June 3, 2021
ALLENTOWN, NJ (MERCER)–In the quarterfinal round of the 2021 NJSIAA Boys Lacrosse Tournament, South Jersey, Group 2, Allentown scored 14 and Hopewell Valley scored 8 goals. Allentown will take on Rumson-Fair Haven at Rumson on Saturday in the semi-final round.
Photo gallery:
June 3, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Hundreds Protested today at the New Jersey State House against a bill to end the public health emergency but extends certain executive orders, directives and powers of Governor Phil Murphy. The group has said that the bill gives permanent executive power to Governor Phil Murphy.
A5820 Provides for termination of public health emergency declared by Governor to address COVID-19 pandemic, except certain executive orders, directives, and powers will remain in effect temporarily.
Passed both Houses
Provides for termination of public health emergency declared by Governor
to address COVID-19 pandemic, except certain executive orders, directives,
and powers will remain in effect temporarily.
How they voted:
Session Voting:
Asm. 6/3/2021 – 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE – Yes {44} No {28} Not Voting {8} Abstains {0} – Roll Call
| Armato, John – Yes | Auth, Robert – No | Benson, Daniel R. – Yes | |
| Bergen, Brian – No | Bramnick, Jon M. – No | Burzichelli, John J. – Yes | |
| Calabrese, Clinton – Yes | Caputo, Ralph R. – Yes | Carter, Linda S. – Yes | |
| Catalano, John – No | Chaparro, Annette – Yes | Chiaravalloti, Nicholas – Yes | |
| Clifton, Robert D. – No | Conaway, Herb, Jr. – Yes | Coughlin, Craig J. – Yes | |
| Dancer, Ronald S. – No | Danielsen, Joe – Yes | DeAngelo, Wayne P. – Yes | |
| DeCroce, BettyLou – No | DeFuccio, DeAnne C. – No | DePhillips, Christopher P. – No | |
| DiMaio, John – No | DiMaso, Serena – No | Downey, Joann – Yes | |
| Dunn, Aura K. – No | Egan, Joseph V. – Yes | Freiman, Roy – Yes | |
| Giblin, Thomas P. – Yes | Gove, DiAnne C. – No | Greenwald, Louis D. – Yes | |
| Holley, Jamel C. – No | Houghtaling, Eric – Yes | Jasey, Mila M. – Yes | |
| Jimenez, Angelica M. – Yes | Johnson, Gordon M. – Yes | Karabinchak, Robert J. – Yes | |
| Kean, Sean T. – No | Kennedy, James J. – Yes | Lampitt, Pamela R. – Not Voting | |
| Lopez, Yvonne – Yes | Mazzeo, Vincent – Yes | McClellan, Antwan L. – No | |
| McGuckin, Gregory P. – No | McKeon, John F. – Yes | McKnight, Angela V. – Not Voting | |
| Mejia, Pedro – Yes | Moen, William F., Jr. – Yes | Moriarty, Paul D. – Yes | |
| Mosquera, Gabriela M. – Not Voting | Mukherji, Raj – Yes | Munoz, Nancy F. – No | |
| Murphy, Carol A. – Yes | Peters, Ryan E. – No | Peterson, Erik – No | |
| Pintor Marin, Eliana – Yes | Quijano, Annette – Not Voting | Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina – Yes | |
| Rooney, Kevin J. – No | Rumpf, Brian E. – Not Voting | Schaer, Gary S. – Yes | |
| Scharfenberger, Gerard – No | Simonsen, Erik K. – No | Space, Parker – No | |
| Spearman, William W. – Yes | Speight, Shanique – Yes | Stanfield, Jean – No | |
| Stanley, Sterley S. – Yes | Sumter, Shavonda E. – Not Voting | Swain, Lisa – Yes | |
| Taliaferro, Adam J. – Not Voting | Thomson, Edward H. – No | Timberlake, Britnee N. – Yes | |
| Tucker, Cleopatra G. – Yes | Tully, P. Christopher – Yes | Vainieri Huttle, Valerie – Yes | |
| Verrelli, Anthony S. – Yes | Webber, Jay – No | Wimberly, Benjie E. – Not Voting |
Sen. 6/3/2021 – 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE – Yes {21} No {16} Not Voting {3} – Roll Call
| Addiego, Dawn Marie – No | Bateman, Christopher – No | Beach, James – Yes | |
| Brown, Chris A. – No | Bucco, Anthony M. – No | Codey, Richard J. – Yes | |
| Connors, Christopher J. – No | Corrado, Kristin M. – No | Cruz-Perez, Nilsa I. – Yes | |
| Cryan, Joseph P. – Yes | Cunningham, Sandra B. – Yes | Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. – Yes | |
| Doherty, Michael J. – No | Gill, Nia H. – Not Voting | Gopal, Vin – Not Voting | |
| Greenstein, Linda R. – Yes | Holzapfel, James W. – No | Kean, Thomas H., Jr. – No | |
| Lagana, Joseph A. – Yes | Madden, Fred H., Jr. – Yes | O’Scanlon, Declan J., Jr. – No | |
| Oroho, Steven V. – No | Pennacchio, Joseph – No | Pou, Nellie – Yes | |
| Rice, Ronald L. – Not Voting | Ruiz, M. Teresa – Yes | Sacco, Nicholas J. – Yes | |
| Sarlo, Paul A. – Yes | Schepisi, Holly T. – No | Scutari, Nicholas P. – Yes | |
| Singer, Robert W. – No | Singleton, Troy – Yes | Smith, Bob – Yes | |
| Stack, Brian P. – Yes | Sweeney, Stephen M. – Yes | Testa, Michael L., Jr. – No | |
| Thompson, Samuel D. – No | Turner, Shirley K. – Yes | Vitale, Joseph F. – Yes |
6/3/2021 Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (21-16)
