Another Supplier To Food Truck 'Hot Lunch' Drug Ring In Newburgh Gets Jail Time: DA Another Supplier To Food Truck 'Hot Lunch' Drug Ring In Newburgh Gets Jail Time: DA Another Supplier To Food Truck 'Hot Lunch' Drug Ring In Newburgh Gets Jail Time: DA
Another Supplier To Food Truck 'Hot Lunch' Drug Ring In Newburgh Gets Jail Time: DA A man described by prosecutors as a major supplier in the sweeping “Operation Hot Lunch” takedown will spend years in state prison, marking another major milestone in what authorities say is the largest gun and narcotics trafficking case in Orange County history.  Newburgh resident Owen Beckford, also known as Marvin Ottley, 55, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 28, to 15 years in prison in Orange County Court after previously pleading guilty to operating as a major trafficker and second-degree conspiracy. Beckford was also ordered to forfeit $8,909 as part of the sentence, the…
Police K9s Raid GF's North Bergen Home In Secaucus BF's $11K Cocaine Operation, Cops Say Police K9s Raid GF's North Bergen Home In Secaucus BF's $11K Cocaine Operation, Cops Say Police K9s Raid GF's North Bergen Home In Secaucus BF's $11K Cocaine Operation, Cops Say
Police K9s Raid GF's North Bergen Home In Secaucus BF's $11K Cocaine Operation, Cops Say A 34-year-old Secaucus man and a 25-year-old North Bergen woman were arrested and charged with dealing cocaine from a residence in Secaucus, authorities announced Monday, Jan. 26. Last June, officers received information Mohamed Laib was distributing cocaine from his Paulanne Terrace residence, Secaucus police said. During the seven-month-long investigation, detectives from the Secaucus Anti-Crime Unit surveilled Laib and observed him actively dealing cocaine, police said. Laib was using his Paulanne Terrace residence and his girlfriend's North Bergen home to store money and cocaine, police…
4 Handguns, Cocaine: Hackensack Man Arrested, Police Say 4 Handguns, Cocaine: Hackensack Man Arrested, Police Say 4 Handguns, Cocaine: Hackensack Man Arrested, Police Say
4 Handguns, Cocaine: Hackensack Man Arrested, Police Say A 36-year-old Hackensack man was arrested on multiple weapons and drug charges, Thursday, Jan. 22, authorities said. A search of Terrell Loyd's apartment and self stroage unit led to the recovery of four handguns, including a defaced Taurus G2C 9mm pistol, Hackensack police said. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition were seized, including armor piercing ammunition, a 9mm magazine with a 30 round drum attachment, and other illegal large magazines, police said.  Approximately one kilogram of cocaine with an approximate street value of $18,600, packaging materials for distribution, and a kilo…
Kingpin Captured In $15B 'Pig-Butchering' Crypto Scheme Using Slave Labor Kingpin Captured In $15B 'Pig-Butchering' Crypto Scheme Using Slave Labor Kingpin Captured In $15B 'Pig-Butchering' Crypto Scheme Using Slave Labor
Kingpin Captured In $15B 'Pig-Butchering' Crypto Scheme Using Slave Labor The suspected kingpin of one of the world's largest online scam and slave-labor operations has been captured, authorities said. Chen Zhi, 38, was arrested in Cambodia and extradited to China this week, according to Cambodian officials. US prosecutors have accused Chen, also known as "Vincent," of leading the Prince Group's network of "scam compounds," forcing trafficked workers to trick victims into fake cryptocurrency investments. In October 2025, Chen was indicted in the Eastern District of New York on conspiracy charges related to wire fraud and money laundering. Justice D…
Hamilton Father, Son Charged In Narcotics, Weapons Bust: Police Hamilton Father, Son Charged In Narcotics, Weapons Bust: Police Hamilton Father, Son Charged In Narcotics, Weapons Bust: Police
Hamilton Father, Son Charged In Narcotics, Weapons Bust: Police A father and son from Mercer County were arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 25, following a lengthy narcotics and weapons investigation in Hamilton, authorities said. Matthew Eckel and his son Kyle, who both lived on Independence Avenue, were taken into custody after detectives executed several search warrants as part of  an investigation into drug distribution in the community, Hamilton police said. Kyle Eckel was charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 25 pounds of marijuana, along with Oxycodone, morphine, Xanax, and Psilocybin mushrooms, police said. He was also charged…
200 Pounds Of Pot Seized; 6 Charged In Bergen County Drug Probe: Prosecutor 200 Pounds Of Pot Seized; 6 Charged In Bergen County Drug Probe: Prosecutor 200 Pounds Of Pot Seized; 6 Charged In Bergen County Drug Probe: Prosecutor
200 Pounds Of Pot Seized; 6 Charged In Bergen County Drug Probe: Prosecutor Six people have been charged in connection with a large-scale marijuana distribution operation that stretched across four New Jersey counties, authorities announced Monday, Nov. 24. In December 2023, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Narcotic Task Force, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), began investigating a marijuana distribution operation in Bergen County, Prosecutor Mark Musella said. As the investigation progressed, authorities determined the suspected network extended into Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, dete…
Bronx Mailbox Thieves Hit Maywood 3 Times In 3 Weeks, Cops Say Bronx Mailbox Thieves Hit Maywood 3 Times In 3 Weeks, Cops Say Bronx Mailbox Thieves Hit Maywood 3 Times In 3 Weeks, Cops Say
