Fake Cops, Real Crimes: Paterson Crew Busted In $190K Bergen County Bail Scam: Prosecutor Fake Cops, Real Crimes: Paterson Crew Busted In $190K Bergen County Bail Scam: Prosecutor
Fake Cops, Real Crimes: Paterson Crew Busted In $190K Bergen County Bail Scam: Prosecutor Three Paterson residents have been arrested in connection with a phony bail bond scam that swindled nearly $190,000 from unsuspecting victims across Bergen County, authorities announced. Yasen R. Delgado, 26; Ahjainay N. Gawthney, 27; and Delareese Delgado, 31, were taken into custody on Thursday, Feb. 27, following a multi-agency investigation, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The suspects are accused of posing as law enforcement officers and bail bondsmen, calling victims and threatening them with arrest warrants for missing court dates or jury duty. Victims were told to hand o…
Two Women In Their 60s Engaged In Prostitution At Denville Spa: Prosecutor Two Women In Their 60s Engaged In Prostitution At Denville Spa: Prosecutor
Two Women In Their 60s Engaged In Prostitution At Denville Spa: Prosecutor A woman running a spa in Morris County was arrested and charged after authorities say her spa was offering some extra services. Soon Bang, a 63-year-old Fairview resident, ran a prostitution business at Oasis Spa on Route 10 in Denville, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Denville Police Chief Frank Perna said. A search of the spa turned up a large quantity of U.S. currency, authorities said. Bang, and Yushun Li, 67, of Flushing, New York, engaged in sexual activity in exchange for cash, authorities said. Both women wer…
$5M Fraud: Great Neck Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says $5M Fraud: Great Neck Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says
$5M Fraud: Great Neck Twin Financiers Threatened Witnesses, Fabricated Evidence, DOJ Says Twin financiers Adam and Daniel Kaplan, already charged with defrauding elderly and disabled clients out of millions, are now accused of threatening witnesses and fabricating evidence. The 35-year-old Kaplans, hailing from Long Island’s Great Neck, are named in a fresh superseding indictment that was filed in Central Islip federal court on Thursday, Feb. 20, charging them with an additional count of money laundering. Adam Kaplan was additionally charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and obstruction of justice, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. The new charges pa…
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico
Proposed 25% US Tariff On Canadian Goods Will Be Paused After Earlier Deal With Mexico Just hours after a similar agreement was reached with Mexico, the United States has agreed to paused planned tariffs on Canadian goods for 30 days. The deal was reached late Monday afternoon, Feb. 3 after President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded their second conversation of the day. "I just had a good call with President Trump," Trudeau said in a statement announcing that Canada is implementing a $1.3 billion border plan  "reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increase…
Luchese Soldier From Elmsford, Associates Admit Role in Mafia Gambling Scheme Luchese Soldier From Elmsford, Associates Admit Role in Mafia Gambling Scheme
Luchese Soldier From Elmsford, Associates Admit Role in Mafia Gambling Scheme A high-ranking member of the Luchese crime family and several associates from Westchester have pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and illegal gambling as part of a sweeping federal case targeting organized crime, officials announced.  Anthony Villani, a 60-year-old Elmsford resident and a soldier in the Luchese crime family, entered his guilty plea on Thursday, Jan. 30 in federal court in Brooklyn. As part of his plea deal, he will forfeit $4 million in illicit proceeds, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.  Villani was one of…
Secaucus Prostitution Ring Courier Surveilled Hotels Across NJ: Police Secaucus Prostitution Ring Courier Surveilled Hotels Across NJ: Police
Secaucus Prostitution Ring Courier Surveilled Hotels Across NJ: Police A 41-year-old Paterson man was arrested and charged on Thursday, Jan. 30 with working as a courier for a prostitution ring in Secaucus, authorities said. Roland Jiimenenz-Rodriguez was surveilled at various hotels/motels in Secaucus along with others in Bergen and Middlesex Counties, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said. Jiimenez-Rodriguez would meet with prostitutes at the hotels/motels to collect money from them and then deposit the illegal gains into a bank in Paterson, Miller said.  Jiimenez-Rodriguez would then electronically disburse the funds, laundering thousands of d…