Statement from Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Coughlin on the Passage of Legislation Enabling the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
“New Jerseyans have proven their resilience over the past 15 months as our state has fought the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we take a substantial step toward restoring normalcy to our state and to the lives of those who call New Jersey home.
“Ending New Jersey’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is one of the most significant steps we have taken in our recovery efforts to date. With our state’s public health metrics continuing to trend decisively in the right direction, we are confident that now is the right time to take this action, particularly as the final limits on gatherings are lifted tomorrow. With passage of this bill today and its signing tomorrow, followed by the Governor’s signing of an executive order terminating the Public Health Emergency, we will move closer to normal than at any time since March 2020.
“While we celebrate this milestone in our fight against COVID-19, we also acknowledge that the fight against this virus is not over. This legislation ensures that the Administration has the tools and flexibility necessary to continue vaccination and testing efforts, ensure protections for vulnerable populations, and oversee and coordinate the health care system to address this ongoing threat.
“By working together, we are facing the challenges ahead and meeting the needs of the over nine million residents who have bravely battled the worst pandemic in a century together.”
Photos by Brian McCarthy, OnScene News
June 3, 2021
COLTS NECK, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man made his initial court appearance today for allegedly filing a fraudulent bankruptcy petition claiming he had limited assets and hundreds of millions of dollars in liabilities, when, in fact, he had $2.9 million in a hidden bank account, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig announced today.
Elia Zois, 56, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of concealment in bankruptcy. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre.
According to the complaint:
Zois was one of five partners in “Business-2,” a New Jersey-based health care organization that maintained approximately 50 senior living facilities throughout New Jersey, Michigan, and Wisconsin. On Feb. 6, 2019, he and his spouse filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, alleging that between 2014 and 2018 he had only $9,000 in assets and $201 million in liabilities, based upon his partnership in Business-2. A forensic accounting report concluded that during that period Zois received $2.9 million in deposits into the bank account of “Business-1” – of which Zois was the sole owner – including approximately $200,000 in undeclared income after he filed for bankruptcy. The hidden account was intended to conceal a portion of his income to circumvent existing IRS liens on his known assets.
The count of concealment in a bankruptcy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited the investigators of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards, under the direction of Adriana Vamvakas, Regional Director; and special agents of the Department of Labor (OIG), New York Region, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nikitas Splagounias, with the investigation leading to the charges. She also thanked special agents of the FBI, Milwaukee field office, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime/Gangs Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
21-248
Defense counsel: Timothy M. Donohue Esq., West Orange, New Jersey
June 3, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced a wave of 35 indictments secured by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice in just over two months charging numerous defendants with illegal gun trafficking and/or possession of illicit weapons, including untraceable ghost guns, assault rifles, and outlawed large-capacity ammunition magazines. Ghost guns are not registered and do not have serial numbers, making them difficult to trace and making it harder for law enforcement to solve gun crimes.
The indictments charge a total of 81 defendants, a majority of whom face various weapons offenses in connection with the following illegal weapons seized in the investigations:
The illegal guns include a total of 10 Ghost Guns that do not bear federally registered serial numbers. Most of the guns traced in these cases were purchased in various states other than New Jersey, including Pennsylvania, which was the source of at least 18 guns, and South Carolina, which was the source of at least 12 guns, as well as Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, among others.
