Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds
Two Newark Men Plead Guilty To Trafficking Fentanyl: Feds Two Newark men pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 18 to being members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues, authorities said. From January 2014 through September 2020, Thomas Padovano, 50, and Bartholomew Padovano, 72, agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methylone, and ketamine, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. The Padovanos placed orders with a source in China and distributed the controlled substances and analogues in Ne…
Mahwah Mansion Seized From Chinese Billionaire Fraudster Listed At $33M Mahwah Mansion Seized From Chinese Billionaire Fraudster Listed At $33M
Mahwah Mansion Seized From Chinese Billionaire Fraudster Listed At $33M A historic Bergen County estate seized from a Chinese billionaire indicted in a $1 billion fraud scheme last year has hit the market for $33 million. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carl Gambino (@carlgambino.realestate) 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 loc…
Mays Landing Man Who Stole $50K From Grieving Families In Headstone Scam Indicted: Prosecutors Mays Landing Man Who Stole $50K From Grieving Families In Headstone Scam Indicted: Prosecutors
Mays Landing Man Who Stole $50K From Grieving Families In Headstone Scam Indicted: Prosecutors A Mays Landing man who operated a headstone business has been indicted after he was accused of defrauding more than 30 grieving families out of about $50,000, authorities said. A grand jury handed down the indictment against 71-year-old Jiolio "Joe" Cincotti on Thursday, Dec. 12, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. He was charged with third-degree theft by deception and money laundering offenses after taking payments for headstones that were never delivered. Investigators said between October 2020 and December 2023, Cincotti owned and operated Atlantic …
Wharton Man Gets Decade For Dealing Cocaine: Prosecutor Wharton Man Gets Decade For Dealing Cocaine: Prosecutor
Wharton Man Gets Decade For Dealing Cocaine: Prosecutor A 38-year-old Wharton man was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on Friday, Dec. 6 after previously pleading guilty to distributing cocaine, authorities said. Paul Agosto was originally arrested in 2022 following an investigation by the Sussex County Guns, Gangs and Narcotics Task Force along with multiple other law enforcement agencies including the United States Postal Service and the Morris County Prosecutors Office,  Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said. Agosto pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiring with others to…
Romanian Duo Charged in $289K Bitcoin-For-Fake-Gold Cryptocurrency Scam In Bergen County Romanian Duo Charged in $289K Bitcoin-For-Fake-Gold Cryptocurrency Scam In Bergen County
Romanian Duo Charged in $289K Bitcoin-For-Fake-Gold Cryptocurrency Scam In Bergen County A year-long investigation has led to charges against two Romanian men accused of orchestrating a cryptocurrency scam involving fake gold and Bitcoin valued at approximately $289,000, and a Bergen County victim, authorities said. The suspects, 33-year-old Ciprian A. Tiber and 43-year-old Ahmed Zarei, remain at large and are believed to have returned to Romania following the alleged fraudulent transaction in September 2023, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced. The investigation began when Hasbrouck Heights police contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crime…
Newton Man Gets 5 Years For Pocketing $1.2 Million In Stolen Funds Via E-mail Scheme: AG Newton Man Gets 5 Years For Pocketing $1.2 Million In Stolen Funds Via E-mail Scheme: AG
Newton Man Gets 5 Years For Pocketing $1.2 Million In Stolen Funds Via E-mail Scheme: AG A 64-year-old Newton man who admitted to aiding an international business email compromise scheme was sentenced to five years in state prison on Friday, Dec. 6, authorities said. Robert Herburger received over $1.2 million in stolen funds between November 2017 and July 2018, according to Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Office of Securities Fraud and Financial Crimes Prosecutions. Herburger set up fake businesses and opened bank accounts to launder funds stolen through the BEC schemes, Platkin said. These scams often involve fraudulent emails designed to trick employees into sending…
Secret Rutgers Drug Network Exposed: Seven Arrested In Undercover Bust, Prosecutors Say Secret Rutgers Drug Network Exposed: Seven Arrested In Undercover Bust, Prosecutors Say
