The basis of the charges is evidence obtained by the Attorney General\’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) and presented to a statewide investigating Grand Jury.

\”This family and their co-conspirators stole millions to fund a lifestyle of extravagance and excess,\” Attorney General Kane said. \”Insurance fraud drives up the cost for everyone, including seniors and middle-class families. Even worse, the scheme was facilitated through threats, intimidation and falsely accusing first responders of serious crimes.\”

The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately $7 million in assets, which the Attorney General called \”fruits of the crimes\” that could be used for restitution upon conviction. The assets included approximately $3 million in seized bank accounts, $1.2 million in jewelry, and six Ferraris, two Rolls Royces, one Cobra, and four other vehicles worth $2.8 million.

In sentencing Ficara, Superior Court Judge Kevin T. Smith ordered that the defendant not be eligible for parole until he serves one year of his sentence.

Ficara pleaded guilty to the third-degree terroristic threats offense on 12/1/14. He has been free on $75,000 bail since his arrest on the day of the incident. A restraining order was issued barring him from contact with his wife, from whom he is separated.

In complaints signed after the 2/8/14 incident, Ficara was accused of pointing a handgun at his wife and \”demanding her to beg for forgiveness and apologize.\”

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife in partnership with the Plainfield Division of Recreation will be hosting a free 2-day Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) training for adult staff and volunteers of youth-centered community and/or faith-based organizations looking to offer an ongoing or year-round youth fishing, conservation and aquatic education program. HOFNOD is a great way to introduce youth to fishing, learning about their local water and other natural resources while supporting positive outdoor recreation activities and life skills. The program is flexible enough to be tailored to fit most organizations.

Participants of this training will be responsible for delivering the program to youth from beginning to end. Organizations that participate in the program are eligible to receive: additional professional development in conservation education and angling skills, in-kind support for program materials and supplies including subsidized educational field trips. Supplemental training and recreational opportunities can be requested.

New Jersey State Police Traffic Tip--Your ability to stop and control your vehicle is significantly decreased when roads are wet, snow-covered, and, of course, icy. 

Reducing your speed in these conditions gives you a much better chance of avoiding a collision. Source NJ State Police

Local experts encourage families to take action to help keep seniors out of the hospital

MARLTON, N.J. – January 22, 2015 – As New Jersey plunges into the heart of the winter season, the risk of local seniors being hospitalized spikes to its highest of the year, despite the fact that almost half of these hospitalizations (49 percent) can be avoided with proper prevention.* According to a new study of nurses who work primarily with seniors, January, February and March are the height of hospitalization season for seniors due primarily to respiratory infections, such as flu or pneumonia, and other winter hazards.

The critical factor in reducing this spike in area hospitalizations this winter is family involvement. Nearly all nurses (99 percent) surveyed say that the role families play in keeping seniors out of the hospital is just as important as the role of the medical community.