Five of the indictments charge defendants with illegally trafficking guns. The others charge possession of illegal weapons by other alleged criminals, including individuals charged with using guns in violent crimes, alleged drug dealers, an alleged human trafficker, and a fugitive charged with credit card fraud. Thirty-four of the indictments stem from investigations conducted between January 2019 and February 2021, with most charging conduct in 2020 and 2021. One case dates to 2018.
Thirty-three indictments were secured by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. Two indictments were secured by the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau.
The Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police consistently join with other law enforcement partners to conduct strategic investigations focused on disrupting the supply-line of weapons trafficking into violent areas, arresting drug dealers and seizing existing weapons in those areas, and aggressively prosecuting all defendants who traffic, use, or possess guns in connection with criminal activity.
“We are aggressively targeting those responsible for the proliferation of guns and gun violence in our communities, including gun traffickers, drug dealers, and other criminals who arm themselves with illegal weapons,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Assault rifles have long been a weapon of choice for gangs and drug dealers, and more recently there has been an alarming increase in untraceable ghost guns, which often are seized by police after they have been used in a shooting. By focusing on illegal guns, working to shut down the iron pipeline of firearms from other states, and prosecuting offenders under New Jersey’s tough gun laws, we are taking guns and armed criminals off of the street—and undoubtedly saving lives.”
“These 35 indictments are the product of strong collaboration by the Division of Criminal Justice and law enforcement agencies at all levels, all across New Jersey and into states such as Pennsylvania and South Carolina, which were source states for guns allegedly sold by certain defendants,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “By cracking down on gun traffickers, armed drug dealers, and others with illegal weapons, we are working to reduce the gun violence and drug dealing that are claiming far too many lives in New Jersey and are undermining the safety and security of our communities. I commend our Gangs and Organized Crime Bureau, Specialized Crimes Bureau, the New Jersey State Police, and all of our law enforcement partners for these outstanding results.”
“Illegal weapons trafficking has unfortunately evolved over time. The proliferation of ghost guns, which can be assembled from parts originating from across the country, has made it more difficult to solve violent crimes and disrupt trafficking networks, but fortunately law enforcement has evolved at a much faster rate by utilizing state-of-art investigative techniques and employing massive multi-jurisdictional collaborations, which are directly responsible for today’s indictments and the seizure of nearly 100 guns,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “We will continue to work with our partners to combat not only the trafficking of illegal weapons, but to also disrupt the assembly and sale of ghost guns both in New Jersey and across the country.”
The 35 state grand jury indictments charge the defendants with offenses ranging from unlawful possession and disposition of handguns, assault weapons, and machine guns to leader of a firearms trafficking network, and also include charges of unlawful transportation of firearms into the state; charges related to the unlawful purchase, manufacture, transportation, and possession of ghost gun parts and ghost guns; unlawful possession of defaced weapons; unlawful possession of weapons during commission of narcotics offenses; unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines: unlawful possession of illegal hollow-point bullets; and unlawful possession of weapons by convicted felons. Many of the charges carry Graves Act penalties requiring mandatory periods of parole ineligibility of up to five years. As detailed below, two of the guns that were seized have been linked to shootings, including a homicide.
The following cases illustrate the range of the investigations:
Michael Maresca, et al.
Michael Maresca, 32, of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., allegedly trafficked ghost guns in the area of Paterson, N.J. He was indicted with two other men—Robert Moser, 49, of Depauw, Indiana, and Maken Cornell, 52, of Grove City, Ohio—for allegedly conspiring to purchase assault rifle kits, ghost gun parts, and outlawed large-capacity magazines and have them shipped to New Jersey, where Maresca allegedly assembled the illegal guns and sold them. During the investigation, in October and November 2020, five ghost guns and two assault rifles were seized. Maresca allegedly sold two ghost guns to an undercover officer, including one that was equipped with an illegal 15-round magazine loaded with prohibited hollow-point bullets.
Henry Kidd Jr., Javar Kidd, and Terrance Alford
Two Trenton men, Javar Kidd, 32, and Terrance Alford, 46, were indicted along with Kidd’s uncle Henry Kidd Jr., 51, of Hayneville Alabama, on charges that they conspired to transport weapons into New Jersey from South Carolina for illegal sale or transfer to criminals in and around Trenton. Nine handguns and four illegal large-capacity magazines were seized during the investigation in October 2020. Henry Kidd Jr. is charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime.
