A Burlington County, New Jersey, man admitted today that he illegally laundered the proceeds of a mail fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Pablo Estrada, 26, of Florence, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of money laundering.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From August 2020 through January 2023, Estrada received money from victims of various scams, including a lottery scam – an advance fee fraud which begins with victims receiving an unexpected notification that they have won large sums of money in a lottery, but are required to pay various fees and expenses before their winnings can be released to them. Estrada deposited the money into various bank accounts that he maintained for purposes of receiving criminal proceeds. He transferred the funds to other bank accounts, keeping a percentage for himself. Estrada laundered more than $4 million in this manner.
The money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross profits or gross loss, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney; and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Burlington County Prosecutors Office under the direction of LaChia L. Bradshaw and the Florence Township Police Department under the direction of Brian Boldizar for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Brad V. Shuttleworth Esq., Philadelphia
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Firefighters reported that on May 9, 2023, at 7:03 a.m. the Florence Township Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire. The initial dispatch information there was a house fire with people trapped inside. Upon arrival, units reported heavy smoke, 2 people trapped on the front roof, and heavy fire on the right rear of the building. The firefighters placed a ladder to the roof, rescued the trapped fire victims, and stretched a 1 ¾” hose line. The fire extended into the apartment on the second floor, the attic above, and the adjoining duplex on the left side.
Fire departments from Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Delran Township, Riverside Township, and Willingboro Township all assisted with fire suppression operations.
Both residents from the apartment were transported to the appropriate hospitals.
The fire was placed under control at 7:47 a.m., and is under investigation by the Florence Township Fire Marshal and the Florence Township Police Department.
“Working smoke detectors save lives, test them monthly, have an escape plan, have a meeting place, and practice them.”
Earlier Midjersey.news story below:
May 9, 2023
FLORENCE, NJ (BURLINGTON)–It was reported that around 7:00 a.m., this morning a fire was reported in the 300 Block of Third Street with reports of two people trapped. Firefighters arrived and found smoke and fire coming from a 2 1/2 story duplex home with two victims trapped on the roof. Two were rescued from the roof and medical helicopter was called to the scene to fly them to the hospital. Two lines were stretched and firefighters vented the roof. The fire was placed under control in about a half hour.
This is a breaking news report from radio reports as well as witnesses on scene. Once official information becomes available the story will be updated.
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–The cause of yesterday’s fire at the Fountain of Life Center has yet to be determined.
In a statement Mayor Craig Wilkie stated, The Fountain of Life Center located at Old York Rd. and Burlington-Columbus Rd. experienced a significant fire last night causing heavy damage to the church. The fire has been placed under control. Emergency services personnel are on the grounds working on hot spots and clean up. Please stay out of the area and seek alternative routes of travel. Bystanders and onlookers are asked to stay out of the area and not enter the grounds. Your cooperation in allowing the personnel on the grounds to work is greatly appreciated.
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Firefighters are currently battling a 5+ Alarm fire at the Life Center of Fountain of Life Church at 2035 Columbus Road at the corner of Old York Road and Burlington/Columbus Road. Numerous fire companies are operating and had to sound evacuation tones to evacuate firefighters from inside the building. The firefighters have several master streams operating at the fire. Flames could be seen though the roof.
This is an active story as more information becomes available the story will be updated.
5+ Alarm fire at the Life Center of Fountain of Life Church video by: BRIAN KELLY
Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Florence Township Police Chief Brian Boldizar announced that the last known person to have seen Sheila Maguire alive before she was killed inside her Florence home is believed to have been found dead yesterday in Pennsylvania, perhaps from an apparent suicide.
A body preliminarily identified as Peter Lestician, 53, who had been in a relationship with Maguire, was discovered in a vehicle by an abandoned barn near an ATV trail in Cooper Township in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State Police troopers were called to the scene yesterday at approximately 4 p.m. by two men riding four-wheelers in the area. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of an adult male in the front seat of the vehicle, which was locked. The troopers reported no signs of foul play.
Lestician’s New Jersey driver’s license was located in the vehicle. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death, and also to confirm the identity.
Maguire, 54, was found dead late Monday afternoon after family members requested a wellness check at her residence because they had been unable to reach her for a few days. Maguire and Lestician lived together at the home in the 200 block of Birch Hollow Drive.
An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that she died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Lestician, a teacher at South Brunswick High School, had not made contact with family members since August 26. While he was a person of interest in Maguire’s homicide, there was no evidence linking Lestician directly to the crime and charges had not been filed against him.
