JACKSON, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz announced that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit are currently investigating a homicide that occurred overnight in Jackson Township. Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Kunz want to emphasize that there is no immediate danger to the public.
The victim has been identified as Isaiah Renouf, 23, of Jackson Township. This investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available
BREAKING NEWS: From unconfirmed radio reports. If or when official information becomes available the story will be updated.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–At 11:33 pm Police and EMS responded to the 900 Block of Southard Street for a female shot in the back. EMS transported patient to the trauma center at Capitol Health Regional Medical Center. A “trauma alert” was called.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A federal grand jury today indicted the leader of a Trenton drug-trafficking organization for his role overseeing and managing the distribution of large amounts of heroin in the Trenton area, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Robert M. Gbanapolor, 33, of Trenton, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin with the intent to distribute and distribution. Gbanapolor and 10 others were previously charged by complaint in June 2019. He will be arraigned on a date to be determined.
Eight other members of this drug trafficking conspiracy have previously pleaded guilty in this case. The charges against two other defendants remain pending on complaint.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
From June 2018 through May 2019, the defendants and others engaged in a heroin trafficking conspiracy in the areas of Stuyvesant Avenue, Hoffman Avenue, and Highland Avenue in Trenton, as well as in the area of Barbary Road in Philadelphia.
Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, controlled purchases of heroin, the use of confidential sources of information, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that Gbanapolor obtained regular bulk supplies of heroin from Duane Paulino-Escalera, whom Gbanapolor referred to as “Papi.”
Members of the conspiracy distributed the heroin supplied by Papi to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end-users in and around Trenton. Law enforcement officers intercepted numerous discussions among the conspirators regarding issues such as heroin quality and availability, branding, quantity and customer satisfaction.
The charge against Gbanapolor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, Camden Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; and task force officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Sheilah Coley, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked detectives and officers of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman; detectives and officers of the Gloucester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Earle; members of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; detectives and officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Pesce; and special agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson for their assistance.
This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric A. Boden and Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment and the original complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: David E. Schafer, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Phil Murphy has announced that indoor malls can reopen on June 29, 2020. Once executive order is posted later will update the story see details released so far below:
NEW: Indoor portions of retail shopping malls may REOPEN on 6/29: 😷Masks required to be worn 👥All stores limited to 50% capacity 🍽️Restaurants may provide take-out or outdoor dining 🚫Food court seating and common seating areas remain closed ❌Theaters and arcades remain closed
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 155, which will allow in-person clinical, lab, and hands-on programming at institutions of higher education to resume as of July 1, 2020 with enhanced health and safety protocols. Executive Order No. 155 will also allow trade and training schools to reopen on July 1 provided specific health and safety polices are in place. As part of this process, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education has issued Restart Standards for all New Jersey Institutions of Higher Education that can guide the reopening and assist institutions as they prepare for next steps.
“As we move forward in our restart and recovery, these institutions will play a huge role. They are where our future workforce is being created,” said Governor Murphy. “While New Jersey continues to face the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I am pleased that we are able to take this step forward for our students and educators.”
“Sustained positive public health trends have allowed New Jersey to enter stage two on the road back to our ‘new normal,’ and after a period of uncertainty, we are pleased to be at a point where we can safely begin restarting campus operations for students, faculty and staff,” said Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis, Secretary of Higher Education. “An equitable restart of operations must be done carefully through an iterative, staged process that balances the desire to move forward with concerns for public health. We know many students prefer learning in-person, particularly those who experience hardship and whose home environments are not conducive to online education. As we seek to ensure appropriate measures are in place so educational activity can continue, the health and safety of the entire campus community will remain our priority.”
In order to open, institutions under the purview of the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) must submit plans that demonstrate how they will follow criteria delineated in guidelines to be released by OSHE today. Those plans are due to OSHE 14 days before the institution intends to implement the plan by bringing students and staff back to campus. Trade and training schools, which are outside of OSHE’s purview, are subject to a similar set of health and safety protocols.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–On Wednesday morning, Trenton Police Director Sheilah Coley held roll call in Mill Hill Park and then deployed more than two dozen Trenton police officers, including command staff, to patrol on foot the city’s downtown business district.
