJ, and provided a 1 oz. gold Canadian Maple Leaf coin and indicated that he had a large quantity that he received as an inheritance and wished to sell for cash. The suspect left one gold coin with store owner which was tested as pure gold. The suspect left his telephone number. An undercover investigation which was conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force and Special Enforcement Unit identified the suspects in this incident.
On 06/04/2009, the owner of a Jewelry store in Vineland, NJ contacted the Vineland Police Department to report that a black male suspect was in the jewelry store on that date and provided a 1 oz. gold Canadian Maple Leaf coin and indicated that he had a large quantity he wanted to sell for cash. An agreement was reached to purchase coins for $100,000. On 06/05/2009, David Bell and another black male arrived at the jewelry store with the large quantity of gold coins. The store owner tested a coin, determined it was counterfeit and declined to continue with the transaction. Vineland Police stopped Bell and his associate as they left the store. A Search Warrant was obtained for the briefcase carried by Bell, and it contained counterfeit gold coins. Bell was arrested by the Vineland Police Department.
On 09/15/2009 the owner of a jewelry store in Kinnelon, NJ, contacted the Kinnelon Police and reported that an individual following this same pattern of criminal activity was at his store attempting to sell Canadian Maple Leaf gold coins. As a result of this information and the on-going undercover investigation into this violent group, an operation was conducted in cooperation with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force, Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Enforcement Unit, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team, Criminal Investigations Section and the Kinnelon Police Department.
On 09/19/2009, at approximately 11:25 a.m. a Chevrolet Impala bearing a New York Registration, being driven by a black male, with two other black male occupants was observed located at the Burger King parking lot on the northbound side of Route 23 in Kinnelon, NJ. A short time later the vehicle proceeded west on Kiel Avenue, crossed Route 23 and entered the Meadtown Shopping Plaza. As a result of the undercover probe all three vehicle occupants were ultimately arrested and transported to the Kinnelon Police Department.
The subjects were identified as:
David Bell, DOB: 08/01/1952
Newark, New Jersey
William Gary, DOB: 12/19/1956
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Hakim Shaheed, DOB: 12/17/1953
Sicklerville, New Jersey
A search warrant executed on the subject's vehicle uncovered over 200 counterfeit gold coins, along with other items related to the scam. Also found during the search were items indicating the group has traveled to jewelry stores throughout New Jersey, New York and Maryland.
All subjects were charged with Theft by Deception and Conspiracy. They were processed at the Kinnelon Police Department and transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail, $100,000.00 for David Bell, $75,000.00 for Hakim Shaheed and $25,000.00 for William Gary.
Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi stated:
"This is a violent group of individuals who victimized jewelry businesses throughout the State of New Jersey. This group is suspected of participating in coin scams that total in excess of one million dollars. This is also another example of how working with other agencies and the public can yield intelligence and pool resources to make significant arrests that better protect the community. The investigation into this group is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dan Coleman of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Crime Task Force at (973) 285-6366 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Stopper Program at 973 COPCALL."
Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.
Rutherford man sentenced to 4 years in jail and loss of driviers license for 41 years
Friday, September 18, 2009
On Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 8:48 p.m., the Morris Township Police Department responded to the intersection of South Street and Spring Valley Road on a report of a head-on motor vehicle accident. The accident was reported by a Morris County Park Police Officer who was on patrol at Loantaka Park.
The investigation revealed that a 2008 Ford pickup truck occupied by a 48 year old man and his 4 year old daughter was struck head-on by a 1994 Ford Bronco operated by Shaun P. Campbell, age 39, of Rutherford, New Jersey.
Immediately following the crash, Mr. Campbell fled the scene on foot into Loantaka .
The Morris Township Police Department with the assistance of the Morris County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit and the Harding Township Police apprehended Mr. Campbell in the park and placed him under arrest. His blood alcohol level was 0.288%.
The investigation also determined that Mr. Campbell had a $3,500 warrant out of Morris Township for fleeing from a crash in 2007.
Mr. Campbell was served with a summons, charging him with obstruction of justice and driving while intoxicated. Mr. Campbell was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility on the warrant related to the 2007 incident. He later posted bail and was released.
