Category: CNB CRIME

Detectives Searching for Suspect Involved in Two Collingswood Burglaries

Camden City, N.J. (February 25, 2020)–– Detectives are searching for a man believed to be involved in two separate Collingswood burglaries Feb 22, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Collingswood Police Chief Kevin Carey.

Surveillance footage from Virginia Avenue

Surveillance footage from Virginia Avenue

Just before 11 a.m. Saturday, a victim arrived at their home on the 400 block of Virginia Avenue to find a man inside. Detectives said he told the victim to get on the ground before he left. Police learned surveillance cameras outside of the home captured him leaving wearing a distinct shirt underneath a black sweatshirt.

Through the investigation, detectives found video of a man entering CVS on the White Horse Pike not long after the burglary. In the video, the man was wearing a multicolored zip-up with a shirt underneath that matched the shirt from the burglary.

Later the same day, the man is captured on a Ring doorbell camera breaking into a home on the 400 block of Champion Avenue around 12:30 p.m. In the video, the man is wearing the same multicolored zip-up from the CVS footage.

Footage from a inside home on the 400 block of Champion Avenue

Footage from a home on the 400 block of Champion Avenue

Investigators are looking into these two cases together, but said it’s unclear if this man has any involvement with the Feb. 23 home invasion on Crestmont Terrace.

If you have any information that could help identify the man seen in the surveillance footage, contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Mike Batista at 856-676-8175 or Collingswood Sgt. William Lyons at 609-868-0266.

Tips may also be emailed to

ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

.

Drug Dealer Tareese Brown Charged with Death of Medford Twp. Customer

Rashan Demby (left) and Tareese Brown, both of Camden City

MOUNT HOLLY NJ (February 25, 2020)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Medford Township Police Chief Richard Meder announced that a 30-year-old Camden drug dealer has been charged with causing the fatal overdose of a Medford Township woman to whom he sold fentanyl-laced heroin and cocaine last year.

Tareese Brown, of the 200 block of Ablett Village in Camden, was charged with Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death (First Degree), ten counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree), ten counts of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree), and two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree).

The investigation began on September 22 after officers from the Medford Township Police Department were called to Club House Lane for a report of an unresponsive 55-year-old female. An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined the woman died of fentanyl and cocaine toxicity.

The investigation determined the drugs that caused the fatal overdose had been purchased from Brown. The investigation also led to charges against Rashan Demby, 33, of the 1200 block of Langham Avenue in Camden. He was charged with two counts each of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree), Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree) and Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree).

Brown was arrested in Camden on February 20 by the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force. Demby was arrested in Mount Holly on February 21 by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department. They are lodged in the Burlington County Jail awaiting a pre-trial detention hearing.

The case was investigated by the Medford Township Police Department, with assistance from the Prosecutor’s Office Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force. The lead investigator is Medford Township Detective William Knecht.

Brown and Demby will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Angermeier, supervisor of the GGNTF.

All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Shuttered Bucks County Addiction Rehab Center Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Branden Coluccio, 32, of Doylestown, PA entered a guilty plea to a one-count Information, charging him with conspiracy to commit health care

fraud. The charges against the defendant stem from federal and state investigations into elaborate insurance fraud schemes involving a Bucks and Montgomery County-based addiction treatment center, Liberation Way.

The investigations exposed an array of health care fraud schemes committed by individuals associated with Liberation Way, including an over-billing scheme connected with the facility’s medical director, as well as an elaborate kick-back scheme involving thousands of medically-unnecessary urine tests which were sent to Florida-based laboratories for analysis. Coluccio, a co-founder of Liberation Way, participated in yet another scheme by fraudulently purchasing premium insurance policies for prospective patients on their behalf, which then allowed Liberation Way to bill insurance companies for expensive “treatment” purportedly provided to these patients. Liberation Way represented that the patients were buying and paying for these policies themselves, when in reality Liberation Way was paying the premiums, which is illegal.

The defendant pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone today, pursuant to a plea agreement which recommends that the Court impose a 37-month sentence. The agreement also requires payment of over $3 million in restitution, as well as additional forfeiture, by the time of sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2020.

This case was investigated in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and is the fifth federal Information that has been filed against defendants associated with Liberation Way. The four other defendants — Dr. Dominick Braccia, Dr. Ramesh Sarvaiya, Jesse Peters, and Jason Gerner – have all pleaded guilty. The latter three have yet to be sentenced. Dr. Braccia was sentenced by Judge Beetlestone in September 2019 to a term of 37 months in prison.

“Liberation Way was essentially a front for several multi-layered, years-long schemes that crossed state lines and victimized hundreds of people who needed help,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “The convictions coming out of this case send a clear message to those attempting to profit from fraud and the despair of individuals battling addiction: if you behave in this manner, you will be held accountable. We have been proud to work with the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General and our federal agency partners to bring all of the defendants in this case to justice.”