On Wednesday morning, Trenton Police Director Sheilah Coley held roll call in Mill Hill Park and then deployed more than two dozen Trenton police officers, including command staff, to patrol on foot the city’s downtown business district. Photo provided by the City of Trenton
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A Trenton man was charged today with attempting to ignite a marked police vehicle during the recent violent outburst in Trenton following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Earlja J. Dudley, 27, of Trenton, was arrested by special agents of the FBI and is charged by complaint with one count of attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle owned or possessed by an institution receiving federal financial assistance, and one count of attempting to damage or destroy by fire a vehicle used in and affecting interstate commerce. Dudley will make his initial appearance this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On May 31, 2020, large-scale protests were held throughout the United States, including in Trenton, in response to the death of George Floyd, who died on May 25, 2020, while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department. Floyd’s death, and the ensuing protests, have drawn national media attention. Although the May 31 protest in Trenton was peaceful earlier in the day, violence erupted later. A group of individuals proceeded down East State Street in downtown Trenton and began to riot, smashing store fronts, looting stores, and attacking multiple marked Trenton Police Department vehicles parked on the 100 Block of East State Street. Dudley is the second defendant to be charged with federal arson offenses from those protests.
A bystander video that was posted publicly to a social media platform captured an individual, later identified as Dudley, wearing a tank top and baseball cap with the Roman numerals “XIV” in red lettering, along with distinctive green, black, and white sneakers. The video recorded Dudley and another individual standing in front of a marked Trenton Police Department vehicle and opening its hood. The video then recorded another individual joining Dudley and lighting an object that Dudley was holding over the exposed engine well of the police vehicle. Dudley placed the burning object into the engine well of the vehicle and moved away from it. Shortly thereafter, flames are visible on the video rising from the engine well of the vehicle. Law enforcement obtained photographs of Dudley posted on social media wearing, on other occasions, a tank top and baseball cap with Roman numerals “XIV” in red lettering, and distinctive green, black, and white sneakers, all of which matched the articles of clothing that Dudley was wearing in the video.
Both counts charged in the criminal complaint carry a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. He also thanked officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Sheilah Coley; and troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, under the direction of Jared M. Maples, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Ramey and Michelle Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation further revealed McDonald was in possession of a generator reported stolen out of South Brunswick, and a John Deere front end loader reported stolen out of Monroe.
June 17, 2020
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A couple is facing charges of animal cruelty after four German Shepard puppies in their care died due to neglect, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Daniel McDonald, 25, and Tricia Jaccoma, 24, are charged with four counts of third degree animal cruelty with respect to the deaths of four German Shepherd puppies found deceased on a property in Howell where they were temporarily residing.
The remains of two deceased German Shepherd puppies were found in a fire pit on the property in Howell on Monday, May 18, 2020. The Howell Township Police Department and Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Law Enforcement Division, conducted an investigation, which led to the discovery of the remains of two more deceased puppies which had been buried on the property.
The joint investigation revealed the puppies were stolen from a farm in Somerset County on or about May 12, when the puppies were only approximately three weeks old. Investigators learned McDonald and Jaccoma were staying at the Somerset County farm prior to the time the puppies went missing and were in possession of the puppies while residing in a camper on the property in Howell. Investigators also learned the puppies were ill, in distress, and were struggling to breathe prior to their deaths, and that the pair did not get the puppies medical attention because of the costs associated with the care. The investigation further revealed McDonald disposed of the bodies of the deceased puppies by burying two of them and tossing the other two into the fire pit on or about May 16. A necropsy performed on the two buried puppies revealed the puppies suffered from parasites and also were severely emaciated and malnourished with “no indications of recent nutritional ingestion.”
In addition to the animal cruelty charges for failing to provide the puppies with the necessary care, both McDonald and Jaccoma were additionally charged with multiple counts of third degree Receiving Stolen Property, for being in possession of the stolen puppies in Monmouth County. McDonald was further charged with four counts of Hindering Apprehension of oneself, disorderly persons offenses, for disposing of the deceased puppies bodies.
The investigation further revealed McDonald was in possession of a generator reported stolen out of South Brunswick, and a John Deere front end loader reported stolen out of Monroe. McDonald was charged with additional counts of third degree and second degree Receiving Stolen Property, respectively, for being in possession of these stolen items.
McDonald was ordered detained at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon on June 10, 2020.
Jaccoma is currently a fugitive. If you have any information about her whereabouts, please contact Humane Law Enforcement Officer Michael Magliozzo of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 732 995-0329, or Patrolwoman Heather Scherbinski of the Howell Township Police Department at 732-938-4111.
If convicted of the second-degree charge, McDonald faces a sentence of five to ten years in a New Jersey state prison.
If convicted of any of the third degree charges, they each face a sentence of three to five years in in a New Jersey state prison on each count.
