SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–On Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 10:43 p.m., a crash on Route 130 at Route 522 involving a commuter van and a Honda CRV left several people injured, one critically. The commuter van, a 2022 Chevy Express was transporting workers from nearby LaserShip warehouse to their homes when the crash took place. The van was crossing from Fresh Ponds Road onto Route 522 when it was struck by the Honda being used as an Uber. The Honda was headed south on Route 130 and failed to stop for a red signal. The Honda struck the side of the commuter van and the impact ejected one of the van’s passengers.
The people injured in the commuter van included a 26-year-old male, 42-year-old male, 30-year-old female and 32-year-old male all from Trenton. The two passengers in the Uber, a 49-year-old female and 57-year-old male from Robbinsville were also injured. Multiple EMS units responded to the crash including two ambulances from Kendall Park First Aid, Monroe, Cranbury, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital paramedics and ambulance, and North Brunswick First Aid Squad. The injured were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Princeton Medical Center.
Portions of the highway were closed for three hours as traffic officers investigated. New Jersey State Department of Transportation set up detours around the crash and assisted with the extensive roadway cleanup.
No charges have been filed as South Brunswick Police Department Traffic Safety Bureau continues to investigate. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call police at (732) 329-4646.
In total, DePaola was charged with laundering approximately $1,149,784.
April 5, 2022
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A Mercer County grand jury recently returned a 12-count indictment charging a 64-year-old property manager with embezzling and laundering stolen funds from an apartment complex in Hamilton Township, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.
The indictment, returned April 1, 2022, charges Nicolas DePaola, 64, of Ewing, with first-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity, second-degree theft by unlawful taking, second-degree misapplication of entrusted property, second-degree theft by failure to make required disposition of property received, second-degree theft by unlawful taking, three counts of third-degree filing a fraudulent tax return, three counts of third-degree failure to pay income tax, and third-degree theft by failure to make required disposition of property received.
DePaola is charged with embezzling and laundering stolen funds from his former client, Hamilton Park CO-OP of Arena Drive, from 2014 through 2018. DePaola acted as the property manager for the CO-OP after taking over for his father, Richard DePaola of R.A. DePaola, Inc. According to the CO-OP’s tax documents, which DePaola was responsible for completing, reported management fees paid by the CO-OP to the defendant for 2014 through 2016 ranged from approximately $64,000-$79,000 per year.
From 2014 through 2018, financial records reveal Nicholas DePaola stole approximately $925,403 directly from the CO-OP in his capacity as the property manager, through unauthorized checks and transfers from the victim’s operating bank account. Furthermore, the defendant used the CO-OP’s funds to pay his American Express credit card bills in the amount of $224,381 in the same timeframe. In total, DePaola was charged with laundering approximately $1,149,784. He also faces related tax charges.
DePaola’s criminal acts were initially uncovered when a CO-OP tenant mistakenly received a letter from Hamilton Township notifying the recipient that the property was going to be sold within days at tax sale because the CO-OP owed back taxes and sewer fees to Hamilton Township. The outstanding bill with fees, penalties and interest totaled $372,840.39. The matter was brought to the attention of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) in September 2019 and an investigation ensued.
Prosecutor Onofri credited ECU detectives with the investigation leading to the indictment. He also thanked the New Jersey Division of Taxation Financial Investigations Unit and the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Cook, chief of the ECU.
Second-degree crimes carry a penalty of five to 10 years in state prison and a $150,000 fine. Third-degree crimes carry a penalty of three to five years in state prison and a $15,000 fine. If convicted of the first-degree crime of financial facilitation, DePaola faces a penalty of 10–20 years in state prison, to run consecutive to the theft charges, and a $200,000 fine. Additionally, he would be subject to a $500,000 anti-money laundering profiteering penalty.
Despite having been indicted, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Nicolas DePaola, 64, of Ewing
DePaola is charged with embezzling and laundering stolen funds from his former client, Hamilton Park CO-OP of Arena Drive, from 2014 through 2018. DePaola acted as the property manager for the CO-OP after taking over for his father, Richard DePaola of R.A. DePaola, Inc. According to the CO-OP’s tax documents, which DePaola was responsible for completing, reported management fees paid by the CO-OP to the defendant for 2014 through 2016 ranged from approximately $64,000-$79,000 per year. From 2014 through 2018, financial records reveal Nicholas DePaola stole approximately $925,403 directly from the CO-OP in his capacity as the property manager, through unauthorized checks and transfers from the victim’s operating bank account. Furthermore, the defendant used the CO-OP’s funds to pay his American Express credit card bills in the amount of $224,381 in the same timeframe. In total, DePaola was charged with laundering approximately $1,149,784. He also faces related tax charges.
MidJersey.News 
You must be logged in to post a comment.