$33K Laundered, Vehicles Sold To Drug Traffickers By Lancaster Car Dealership: USDOJ $33K Laundered, Vehicles Sold To Drug Traffickers By Lancaster Car Dealership: USDOJ
$33K Laundered, Vehicles Sold To Drug Traffickers By Lancaster Car Dealership: Usdoj A Lancaster car dealership laundered more than $33,000 in drug money through vehicle sales, leading to federal prison sentences for two men, prosecutors announced on Monday, Jan. 27. Christopher Lopez, 41, and Michael Torres, 43, both of Lancaster, were sentenced after being convicted of conspiring to launder cash proceeds represented as cocaine sales, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Lopez, the owner of C&D Motorsports, received one year and one day in prison, while Torres, a salesperson, was sentenced to six months. Both were also orde…
Teller Stole $75K From Wells Fargo In Elizabeth: Prosecutor Teller Stole $75K From Wells Fargo In Elizabeth: Prosecutor
Teller Stole $75K From Wells Fargo In Elizabeth: Prosecutor  A 28-year-old New Yok bank teller was arrested and charged on Wednesday, Jan. 22 with stealing $75,000 from a Wells Fargo branch in Elizabeth, authorities said. Tijah Williams-Rogers committed the theft between 2022 and 2023 while working at the bank, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. Rogers was charged with conspiracy to commit theft, theft, money laundering and unlawful computer access.  This investigation is ongoing, authorities said.
Wanted Gang Leader Busted in Lowell After 3 Years On Run: Feds Wanted Gang Leader Busted in Lowell After 3 Years On Run: Feds
Wanted Gang Leader Busted in Lowell After 3 Years On Run: Feds A Massachusetts man accused of playing a leading role in a dangerous drug trafficking conspiracy was arrested inside a local residence after evading authorities for nearly four years, federal authorities said.  Darasy Chhim, 39, also known by the aliases "Mystickal" and "Rizzus," was taken into custody on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine base, fentanyl, MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine. According to federal prosecutors, Chhim has been wanted since June 2021, when he was indicted alongside 14 co-conspirators. Authorities allege …
Chinese Billionaire Fraudster's Former Mahwah Mansion Is Most Expensive NJ Listing At $33M Chinese Billionaire Fraudster's Former Mahwah Mansion Is Most Expensive NJ Listing At $33M
Chinese Billionaire Fraudster's Former Mahwah Mansion Is Most Expensive NJ Listing At $33M A historic Bergen County estate seized from a Chinese billionaire indicted in a $1 billion fraud scheme last year has become the most expensive residential listing in New Jersey, on the market for $33 million (scroll down to see the complete listing with photos). The Crocker Mansion, located at 675 Ramapo Valley Road in Mahwah, spans 50,000 square feet and sits on 12.5 gated acres. Originally built in 1907, the property features 21 bedrooms, a pool house, tennis courts, and a guest house. It was declared a historic landmark by Mahwah Township due to its unique place in local history. In Mar…
Ringwood Woman Stole $700K From Law Firm: Union County Prosecutor Ringwood Woman Stole $700K From Law Firm: Union County Prosecutor
Ringwood Woman Stole $700K From Law Firm: Union County Prosecutor A 54-year-old Ringwood woman was arrested and charged on Thursday, Dec. 12 with stealing more than $700,000 from the law firm she worked at, authorities said. Between 2018 and 2024 Colleen Hallenbeck, who was employed as a paralegal for a Union County-based law firm, misappropriated funds from various estates handled by the firm, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. Hallenbeck was responsible for distributing funds from estate accounts to beneficiaries. However, she wrote hundreds of unauthorized checks, totaling in excess of $700,000, for deposit into accounts s…
Punched Federal Corrections Officer At PA Prison Lands Kentucky Drug Trafficker Extra 41 Months Punched Federal Corrections Officer At PA Prison Lands Kentucky Drug Trafficker Extra 41 Months
Punched Federal Corrections Officer At PA Prison Lands Kentucky Drug Trafficker Extra 41 Months A Kentucky drug trafficker serving time in Pennsylvania has been sentenced to an additional 41 months in prison for punching a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Allenwood, federal officials announced on Monday, Dec. 23. Demetrius Catching, 34, formerly of Nicholasville, Kentucky, attacked the officer in 2016 while serving a 60-month sentence for distributing crack cocaine. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, will run consecutively to the 148 months Catching is already serving for drug distribution and money laundering convic…