“The defendant took advantage of vulnerable people and their families for profit,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “I’m proud of the hard work done by The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of Attorney General to hold these individuals accountable.”

“Coluccio admitted to defrauding federal health care programs and compounded his crime by seizing on the plight of drug-addicted patients,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, of the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “We will continue to work with our State and Federal law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of all HHS Programs.”

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Labor. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Beam Winter and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy Christ and Robert Labar, both of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 JENNIFER CRANDALL Media Contact 215-861-8300 If you have not done so already, follow @USAO_EDPA and @USAttyMcSwain on Twitter to get the most up-to-date information about big cases and community news.

Northern State Prison Correctional Officer Sentenced for Smuggling Fentanyl/Marijuana to Inmate

TRENTON –Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a former senior correctional police officer at Northern State Prison in Newark, N.J., was sentenced to prison today for smuggling fentanyl and marijuana to an inmate in the prison in exchange for money.

Roberto Reyes-Jackson, 31, of Irvington, N.J., was sentenced to four years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Verna G. Leath in Essex County. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 10, 2019 to conspiracy to commit official misconduct. He forfeited his job as a result of his guilty plea and is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.

Deputy Attorney General Samantha McCluskey prosecuted the case and handled the sentencing for the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). Reyes-Jackson was indicted in 2017 in an investigation by OPIA and the Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division.

The state’s investigation revealed that between September and December 2016, Reyes-Jackson smuggled multiple single-dose wax folds of a powder compound laced with fentanyl to inmate Aaron Copeland. He also smuggled a small amount of marijuana to Copeland. The smuggling came to light in December 2016, when prison staff discovered a bag of marijuana in Copeland’s cell and two wax folds of fentanyl. A full search of the cell revealed additional marijuana and fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Reyes-Jackson accepted hundreds of dollars in bribes from Copeland’s girlfriend, Tyeesha Powell, to smuggle drugs into the prison. Copeland, in turn, distributed the drugs to other inmates, who paid him by having friends or relatives outside the prison wire money to Powell.

“By agreeing to smuggle fentanyl to an inmate in Northern State Prison, Reyes-Jackson put lives at risk,” said Attorney General Grewal. “Fentanyl is so potent that minute amounts can result in overdose and death. This prison sentence holds Reyes-Jackson accountable for betraying his duty and callously disregarding the safety and welfare of his fellow officers as well as inmates in the prison.”

“When a correction officer conspires with an inmate to break the law, it poses a grave threat to safety and security in the prison, particularly when a dangerous drug like fentanyl is involved,” said Director Thomas Eicher of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “We will continue to work closely with the Department of Corrections to ensure that any officer who corruptly compromises safety in a correctional facility is aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”

“We have an uncompromising commitment to ensuring safety in our facilities and a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who violates that safety,” said New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, Esq.  “The overwhelming majority of the New Jersey Department of Corrections staff operate with integrity. Those who do not must be held accountable for their actions.”

Copeland, 31, of Newark, pleaded guilty previously to a charge of distribution of fentanyl and faces a recommended sentence of three years in prison, including one year of parole ineligibility, to run consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. Powell, 34, of Pleasantville, N.J., pleaded guilty previously to distribution of fentanyl and faces a recommended sentence of probation. They are awaiting sentencing.

Former Deputy Attorney General Peter Baker presented the case to the state grand jury. Attorney General Grewal commended all of the investigators, detectives and attorneys who conducted the investigation for the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and the Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division. Senior Investigator Patrick Sesulka and Deputy Chief Investigator Edward Soltys conducted the investigation for the Department of Corrections.

FBI Seeks Information on Disappearance, 15 Years Ago Today, of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, Jr.

PHILADELPHIA PA (February 19, 2020)–The FBI, Philadelphia Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Mount Laurel Police Department, and Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office are seeking the public’s assistance as we continue to investigate the disappearance, 15 years ago today, of Danielle (Ottobre) Imbo and Richard Petrone, Jr.

Imbo and Petrone were last seen in the late evening hours of Saturday, February 19, 2005, leaving a bar on Philadelphia’s South Street for Petrone’s black 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck. An extensive investigation to date has generated some promising leads; however, neither they nor the vehicle have ever been located.

This investigation into Danielle and Rich’s disappearance remains open and active, and there is still a $50,000 reward for information on the couple’s whereabouts or for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for their disappearance. The reward is being administered by the Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to call the Citizens Crime Commission tip line at 215-546-TIPS (215-546-8477). Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Resources

DANIELLE IMBO

RICHARD PETRONE

Some South Jersey Mayors, Legislators, Sheriff Work Together to Fight Sanctuary State Policies

The District 1 legislative team joined Cape May Sheriff Bob Nolan and local municipal officials for a conference call with local mayors to discuss the impact of New Jersey’s sanctuary policies on law enforcement and efforts to challenge the intrusive directives from the attorney general.