Secret Rutgers Drug Network Exposed: Seven Arrested In Undercover Bust, Prosecutors Say A covert social media network used by Rutgers University students to buy and sell drugs led to seven arrests following a months-long investigation, authorities said. The seven were arrested as part of the "Operation RU Pharm" investigation, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said in a news release on Thursday, Dec. 5. The undercover operation exposed a private social media network used by Rutgers students to distribute and purchase drugs. Investigators said they uncovered the online platform created by a former Rutgers student. Dealers posted menus of drugs for students w…
Westfield Man Admits To Defrauding COVID Relief Fund Of $900K: Feds Westfield Man Admits To Defrauding COVID Relief Fund Of $900K: Feds
Westfield Man Admits To Defrauding COVID Relief Fund Of $900K: Feds A 66-year-old Westfield man recently admitted to fraudulently obtaining a $900,000 PPP loan during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities said.  Joseph McKeon applied for PPP loans on behalf of his New Jersey company, falsely claiming a higher number of employees and inflated payroll figures, US Attorney Philip Sellinger said. To support his claims, McKeon submitted forged documents, including bank statements and tax returns, Sellinger said. McKeon withdrew significant amounts of cash and transferred portions of the money, including a $315,504 transaction to an Indiana title company, Selli…
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five In Orange, Saratoga Counties Plead Guilty, NY AG Says $4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five In Orange, Saratoga Counties Plead Guilty, NY AG Says
$4.4M Medicaid Fraud Scheme: Five In Orange, Saratoga Counties Plead Guilty, NY AG Says Five Hudson Valley and Capital Region residents and seven transportation companies have admitted to stealing millions from Medicaid. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday, Dec. 5, that five have pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4.4 million from New York’s Medicaid program through fake billing, illegal kickbacks, and engaging in money laundering and other fraudulent schemes to conceal their crimes.  Muhammad Rizwan Khan, 38, Muhammad Usman Khan, 40, and Farhan Khan, 29, all of Orange County, and their related companies pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Or…
19 Arrested During Targeted Crackdown On Drugs, Guns In Atlantic City: Police 19 Arrested During Targeted Crackdown On Drugs, Guns In Atlantic City: Police
19 Arrested During Targeted Crackdown On Drugs, Guns In Atlantic City: Police Nearly 20 people have been arrested in a major crackdown on drugs and illegal guns in Atlantic City, authorities said. The Atlantic City Police Department announced the 19 arrests in a news release on Wednesday, Nov. 27. A weeks-long operation targeted drug activity and "quality-of-life issues" in the neighborhoods surrounding Florida, Bellevue, and Texas avenues. Police seized 195 bags of heroin, more than 117 grams of cocaine, five grams of methamphetamine, 11 ecstasy pills, various prescription drugs, and two guns. Several vehicles, including an illegal dirt bike, wer…
Bronx Man Found With Loaded Handgun, High-Capacity Mag In Little Ferry Domestic Dispute: PD Bronx Man Found With Loaded Handgun, High-Capacity Mag In Little Ferry Domestic Dispute: PD
Bronx Man Found With Loaded Handgun, High-Capacity Mag In Little Ferry Domestic Dispute: PD A Bronx man was arrested in Bergen County after police responded to a domestic violence incident and found a loaded handgun and $22,000 in cash, authorities said. Police arrested 20-year-old Kcire Henderson at an apartment on Waterside Drive in Little Ferry on Thursday, Nov. 21 around noon, after responding to reports of a domestic violence incident, according to the police report obtained by Daily Voice. Officers arriving at the scene heard screaming and forced entry into the apartment. There, a man later identified as Kcire Henderson ran from the apartment carrying a red bag but was detai…
West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds
West New York Financial Advisor Gets 3+ Years for $4M Health Care Fraud Scheme: Feds  A 55-year-old West New York financial advisor was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Monday, Nov. 18, for orchestrating a $4 million scheme to defraud public health insurance plans, authorities said. Kaival Patel was convicted last December in Camden federal court of conspiracy, health care fraud, and money laundering, US Attorney Phillip Sellinger said. Patel must also pay $4.72 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release, Sellinger said. According to court documents and trial evidence, Patel operated ABC Healthy Living LLC, a company that marketed high-cost c…