Operation Zombie
Four defendants, including Robert Crosley III, 34, aka “Zombie,” and Matthew Zoba, 40, both of Philadelphia, were indicted on charges that they conspired to run a major Philadelphia-based gun trafficking ring that illegally trafficked guns and methamphetamine into Camden, N.J. They are charged in connection with 22 illegal firearms seized during the investigation—including four assault rifles—as well as seven illegal large-capacity magazines. Between March 2019 and January 2020, they allegedly sold 16 guns in the Camden area during the investigation, including a 9mm handgun linked to a shooting in Philadelphia in which no one was hit, as well as a semi-automatic rifle linked to the Oct. 20, 2019 murder of 2-year-old Nikolette Rivera, who was shot as her mother held her in her arms in their home in Philadelphia. Crosley and Zoba are both charged with first-degree promoting organized street crime.
Enrique “Neff” Alfonso
Enrique “Neff” Alfonso, 28, of Camden, N.J., allegedly used a popular social networking service to conduct illegal firearms sales in the Camden area. Between February and May 2020, he allegedly sold an assault rifle, five handguns, another rifle, and three illegal large-capacity magazines. He is charged in a 17-count indictment with numerous weapons offenses, including possession of a weapon as a convicted felon, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years without parole upon conviction.
Christopher J. Pespas
Christopher J. Pespas, 74, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., was indicted on charges that he was purchasing parts for “ghost gun” assault rifles on the internet, along with illegal large-capacity magazines. Investigators executed a search warrant at his residence in August 2019 and seized parts that could be assembled to make three assault rifles—all “ghost guns.”
Isiah Greene and Jamal Bethea
Isiah Greene, 29, and Jamal Bethea, 32, of Trenton, N.J., alleged members of the Sanhican Drive Boys gang, allegedly engaged in a shootout on Feb. 12, 2020 with two members of the Get Money Boys gang, Shaiquan Hearns and Dion Battle. Greene allegedly fired from a vehicle driven by Bethea. No one on either side of the shootout was hit, but Bethea crashed the vehicle, and Bethea and Greene fled. Greene allegedly hid the gun in the backyard of a residence. Greene and Bethea were indicted on first-degree charges of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, among other offenses. Hearns and Battle were previously charged by the Division of Criminal Justice with two counts of attempted murder—one count for firing at Greene and Bethea, and another for firing at a police officer who pursued their vehicle after the shootout.
Peter Santos and Joshua Perez
Peter A. Santos, 22, and Joshua M. Perez, 22, of Trenton, N.J., allegedly pistol-whipped a victim with a handgun and robbed him of his wallet in Trenton on Jan. 24, 2021. A subsequent search of a hotel room rented by Perez revealed a second handgun loaded with illegal hollow-point bullets. Both men were indicted on charges of first-degree robbery, as well as aggravated assault and weapons offenses.
The 35 state grand jury indictments are posted at View Indictments.
The 33 indictments that were presented to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau were presented by the following Deputy Attorneys General (DAsG), under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Cassandra Montalto, Deputy Bureau Chief Cynthia Vazquez, Bureau Chief Lauren Scarpa Yfantis, and DCJ Deputy Director Annmarie Taggart: DAG Robert Anstatt, DAG Karen Braciszewski, DAG Brian Carney, DAG John Donovan, DAG Anna Gildea, DAG Heather Hausleben, DAG Angel Hector, DAG Amie Hyde, DAG Sean Lindenau, DAG Mohammad Mahmood, DAG Katherine Morris, DAG Jaclyn Poulton, and DAG Veronica Vizzard. The two indictments presented to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau were presented by DAG Evgeniya Sitnikova and DAG Kara Webster, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Valerie Butler, Bureau Chief Erik Daab, and DCJ Deputy Director Taggart.
First-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000, while second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The sentence for promoting organized street crime must be served consecutively to the sentence for any underlying offense. The second-degree charge of transporting firearms into the state for illegal sale carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed. Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of five years. The second-degree charge of unlawful possession of a handgun carries a mandatory period of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000 ($35,000 for drug charges), while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Koi Allen, Tyrik Johnson, Hamilton Township, Mercer County, January 19, 2021, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Conspiracy – Second Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance Within 1,000 Feet of School Property – Third Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of Certain Crimes – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Possession of Hollow Nose Bullets – Fourth Degree, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree (Johnson).