Last September AG Grewal said New Jersey is not a sanctuary state but in March 2019 the New Jersey

Immigrant Trust Directive

went into effect—essentially ending any cooperation between the State and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) on immigration enforcement matters. See related articles below

“The refusal of Murphy and his attorney general to enforce federal and state immigration laws continues to endanger law-abiding citizens,” said Senator Michael Testa (R-1). “Not only is the Murphy Administration evading our laws, they are treating illegal aliens to drivers’ licenses, college financial aid, and lawyers to fight deportation. Sheriff Nolan has my unyielding support in his struggle to protect New Jersey families from crimes committed by illegal aliens who have no respect for our laws and no fear of the consequences.”

Sanctuary

directives

from Attorney General Grewal prevent law enforcement agencies from honoring federal detainer requests to hold illegal immigrants who have been arrested or jailed for criminal activity in New Jersey until they can be transferred to federal immigration authorities.

“Politics should never interfere with public safety, but these ‘liberal policies’ handed down by the progressives in Trenton are handcuffing law enforcers and preventing them from doing their jobs,” said Assemblyman Antwan McClellan (R-1). “We will continue to stand with the Sheriff and all members of the law enforcement community who work every day to keep our communities safe.”

Grewal’s directives also restrict other types of cooperation between local, state, and federal authorities that could help keep New Jersey families safe and blocks federal immigration authorities from accessing local law enforcement databases.

“Hard-working residents who follow the rules and do the right things are being treated like second-class citizens,” said Assemblyman Erik Simonsen (R-1), whose family includes immigrants who came here legally. “The governor and attorney general should be working on behalf of state residents, not putting them at risk.”

Sheriff Nolan signed on to a federal program, committing to coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies when illegal immigrants are processed through Cape May County’s jail.

In October, Grewal moved to block the program. The issue is currently in the courts.

“I appreciate the support of the District 1 legislators who share my concern with irresponsible immigration policies that make illegal immigrants a protected class immune from our laws,” said Nolan. “Together, we will continue to fight for the interests of the residents of Cape May County and the rest of the state.”

The LD 1 team of Testa, McClellan and Simonsen said they will continue to provide Cape May County constituents with updates on legislative efforts to fight sanctuary policies and the ongoing court case.

RELATED:

AG GREWAL:

STOP CALLING NEW JERSEY A SANCTUARY STATE

It’s Official: New Jersey Is a Sanctuary State

Authorities Search for Suspect Allegedly Behind Collingswood Home Invasion and Fire

Camden City, N.J.(February 23, 2020)– – Investigators are searching for a man who reportedly broke into a Collingswood home, attacked one occupant and tied another victim up before setting the house on fire, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Collingswood Police Chief Kevin Carey.

Firefighters responded to a home on the 200 block of Crestmont Terrace just before 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23. After putting the fire out, firefighters found one victim suffering from injuries not caused by the fire.

After investigating, detectives learned a man allegedly broke in, attacked one victim and tied the other up while demanding money. He then set the house on fire before leaving, according to investigators.

One of the victims described the man as thin and darker-skinned with a short beard and dark hair wearing a yellow winter hat and a yellow and black zip-up sweatshirt.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Mike Batista at 856-676-8175 or Collingswood Police Sgt. William Lyons at 609-868-0266.

Tips may also be emailed to

ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

.

Abdullah S. Bryant Sentenced for Dumping Solid Waste Material under Highways in Newark

TRENTON

– Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a man was sentenced today for illegally dumping huge quantities of solid waste from his rubbish removal business at unauthorized

sites underneath highways in Newark, N.J.

Abdullah S. Bryant, 41, of Newark, N.J., who did business under various names, including International Rubbish Removal, was sentenced to three years of probation and 300 hours of community service by Superior Court Judge Mayra V. Tarantino in Essex County. Bryant pleaded guilty on Nov. 22, 2019 to a charge of third-degree criminal mischief. The state had requested a sentence of 364 days in the county jail as a condition of probation, but the judge imposed a sentence of noncustodial probation. Bryant will be required to pay restitution for the costs of clean-ups conducted at the dumping sites, in an amount to be determined in a separate court hearing.

Deputy Attorney General Gezim Bajrami prosecuted Bryant for the Division of Criminal Justice. Bryant was indicted in an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, Environmental Crimes Unit, assisted by the DOT Office of the Inspector General, New Jersey Transit Police Department, and Amtrak Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Labor, and Department of Health.

The investigation revealed that Bryant illegally collected, transported and dumped more than 100 cubic yards of solid waste at a site owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) underneath elevated sections of I-78 and U.S. Route 22 between Frelinghuysen Avenue and the Northeast Corridor Rail Line. He also illegally dumped an unspecified quantity of solid waste on DOT- and Amtrak-owned property located under the Route 21 overpass near Poinier Street. The illegal dumping occurred between January 2016 and April 2017.