Bronx Mailbox Thieves Hit Maywood 3 Times In 3 Weeks, Cops Say Thieves have targeted a Maywood mailbox three times in recent weeks, including two arrests after officers caught suspects in the act late last month, local Police said. The first incident happened on Monday, Oct. 27, at 2:38 a.m., when Sgt. Peter Donatello and Officer Steven Galesi responded to the Maywood Post Office on West Pleasant Avenue after spotting a suspect on surveillance actively attempting to steal mail from a mailbox, Maywood Police Sgt. William Phayre said.  Officers arrived and detained two suspects, identified as Enyer Portes-Herrera, 22, of the Bronx, and Justin Gonzal…
Madison DPW Worker Among 3 Busted In Major Drug, Gun Ring: Prosecutor Madison DPW Worker Among 3 Busted In Major Drug, Gun Ring: Prosecutor Madison DPW Worker Among 3 Busted In Major Drug, Gun Ring: Prosecutor
Madison DPW Worker Among 3 Busted In Major Drug, Gun Ring: Prosecutor A months-long drug investigation across Morris County led to the arrest of three people and the seizure of guns, cash, and a large stash of drugs, authorities said Friday, Nov. 14. Investigators executed search warrants on November 13, 2025, at homes in Cedar Knolls and Parsippany-Troy Hills, along with four vehicles and a storage unit in Parsippany, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll said. A search of the Cedar Knolls home turned up approximately 24 grams of suspected ketamine, approximately 10 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 20 pills of suspected MDMA, over 6 ounces of…
MLB Rocked By Alleged Gambling Scheme: Players Accused Of Fixing Pitches For Payouts MLB Rocked By Alleged Gambling Scheme: Players Accused Of Fixing Pitches For Payouts MLB Rocked By Alleged Gambling Scheme: Players Accused Of Fixing Pitches For Payouts
MLB Rocked By Alleged Gambling Scheme: Players Accused Of Fixing Pitches For Payouts Two Major League Baseball pitchers have been indicted on federal charges for their alleged roles in a scheme to rig bets on pitches during Major League Baseball games, according to the US Department of Justice for the Eastern District of New York.  The indictment, unsealed Sunday, Nov. 9, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, charges the players, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians, with wire fraud conspiracy and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. It also includes charges of conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. …
Maryland ‘Clown’ Who Scammed 80-Year-Old Virginia Woman Out Of $26K Busted In Sting: Sheriff Maryland ‘Clown’ Who Scammed 80-Year-Old Virginia Woman Out Of $26K Busted In Sting: Sheriff Maryland ‘Clown’ Who Scammed 80-Year-Old Virginia Woman Out Of $26K Busted In Sting: Sheriff
Maryland ‘Clown’ Who Scammed 80-Year-Old Virginia Woman Out Of $26K Busted In Sting: Sheriff An 80-year-old Virginia woman was conned out of more than $26,000 by crooks posing as US Treasury agents — until detectives set a trap that ended with a Maryland man in cuffs, officials said. The suspect, James Smith, 30, of Gaithersburg, was arrested after showing up to grab another $10,000 in cash from the victim, the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office said.  Deputies were waiting. Smith had already squeezed $26,000 from the woman over several days, investigators said.  He and others pretended to be Treasury agents, threatening the woman with “criminal charges” unless she handed…
East Orange Brothers Ran Massive Heroin Mill Pumping Out 'Sexy Red,' 'No Diddy,' Sheriff Says East Orange Brothers Ran Massive Heroin Mill Pumping Out 'Sexy Red,' 'No Diddy,' Sheriff Says East Orange Brothers Ran Massive Heroin Mill Pumping Out 'Sexy Red,' 'No Diddy,' Sheriff Says
East Orange Brothers Ran Massive Heroin Mill Pumping Out 'Sexy Red,' 'No Diddy,' Sheriff Says Two brothers from East Orange are accused of running a heroin trafficking ring that stretched from New Jersey into The Bronx, where investigators say they uncovered a multi-million-dollar heroin mill. Detectives began tracking the operation earlier this year, following the Darling brothers from their East Orange home into multiple counties, Essex County Sheriff Amir D. Jones said. Search warrants led authorities to Saddle Brook, Middlesex County, and ultimately 2505 Aqueduct Avenue in The Bronx, where the heroin was processed and packaged for sale, Jones said, Inside the Bronx location…
Stamford Investor Stole $34M For Luxury Life In Brazil, Now He’s Going to Prison: DOJ Stamford Investor Stole $34M For Luxury Life In Brazil, Now He’s Going to Prison: DOJ Stamford Investor Stole $34M For Luxury Life In Brazil, Now He’s Going to Prison: DOJ
Stamford Investor Stole $34M For Luxury Life In Brazil, Now He’s Going to Prison: DOJ A Stamford man who ran a phony Greenwich hedge fund and lived in luxury hotels in Brazil with stolen investor money has been sentenced to federal prison, authorities said.  Justin C. Murphy, 50, was ordered to serve four and a half years behind bars and three years of supervised release for operating a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme, the US Attorney for Connecticut Said.   US District Judge Victor A. Bolden also ordered him to pay more than $3.7 million in restitution. Federal prosecutors said Murphy owned and operated Greenwich-based Mara Investment Group, LLC, which he …