The investigation into Maguire’s homicide will continue. BCPO Crime Scene Unit detectives are coordinating with the local district attorney’s office in Pennsylvania to gain permission to forensically examine the vehicle.
The investigation is being conducted by the Florence Township Police Department, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the PA State Police. The lead investigators are FTPD Detective Chris Powell and BCPO Detectives Shawn McDonough and Andrew Ridolfi.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Unit the Punxsutawney Patrol Unit, Clearfield County, Officer R. Green investigated a suspicious vehicle on Peale Road in Cooper Township. The occupant of the vehicle was discovered to be deceased white non-Hispanic male, 53 years of age from Bordentown, NJ. The nature of the incident listed was suicide. The report says the investigation is active and no further information can be provided at this time. Note: The policy of the Pennsylvania State Police is to not release the names of victims of suicide or of those suffering a mental health crisis.
The couple reportedly lived in the 200 Block of Birch Hollow Drive in Florence Township
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Florence Township Police Chief Brian Boldizar announced that the death of a Florence woman whose body was found inside her home earlier this week has been ruled a homicide.
Police discovered Sheila Maguire, 54, late Monday afternoon after family members requested a wellness check at her residence in the 200 block of Birch Hollow Drive because they had been unable to reach her for a few days.
The autopsy was performed yesterday by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood. The cause of death is being withheld at this time.
No arrests have been made.
The investigation is being conducted by the Florence Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. The lead investigators are FTPD Detective Chris Powell and BCPO Detectives Shawn McDonough and Andrew Ridolfi.
Anyone with information concerning this crime is asked to call Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113, or send an email to tips@co.burlington.nj.us.
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–The Florence Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating the death of a woman whose body was discovered late this afternoon inside a residence in the 200 block of Birch Hollow Drive in Florence Township. The death is considered to be suspicious.
No arrests have been made. There is no reason for members of the general public to fear for their safety based upon this incident. No further information is expected to be released tonight.
Conspirator worked closely with another conspirator who owned a used car dealership in Florence, NJ
A California man was convicted on six counts related to the theft of over $23 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), money destined for one of its jet fuel suppliers, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Sercan Oyuntur, 40, of Northridge, California, was convicted on April 28, 2022, of one count of conspiracy to commit wire, mail and bank fraud; two counts of bank fraud; one count of using an unauthorized access device to commit fraud; one count of aggravated identity theft; and one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement officers, following an eight-day trial before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial:
A corporation that had a contract with the DoD to supply jet fuel to troops operating in southeast Asia employed an individual in New Jersey, who was responsible for communicating with the federal government on behalf of the corporation through a government computer system. Through a complex phishing scheme, Oyuntur and criminal conspirators in Germany, Turkey, and New Jersey targeted the corporation and the individual so that the conspirators could steal money that DoD intended to pay to the corporation for providing jet fuel.
Oyuntur’s conspirators created fake email accounts in other people’s names and designed fake webpages that resembled the General Services Administration’s (GSA) public-facing website. From June to September 2018, the conspirators caused phishing emails to be sent to various DoD vendors, including the individual from New Jersey who represented the corporation, to trick these vendors into visiting the phishing pages. These emails appeared to be legitimate communications from the United States government, but were actually sent by the conspirators, and contained electronic links that automatically took individuals to the phishing pages. There, they saw what appeared to be a GSA website and were prompted to enter their confidential login credentials, which were then used by the conspirators to make changes in the government systems and ultimately divert money to the conspirators.
As part of his participation in the scheme, Oyuntur worked closely with another conspirator, Hurriyet Arslan, who owned a used car dealership, Deal Automotive Sales, in Florence, New Jersey. Arslan opened a separate shell company based in New Jersey for use in the criminal scheme, obtained a cell phone number for the shell company, hired another person to pose as the shell company’s owner, and opened a bank account in the name of the shell company.
On Oct. 10, 2018, based on the fraudulent activities of Oyuntur and his conspirators, DoD transferred $23.5 million that had been earned by the victim corporation into Arslan’s Deal Automotive bank account. Arslan went to the bank and was able to access some of this money, but the bank would not release all of the funds to Arslan. That same day, a conspirator in Turkey sent Arslan an email with an altered government contract that falsely indicated Deal Automotive had been awarded a DoD contract valued at approximately $23 million dollars. Oyuntur instructed Arslan to take this fake contract into the bank to explain why he had received the money, so that Arslan could convince the bank to release the remaining funds.