AAREN C. BAILEY, March 10, 2020, Hamilton Township, Mercer, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Second Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Second Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of Certain Crimes – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree.
DAEVON BELL, December 27, 2019, Trenton, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled, Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of Certain Crimes – Second Degree, Possession of Hollow Nose Bullets – Fourth Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity, Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Possession of a Defaced Firearm – Fourth Degree, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree.
ERIC CARR, September 21, 2020, Trenton, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Within
1000 Feet of School Property – Third Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Within
500 Feet of Certain Public Property – Second Degree, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Second Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of Certain Crimes – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm without a Serial Number – Third Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity
Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree.
JUSTICE CHAMBERS, LAWRENCE BRANTLEY AND VICTOR TORRES, September 20, 2020, Hamilton Township, Mercer, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Second Degree – VICTOR TORRES, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Second Degree – JUSTICE CHAMBERS and LAWRENCE BRANTLEY, Possession of a Defaced Firearm – Fourth Degree – JUSTICE CHAMBERS and LAWRENCE BRANTLEY, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons– Second Degree -LAWRENCE BRANTLEY.
FELICITA GEE, February 24, 2020, Ewing Township, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree.
RAJON GLOVER, February 1, 2019, Trenton, NJ, Conspiracy – Third Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Rifle – Third Degree, Manufacture, Transport, Disposition of a Rifle – Fourth Degree, Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition – Third Degree, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree.
ROBERTO L. DIAZ-BOURET, CARL S. MALDONADO, DIANNE T. STROHMENGER, Freehold, Freehold Township, Brick Township, Wall Township, January 17, 2019, and on or about April 9, 2019,
RONALD HARRIS, Trenton, NJ July 20, 2020, and on or about July 21, 2020, Human Trafficking – First Degree, Facilitating Human Trafficking – Second Degree, Promoting Prostitution – First Degree, Eluding – Second Degree, Resisting Arrest By Flight – Fourth Degree, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance- Third Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of Large Capacity, Ammunition Magazines – Fourth Degree, Endangering Welfare of Children – Second Degree, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree,
THURMAN JENNINGS, Hamilton Township, NJ, September 4, 2020, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Receiving Stolen Property– Third Degree, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree.
DASHAUN PETERSON and JUSTICE CHAMBERS, Trenton, NJ, September 5, 2020, and September 6, 2020, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled, Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Possession of with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance within 1,000 Feet of School Property – Third Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous, Substance within 500 Feet of Certain Public Property– Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm – Second Degree DASHAUN PETERSON and JUSTICE CHAMBERS, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of Certain Crimes – Second Degree, Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity– Third Degree.
JOY SCOTT, Trenton, NJ, January 3, 2019, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Second Degree, Distribution of A Controlled Dangerous Substance Within 1000 Feet of School Property – Third Degree, Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance within 500 Feet
of Certain Public Property – Second Degree, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree, Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm – Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree, Possession of Hollow Nose Bullets – Fourth Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Endangering Welfare of Children – Second Degree,
KHAZI SPADY and PHILLIP FOSTER, Lawrence Township, September 6, 2020, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree – KHAZI SPADY, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity, Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree – KHAZI SPADY, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – Third Degree – Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree , Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Second Degree – PHILLIP FOSTER, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – First Degree – PHILLIP FOSTER.
HASSAN WILSON, VENESHA PINKNEY and DEWAYNE PINKNEY, Trenton, NJ, February 24, 2021, Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm – Second Degree, Possession of a Defaced Firearm – Fourth Degree – HASSAN WILSON, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Magazine – Fourth Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – First Degree – DEWAYNE PINKNEY, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons – Second Degree – DEWAYNE PINKNEY.
WILLIAM WOOLLEY, ANDRE SULIMENKO and NICHOLAS GOOSKOS, Jackson, NJ, November 1, 2020
Enrique Alfonso
Allen & Johnson
Aaren Bailey
Bailey et. al.
Daevon Bell
Willis & Daysha Brown
Brown & St. Louis
Bush et. al.
Eric Carr
Castellar et. al.
Chambers et. al.
Crosley et. al.
Diaz-Bouret et. al.
Isiah Fields
Felicita Gee
Rajon Glover
Greene & Bethea
Guest et. al.
Ronald Harris
Thurman Jennings
Kidd et. al.
Maresca et. al.
Michael Maresca
Davon McClendon
Christopher Pespas
Dashaun Peterson
Roberts et. al.