This case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibility and Bias Crimes Unit, and liaison to the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Law Enforcement Division.
McDonald is represented by Paul Zager, Esq. of Red Bank. McDonald is scheduled for a Pre-Indictment Conference on July 6, 2020.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–On Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 11:42 pm, Officers A. Lucidi and M. Stefanelli responded to a report of a structure fire at Palermo’s on the 300 block of Klockner Avenue. Upon arrival the Officers saw an active blaze on the porch to an upstairs apartment above the restaurant. The Officers accessed the roof via the stairs to the upstairs apartment and were able to wake the three residents inside of the apartment. The residents were safely evacuated and moved away from the structure. Hamilton Firefighters from Stations 12, 14, 16, 17 and 18 responded and extinguished the fire.
The fire caused damage to the exterior porch, exterior stairs, side and interior of the structure. No deaths or injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is was determined to be accidental by the Fire Marshall.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A fire reported just before midnight in a commercial building with an apartment above left three temporary homeless and the building damaged.
Hamilton Township Fire Department responded to the 300 block of Klockner Road by Collier Avenue and found an exterior fire extending into the buildings walls. An “all hands” was called sending additional resources to the scene. The fire was quickly knocked down but crews remained on scene for quite some time for overhaul and checking for hot spots.
The Hamilton Township Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire at this hour. The Township’s Health and Building Departments were also being notified.
The Red Cross was notified to find temporary shelter for two adults and one child.
POINT PLEASANT, NJ (OCEAN)–Sergeant Michael Krauchuck, of the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau, rescued three occupants from a sinking vessel in the Point Pleasant Canal.
On Sunday, June 14, at approximately 5:08 p.m., troopers from the Marine Services Bureau Point Pleasant Station were dispatched to the report of a 26-foot boat sinking in the Point Pleasant Canal in Point Pleasant Boro, Ocean County.
Based on the preliminary investigation, the boat began to take on water while traveling in the canal. A good samaritan who was nearby helped transfer five occupants from the boat to land, while the operator and two other occupants stayed on board in an attempt to get the boat to a nearby dock. Due to the rough conditions, they were unable to prevent the boat from taking on more water.
Within minutes of the initial call, Sergeant Michael Krauchuck responded to the scene and secured the sinking boat to his State Police vessel. While attempting to pull the boat to the nearby dock, Sgt. Krauchuck realized that they would not make it, because the boat was taking on water too rapidly. As a result, Sgt. Krauchuck helped pull the three occupants onto his vessel and cut the lines before the boat sank.
All of the occupants were transported back to Point Pleasant Station for a medical evaluation by EMS. There were no reported injuries.
Sgt. Krauchuck’s quick and decisive actions may have helped prevent a tragedy.
Sgt. Krauchuck’s quick and decisive actions may have helped prevent a tragedy.
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–New Jersey State Police said they followed a Ford pickup truck on the Turnpike early Tuesday morning that veered off the road and flipped over north of exit 7A. The white pickup driven by Steven Schwartz, 57, of Philadelphia was seen entering a restricted area of the toll plaza near Route 130 on the Turnpike’s PA extension just before 5 a.m., according to State Police spokesman Major Brian Polite. Schwartz refused to stop for police and was followed north on the mainline Turnpike where he struck a troop car but kept going. He lost control of the truck, which was found to be stolen, and veered off the road, according to NJSP Major Polite. Schwartz, who was wanted on a parole violation in Pennsylvania, was charged with aggravate assault on a trooper and receiving stolen property. He is hospitalized for what Polite called moderate injuries. An investigation caused delays during the Tuesday morning commute.
ROBBINSVILLE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Just before 5:30 am the New Jersey State Police and The Robbinsville Township Fire Department were on scene of a motor vehicle crash this morning at mile marker 63 north bound. The vehicle left the roadway near the Sharon Road overpass and traveled a great distance before overturning and coming to rest on its roof under a PSE&G electric transmission tower. The occupant had to be rescued out of the vehicle and carried back through thick brush to a waiting ambulance on the Turnpike.
MANALAPAN, NJ (MONMOUTH) and Newark, NJ–A Monmouth County, New Jersey, woman today admitted her role in a scheme to defraud a financial institution of hundreds of thousands of dollars, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Blanca A. Medina, 54, of Manalapan, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court to a one-count information charging her with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2015 to 2018, Medina conspired with others to fraudulently obtain mortgage loans from “Mortgage Lender A” in Monmouth County to finance the purchase of properties by unqualified buyers. Applicants for mortgage loans are required to list their assets and income on their mortgage loan applications, and mortgage lenders rely on those applications when deciding whether to issue mortgage loans.