Members of the Morris Township Police Department Detective Bureau and Traffic Safety Unit in furtherance of the accident investigation, met with Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi and members of his legal team. As a result, Prosecutor Bianchi stated:
"The Morris County Prosecutor's Office and the Morris Township Police Department have added charges of assault by auto based upon the facts and law of this matter and we have already sought a significant increase in the defendant's bail. Considering the facts and law of this case, the defendant's prior demonstration of contempt and disregard for the judicial system and based upon the significant danger that he presents to the community. We asked Superior Court Judge John Dangler to set a $50'000 "cash only" bail, which the court has consented to.
Typically, bails for charges such as these are set at $2,500. Due to the seriousness of this matter, however, we argued that this significant increase in bail was justified."
As a result of this court action, Morris Township Police Detective Sergeant Martin Tessmer rearrested Mr. Campbell on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 9:46 p.m., while he was at a residence on Livingston Road in Morris Township within the Rose Arbor Condominium Complex, on the new charges and higher bail. The arrest took place at Livingston Road within the Rose Arbor Condominium Complex. Mr. Campbell was transported to the Morris Township Police Department where he was processed and ultimately remanded to the Morris County Correctional facility.
Earlier today Mr. Campbell appeared before Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto and was sentenced for his plea to numerous violations. He pled guilty to Assault by auto, a crime of the fourth degree and received the maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison. Additionally, he received the maximum 2 year license loss.
He pled guilty to the DWI out of Morris Township and received the maximum 180 days in jail and a ten year loss of his driving privileges.
He pled guilty to two additional DWI offenses out of Pequannock Township and out of Wayne Township. He received that maximum 180 days on each and ten year license loss on each. Additionally, he pled guilty to driving while suspended in Morris Township, Pequannock Township and Wayne Township and received the maximum penalty of 380 days in jail and 9 year loss of license. Mr. Campbell was ordered to serve each sentence imposed by the court consecutively.
In total, Mr. Campbell was sentenced to 4 years and 20 days incarceration and he is not permitted to operate a motor vehicle for 41 years.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. stated:
"This defendant has been sentenced to the maximum allowable by law for his atrocious disregard of the law and the significant danger that he created to innocent persons traveling on the street."
Mr. Campbell remains in custody at the Morris County Correctional Facility
Patricia A. Schafer arrested by the Morris County Prosecutor's and Sheriff's Joint Fugitive Task Force
Wednesday, September 16, 2009Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., and Chief William Schievella announce the arrest of fugitive Patricia A. Schafer.
On September 11, 2009 Superior Court Judge John Dangler issued an arrest warrant for Schafer charging her with eloping from a court authorized treatment facility. Schafer was previously charged with interference with child custody and fraudulent use of a credit card.
On Thursday January 8, 2009 Schafer, 38 and her two children were reported missing from their family home in East Hanover.
On Sunday January 11, 2009 Schafer was located in a mall in Maryland nearly 200 miles away from her East Hanover home. Patricia Schafer, 38, and her children ages 3, and 13, were stopped in their vehicle by Baltimore County police as they exited the Towson Town Center Mall and approached the Baltimore Beltway Interloop at 6:25 p.m. Detectives from the East Hanover Police Department and Morris County Prosecutor's Office determined that she was in the mall complex, prompting the call to mall security and the Baltimore County police. Mall security followed the vehicle until the Baltimore County police arrived.
The children were found in good health and their father picked them up and brought them home.
Detective/Supervisor Carmen Ferrante and Detective Mike Lowe from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and Morris County Sheriff's joint Fugitive Task Force arrested Schafer on September 16, 2009 at 8:30am at a residence in Long Branch, New Jersey. She was transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.
Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.
Police nab fugitive on the lam for 8 years
Friday, September 04, 2009Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., Chief of Investigations William Schievella and Parsippany Police Chief Michael Peckerman today announced the arrest of John Fernando Cordon, who has been a wanted fugitive following a sex assault in May 2001 in Parsippany.
Cordon, using the alias of Luis E. Rivera, was apprehended in Trenton at 6:50 p.m. on Sept. 3, 2009 without incident by members of the Parsippany Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor's Office and United States Marshals Service.
Both Cordon and a codefendant in the case, Ruben Hector Vargas, were charged in 2001 and subsequently indicted in 2002 for sexually assaulting two minors in Parsippany and have remained at large since the allegations were reported.
The 2002 indictment charges both John Fernando Cordon and Ruben Hector Vargas each with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, third-degree terroristic threats and third-degree criminal restraint based on allegations that they sexually assaulted the minor females in May of 2001.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi stated, "This individual has finally been arrested through the coordinated and diligent efforts of law enforcement, specifically Parsippany Police Lt. Sean Clark and Detective Sgt. Richard Nicoletti working with the United States Marshals Service and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Intelligence they developed led us to the identification of a wanted felon on serious allegations and their efforts should be commended. We are now looking forward to our long awaited prosecution of this defendant and bringing justice to our victims."