Santos & Perez
Joy Scott
Spady & Foster
Sullivan & Cumba
Naquan Wilson
Wilson et. al.
Woolley et. al.
Laqua Young
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Attorney General Grewal thanked the following law enforcement agencies that investigated the cases in collaboration with the Division of Criminal Justice:
June 3, 2021
See related MidJersey.news article here: Police investigating serious crash involving moped-style bike
By: Tyler Eckel
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP (MERCER)– The Attorney General’s Office is investigating the death of a man who was critically injured when his scooter collided with a civilian vehicle in Hamilton, Mercer County, on May 25. The man, a 21-year-old Trenton resident, died in the hospital two days later. His identity is not being released at this time.
The accident occurred just after 9 p.m. on May 25 near the intersection of Route 33 and Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. An officer of the Hamilton Township Police Division in an unmarked police vehicle observed the man riding a Yamaha scooter without a helmet. Before the officer could stop the scooter operator, who was traveling westbound on Route 33, the scooter operator collided with a Dodge Caravan, whose driver was attempting to turn left into the Mercerville Shopping Center from Route 33 eastbound. The man was thrown from the scooter and impacted the windshield of the van. He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he died at approximately 3 p.m. on May 27.
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to a law enacted in January 2019, P.L.2019, c.1, which requires that the Attorney General’s Office conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.
The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.
June 3, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The victim of Saturday night’s homicide in Trenton has been identified, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported today.
An investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police led to the arrest this week of Justin Wilkes for recklessly causing the death of Edgar Geovani Sis-Luis, 34, of Trenton.
Wilkes, 21, of Ewing, was arrested and charged Tuesday evening with first-degree aggravated manslaughter and third-degree endangering an injured victim. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Wilkes pending trial.
On Saturday, May 29, 2021, at approximately 11:10 p.m., Trenton police officers were detailed to the area of South Clinton and Roebling avenues on a report of a pedestrian struck. While enroute, Trenton police dispatch advised that callers had heard two gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located the Sis-Luis laying in the street. He was bleeding from the head and had visible tire marks across his torso. Trenton Emergency Services arrived on scene and attempted to provide aid, however, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Based on information received, the HTF was notified and responded. An initial canvas of the scene did not produce evidence of a shooting. Detectives received witness information that Sis-Luis was seen walking in the roadway then observed falling to the ground as a white Honda Civic hit him and drove off in the direction of Beatty Street. Detectives were able to locate the vehicle and identify the driver as Elber Yuman, 24, of Princeton Junction. On Sunday, May 30, 2021, Yuman was charged with knowingly leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death.
A preliminary examination of the victim’s body by the medical examiner’s office suggested he had been run over and had significant injuries to the left side of his face, but there was no indication he had been shot.
Area video surveillance was reviewed and witnesses were interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. Detectives established that an individual identified as Justin Wilkes runs up to Sis-Luis at approximately 11 p.m. and punches him in the head. Wilkes continued to assault the victim as he tried to get away, stomping and kicking him after he fell to the ground in the middle of South Clinton Avenue. Wilkes fled the area by vehicle as the victim was still lying in the road, beaten unconscious. Shortly thereafter, the white Honda Civic driven by Yuman crossed over Roebling Avenue while traveling on South Clinton Avenue, running over the victim. Yuman continued driving toward Beatty Street without stopping.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call HTF Detective Marc Masseroni at (609) 989-6406. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Names of 2021* homicide victims:
*Updated to reflect the person who died in 2021 from the May 14, 2018 shooting.
See related MidJersey.news coverage here:
Saturday Night’s Homicide Victim Identified
UPDATE: Princeton Junction Man Charged In Fatal Hit And Run
UPDATE: Fatal Hit And Run In Trenton, Suspect Detained In Hamilton
Opinion: Police Radio Encryption And How The Media Got It Wrong Last Night In Trenton
June 3, 2021
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton Police Department, Detective Lieutenant Cynthia Hargis told MidJersey.news that at approximately 1:40 a.m., Trenton Police Officers were detailed to the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Hudson Street on a report of a male shot. When officers arrived, they learned that the victim was transported to the hospital by a motorist.
Hargis, stated that the victim was identified at Louis Mateo (38 yrs. old, from Egg Harbor City, NJ) suffered a gunshot wound in the abdomen and graze wound on the upper left thigh.
The victim is listed in critical condition at the Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.
This investigation is on-going and being investigated by the Trenton Police Department Shooting Response Team.
MidJersey.News 
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