The conspiracy and bank fraud counts of which Oyuntur was convicted each carry a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison. The count of using an unauthorized access device to commit fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The false statement count carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The aggravated identity theft count carries a statutory mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison. The conspiracy and bank fraud counts each carry a maximum fine of equal to the greatest of $1 million or twice the gross profits or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; the remaining counts carry a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Oyuntur will be sentenced on a date to be determined.
Arslan pleaded guilty in January 2020 to conspiracy, bank fraud, and money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 21, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited criminal investigators of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney; special agents of the General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Eric D. Radwick; special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office and the Cyber Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick Hegarty and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth A. DeChellis; and special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.
The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Jason M. Richardson of the Civil Rights Division in Camden and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara A. Aliabadi of the Special Prosecutions Division in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Megan J. Davies Esq., Haddonfield
FLORENCE TWP (BURLINGTON)– Firefighters from multiple departments battled a house fire in Florence Township tonight.
Multiple fire departments responded to the 300 block of Pigott Drive just after 9:00 pm after a caller dialed 911 and reported that their basement and first floor were filling with smoke. Florence Fire Department arrived on scene and reported smoke showing from the front door, and the first alarm was placed.
Crews stretched a 1 3/4 inch hose line to the basement to quickly extinguish the fire. It was placed under control just after 9:30 pm.
Responding companies were as follows: Florence Fire Department, Consolidated Fire Association, Derby Fire Company, Burlington Twp Fire Department, Franklin Fire Company, Burlington City Fire Department, Willingboro Fire Department, and Delran Fire Department.
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)—Police say that last night December 6, 2021, around 5:50 p.m. police, fire and EMS responded to a house fire at 120 Coachmans Drive. Upon their arrival they observed fire through second floor roof. The 73-year-old resident Linda Jensen was found deceased as firefighters were extinguishing the fire. The fire is currently being investigated by the Florence Township Fire Marshal’s Office, the Florence Township Police Department’s Fire Investigation Team, the Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Office, New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. Police say that the fire does not appear to be suspicious. The fire is still under investigation to find the cause and origin.
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–As we reported Saturday on the Colonial Pipeline that runs though New Jersey and supplies gasoline, diesel fuel and aircraft fuel to the eastern part of the country has announced that the entire pipeline should be operational by noon today. There is no need to hoard gasoline or other fuel and disrupt the local supply chain as seen and reported in other parts of the country.
Locally the pipeline runs though Burlington, Mercer County, Middlesex County on its way to Linden, New Jersey and was shut down to a ransomware cyber attack.
System Restart and Operational Update #2 Update: Thursday, May 13, 4:40 p.m.
Colonial Pipeline has continued to make substantial progress in safely restarting our pipeline system. We can now report that we have restarted our entire pipeline system and that product delivery has commenced to all markets we serve.
Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal. Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during this start-up period. Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal.
This would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the many Colonial team members across the pipeline who worked safely and tirelessly through the night to get our lines up and running. We are grateful for their dedicated service and professionalism during these extraordinary times.
See update below from the Colonial Pipeline:
Update: Thursday, May 13, 9 a.m.
Colonial Pipeline has made substantial progress in safely restarting our pipeline system and can report that product delivery has commenced in a majority of the markets we service. By mid-day today, we project that each market we service will be receiving product from our system. The green segments on this map are operational, meaning product delivery has commenced. Blue lines will be operational later today.
This would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the many Colonial team members across the pipeline who worked safely and tirelessly safely through the night to get our lines up and running. We are grateful for their dedicated service and professionalism during these extraordinary times.
Colonial Pipeline Company, founded in 1962, connects refineries – primarily located in the Gulf Coast – with customers and markets throughout the Southern and Eastern United States through a pipeline system that spans more than 5,500 miles. The company delivers refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, home heating oil, and fuel for the U.S. Military. Colonial is committed to safety and environmental stewardship across its operations.
Colonial Pipeline is the largest refined products pipeline in the United States, transporting more than 100 million gallons or 2.5 million barrels per day. Colonial transports approximately 45 percent of all fuel consumed on the East Coast, providing refined products to more than 50 million Americans.
Specifically, Colonial transports various grades of gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, jet fuel, and fuels for the U.S. military through a pipeline system. The system is connected refineries in the Gulf Coast and in the Northeast. The majority of the system is underground, with tankage and other facilities at key receipt, storage and delivery points.