Cordon was lodged without bail in the Morris County Correctional Facility on a warrant charging him with Failure to Appear for an Arraignment Conference.
Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Smith will be representing the State before the court on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 to address issues related to the bail for John Fernando Cordon.
Ruben Hector Vargas still remains a fugitive. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact Detective Sgt. Richard Nicoletti of the Parsippany Police Department 973-263-4300, Morris County Prosecutor's Office 973-285-6200 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office CrimeStoppers Program at 973 COPCALL.
Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until
found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.
Probation, community service for phoney lawyer
Thursday, September 03, 2009Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Chief of Investigations William Schievella and Hanover Police Chief Stephen Gallagher announced today that a soon-to-be-disbarred attorney was sentenced to one year probation for illegally practicing law for more than two years.
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Andrew M. Kimmel, 66, must also perform 100 hours of community service and was handed a one-day jail sentence and given credit for time served. Kimmel also agreed to permanently forfeit his law license as part of the disposition.
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Kimmel was suspended by the state Supreme Court in May 2006 for failing to cooperate with an attorney ethics investigation. That ethics investigation arose from his suspected misappropriation of $53,255 from a trust for which he served as executor. Kimmel pleaded guilty in June to fourth-degree unauthorized practice of law.
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The clients with whom he never should have met included a teacher who thought she was wrongfully terminated from her job; a woman seeking a divorce; a computer networking company whose president paid Kimmel $110,500 in legal fees between May 2006 and March 2008; a charter bus company owner; and the co-owner of a lawn service, authorities said.
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Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi stated, "The fourth-degree charge of the unauthorized practice of law carries no presumption of incarceration for first offenders such as Kimmel. However, Mr. Kimmel is losing his livelihood with his conviction for a crime that will stay on his record permanently. He will be disbarred and will never be in a position to use his status as an attorney to cause injury to unsuspecting clients in the future."
Long Hill Township Drug Seizure
Thursday, September 03, 2009Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., Chief of Investigations William Schievella, and Long Hill Township Chief of Police Dan Hedden announce the arrest of Rene Marroquin-Moscosco in connection with a short-term undercover narcotic investigation which took place in Long Hill Township, New Jersey.
On Tuesday September 2, 2009 shortly after 12:00 p.m.,the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Enforcement Unit, Intelligence Crime Task Force along with the United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Postal Service, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Long Hill Township Police Department, Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Section,Morris County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit, Union County Prosecutor's Office and Union County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit concluded a short term undercover investigation which resulted in the arrest of Rene Marroquin-Moscosco, age 26, of Plainfield, New Jersey.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. stated:
"The defendant was taken into custody at a local restaurant after he met with undercover officers. As a result of this investigation, law enforcement seized approximately two pounds of cocaine which has a street value in excess of $264,000.00.
This is another example of law enforcements coordinated efforts at a local, county, state and federal level, and I applaud all of the agencies that participated in this investigation".
Subject:
Rene Marroquin-Moscosco
DOB: 10/13/1982
Plainfield, New Jersey
Charges:
Possession of Cocaine in a quantity greater than 5 ounces (1st Degree)
Possession of Cocaine with intent to Distribute in a quantity greater than 5 ounces (2nd Degree)
Possession of Fraudulent Driver's License utilizing another person's identity (4th Degree)
The defendant was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $350,000 bond, no 10% bail.
We are asking anyone with information to call the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at (973) 285-6200 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Stopper Program at (973) COPCALL.
Despite these pending charges every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitution and relevant state law.
Morristown man arrested on sex assault charges
Tuesday, September 01, 2009Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. along with Chief William Schievella and Morristown Police Chief Peter Demnitz announce an arrest in connection with a Sex Crime investigation. On Tuesday September 1, 2009 at 6:33 PM, The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit and the Morristown Bureau of Police arrested Juan Carlos Villa, 24 YOA, a citizen of Ecuador and currently a resident of Morristown, NJ on charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault (3 counts) Criminal Restraint and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Judge John Dangler set bail at $300,000. The Investigation was conducted by Detective Kristi Allegretta of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit and Detective Keith Cregan of the Morristown Police Department.
Despite these pending charges every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitution and relevant state law.