Medina, a former loan officer for Mortgage Lender A, admitted to participating in a conspiracy in which she knowingly caused completed mortgage loan applications that contained multiple misrepresentations of material facts regarding the buyers’ assets and income to be submitted to Mortgage Lender A. A conspirator provided Medina with false and fraudulent documents for potential borrowers including false and fraudulent lease agreements, bank statements, and a gift check and gift letter. Based on these lies, Mortgage Lender A issued mortgage loans to unqualified buyers, which caused Mortgage Lender A hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
The conspiracy charge to which Medina pleaded guilty carries a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski in Newark, and Special Agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Fayer of the Economic Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlie Divine of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General.
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Defense counsel: Peter J. Koulikourdis Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–This evening, Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin will present his inaugural budget for 2020 to the Township Council.
“The 2020 Budget was going to be a difficult budget for Hamilton Township starting on the very first day of the year,” said Mayor Jeff Martin. “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Township was put in an even more difficult budgetary position. This administration has made many difficult decisions over the past few months that impact our employees, our residents and our businesses, but which we believe puts Hamilton on a stronger financial foundation.”
As of January 1, 2020, Hamilton found itself in a budget hole totaling roughly $4 million, the largest portion of which was from a decrease in available surplus funds. At the end of 2019, Hamilton only had approximately $6.1 million in surplus funds available despite last year’s CFO estimating Hamilton would be able to use $6.6 million in surplus to balance 2020’s budget. This amount is in stark contrast to the $9.2 million available in surplus the prior year. Additionally, the Township saw numerous cost increases, almost entirely out of its control, when compared to the 2019 adopted budget. These increases total $2.125 million in operating expenses.
In March, Hamilton, like every other municipality in the country, was presented with the COVID-19 pandemic. While the federal government provided bailouts to the cruise industry, airline industry and many others to make up for lost revenues, it has not provided similar relief to local governments. Hamilton anticipates revenue losses ranging from $300,000 loss in Municipal Court fees, $450,000 in bank interest income, $25,000 loss on golf center revenue, and others totaling $1.85 million as a result of the pandemic.
To overcome the nearly $8 million budget gap, the Administration reviewed the budget line-by-line to see where any savings could be realized. As a result, the Township had to initiate furlough almost all part-time employees, cut overtime, and cut many of our residents’ favorite activities such as Azalea Fest due to both health and budget concerns. These cuts totaled over $650,000. Additionally, almost all employees on expired contracts have agreed to a one-year contract extension which includes a 0% pay raise this year and other one-time savings. The Township is working to secure the commitment to these savings from the other unions as well. These savings, once agreed to by all unions, will result in a savings of approximately $1.25 million.
“Our township employees also gave back so that not all of the burden fell on our residents and businesses,” stated Martin. “I want to publicly thank them not only for their commitment in getting the job done each and every day but also for their partnership in being part of the solution to overcoming our budgetary problems. “
While these savings are substantial, and should only cause a minimal disruption to services in 2020, they are not enough to overcome the significant budget hole Hamilton faces. Therefore, the budget contains a tax increase of 4.4 cents. For an average Hamilton home valued at $225,000, this increase will result in a local tax increase of $8.33 per month.
“We do not take this increase lightly, especially with the state of today’s economic picture,” said Martin. “However, this year’s budget is nearly $500,000 less than 2019’s adopted budget and is $2.3 million less than what was forecasted for the 2020 budget. This means we made cuts everywhere we could without putting our residents’ health and safety at risk.“
The Township Council meeting will be held this evening at 6:30 pm via teleconference. Residents can find instructions on how to join the call on the Township website, www.HamiltonNJ.com.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–On Monday, June 15, 2020 at 9:58 p.m., Officers were detailed to Adella Avenue on the report of shots fired. Upon arrival the officers were told by bystanders that multiple shots were fired on the street. Bullets holes were located in several vehicles parked on Adella Avenue as well as some of the houses. There were no reported injuries. Two possible suspects were seen fleeing the area on foot. The first suspect was described as a B/M, approximately 5’6, 130lbs, with short braided hair, and wearing a white t-shirt. The second suspect was described as a B/M, approximately 5’11, 110lbs, with dreadlocks and wearing a red shirt. Both were last seen running down Rosalia Avenue.
The shooting incident remains under investigation by the Hamilton Police Division’s Criminal Investigations Section. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Larry MacArthur at 609-689-5827 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at 609-581-4008.
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