Related MidJersey.news coverage on Colonial Pipeline incident here:
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The visiting Florence High School baseball team met Trenton Catholic Academy at Mercer County Park for their game tonight. The final score of the game was TCA 12, Florence 3.
Update: Sgt. Philip Curry of the New Jersey State Police, Public Information Bureau told MidJersey.news:
The crash occurred at 9:45am on the outer roadway of the NJ Turnpike northbound mile post 54, Bordentown, Burlington County. Preliminary investigation revealed that a tractor-trailer was stopped on the right shoulder when it was struck by a northbound traveling utility body pickup truck. The pickup then crossed the roadway and struck the guardrail dividing the inner and the outer roadway coming to a rest partially in the inner roadway right lane and the outer roadway left lane. The truck spilled debris on the outer roadway which caused the outer to be temporarily closed for cleanup. Traffic was diverted to the inner with minimal impact on traffic.
A section of guardrail sustained substantial damage as a result of the crash.
The driver of the TT sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Capital Health.
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)-NJSP, Fire and EMS responded to a motor vehicle crash on the NJ Turnpike near mile post 54.4 north bound outer lanes at 9:54 am. When Bordentown and Florence firefighters arrived they went in service to cut an occupant out of one of the vehicles. It appears that there are vehicles on both the right and left side of the outer lanes. NJ Turnpike is reporting property damage so expect delays in the area. At least two were transported by Endeavor Emergency Squad and Robbinsville ambulances to the Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton.
Responding were Bordentown Township Fire Department, Florence Township Fire Department, Robbinsville Township Fire Department EMS, and Endeavor Emergency Squad responded to the scene. NJ State Police is investigating the crash. NJ Turnpike Authority is making emergency repairs in the area of where the crash happened.
Emergency maintenance on New Jersey Turnpike Inner Roadway northbound North of Interchange 7 – US 206 (Bordentown Twp) right shoulder closed for repairs https://t.co/6PykARjb1c
Emergency maintenance on New Jersey Turnpike Outer Roadway northbound North of Interchange 7 – US 206 (Bordentown Twp) left shoulder closed for repairs https://t.co/cxeXJJ4SMH
Crash with Property Damage on New Jersey Turnpike Inner Roadway northbound North of Interchange 7 – US 206 (Bordentown Twp) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes blocked https://t.co/9zBrPjV91v
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Three members of a Burlington County drug-trafficking organization have admitted their roles in a conspiracy to distribute a variety of illegal substances, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Jerrod Epps, 35, of Medford, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Senior District Judge Anne E. Thompson to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Teron Huggins, 42, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2020, to an information charging him with two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Talib Conway, 39, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty on May 8, 2020, to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 28 grams of crack cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Between July 2019 and September 2019, the defendants engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated primarily in municipalities throughout Burlington County – including Willingboro, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Bordentown Township, Edgewater Park, Pemberton and Mount Laurel – and which sought to profit from the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. Through the interception of telephone calls and text messages pursuant to court-authorized wiretap orders, and other investigative techniques, law enforcement learned that defendants obtained regular supplies of cocaine and other substances from conspirators in the Burlington County and Philadelphia areas and then redistributed cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, to other conspirators, distributors, sub-dealers, and end users. Law enforcement officers intercepted numerous communications by and between the conspirators regarding such issues as cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction.
The counts of conspiracy to distribute at least 28 grams of crack cocaine and conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin to which Conway pleaded guilty each carry a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. The count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine to which Conway pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. The counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine to which Huggins pleaded guilty each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. The count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine to which Epps pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. Sentencing for all three defendants is scheduled for Sept. 30, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Trenton Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; special agents of ATF Newark Field Division, Trenton Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson; detectives of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Scott Coffina; officers of the Burlington Township Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Bruce Painter; officers of the Willingboro Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Kinamo Lomon; officers of the Burlington City Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Fine; officers of the Florence Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Brian Boldizar; officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Brian Pesche; officers of the Edgewater Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Robert Hess; officers of the Mount Laurel Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Stephen Reidener; officers of the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Stemler; officers of the Westampton Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Stephen Ent; and officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Director Sheilah Coley with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha K. Nye of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Johns of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Conway: Teri Lodge Esq., Marlton, New Jersey Huggins: David Oakley Esq., Princeton, New Jersey Epps: Edward Borden Esq., Cherry Hill, New Jersey
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