“We are committed to protecting New Jersey’s environment and the health of our residents using every tool at our disposal, including both civil actions and criminal prosecutions,” said Attorney General Grewal. “It is especially important that we hold polluters accountable when they dump waste and hazardous materials in disadvantaged areas, believing that no one will care. We absolutely do care, and we are stepping up our environmental enforcement efforts statewide to crack down on such crimes.”

“The judge in this case did not impose the 364-day jail sentence that we requested under the terms of the plea agreement, but Bryant is now a convicted felon who is responsible for paying restitution for the cleanups conducted at these sites,” Attorney General Grewal added. “These are not victimless crimes; they are crimes that victimize entire communities. We intend to work even harder to ensure that polluters face justice and that all of our residents can live and work in a clean, healthy environment.”

In October 2019, Attorney General Grewal issued a new Environmental Crimes Handbook to train law enforcement officers across New Jersey about the range of environmental crimes defined in the state criminal code and to encourage stronger enforcement efforts to root out such crimes and hold violators accountable:

https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases19/Environmental-Crimes-Handbook.pdf

“We have zero tolerance for polluters who threaten our environment and the welfare of our residents through their illegal activities,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Our Environmental Crimes Unit will continue to work with government partners and law enforcement at all levels to prosecute those who harm our communities by illegally dumping waste.”

In March 2017, the DOT Office of the Inspector General alerted the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) about the illegal dump site under I-78 and U.S. 22. Later that month, the NJ Transit Police alerted DCJ about the second illegal dump site under Route 21. DCJ investigators inspected the sites and found extensive quantities of solid waste at each location. The debris field under I-78/U.S. 22 was roughly 1,000 feet long by 500 feet wide. The debris field under Route 21 was about 1,200 feet long and 50 to 150 feet in width. The solid waste included, among other things, household items, discarded paper, construction materials, flammables, asbestos, medical waste, lead paint, and other hazardous materials.

Investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice examined the solid waste to identify suspected points of origin. They conducted numerous interviews at the source locations, identifying Bryant as the individual who was paid to remove waste from those locations. Bryant was not authorized by the DEP to collect solid waste or dispose of it at the sites in question, as required by state law.

The DOT and its contractors conducted a cleanup at the illegal dump site under I-78 and U.S. 22, and Amtrak hired contractors to conduct a cleanup at the illegal dump site under Route 21. The I-78 site is the same elevated stretch of I-78 that suffered severe structural damage in August 1989 due to an illegal solid waste dump that caught fire.

Deputy Attorney General Gezim Bajrami presented the case to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, Environmental Crimes Unit, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Jacqueline Smith and former Bureau Chief Andrew Johns. Detective Sgt. Steven Ogulin was the lead detective for the Division of Criminal Justice. Attorney General Grewal thanked the DOT Office of the Inspector General, New Jersey Transit Police Department, Amtrak Police Department, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Labor, and Department of Health.

Lawmakers Put Pennsylvania State Police On \”The Hot Seat\”

By Christen Smith |

The Center Square

House lawmakers grilled the Pennsylvania State Police on Thursday over the governor’s proposal to raise $136 million for the agency via municipality service fees that some see as akin to a tax increase.

“We were told this is a no tax increase budget, but in order to afford this, municipalities will have to probably raise property taxes,” said Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Fayette, during a House Appropriations Committee meeting.

“I think it’s up to the municipalities whether they want to raise taxes or find another way to fund it,” PSP Col. Robert Evanchick said.

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed that the Legislature adopt a weighted formula that would charge municipalities for the state police services they use, rather than borrowing from the Motor License Fund to cover the bill each year. About two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s 2,560 municipalities rely on state police coverage instead of a local department.

Critics argue the service fee disproportionately shifts the burden onto taxpayers in poorer rural districts who would pay more per person than those in wealthier, more populated areas.

Prior proposals from Wolf’s administration used sliding scales and flat fees to generate additional funds, but never gained traction within the Legislature. The latest version is “predicated on station coverage costs based on incidents and coverage area and considers other factors like population and income,” according to the administration’s budget summary.

In Tioga County’s Delmar Township, for example, PSP would collect $32.92 per resident to fund the $92,000 it spends annually to maintain full-time coverage. Philadelphia residents, by comparison, would pay just 97 cents per person to cover the $1.5 million in PSP expenditures incurred there each year.

“Is this the best way?” Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, asked. “We all want to make sure you have the funding you need, but is this the best way to fill that $136 million gap?”

“To add one more fee or tax or whatever you want to call it is a big ask for me,” said Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga.

Evanchick defended the formula as a fair representation of expenditures at each of its stations and said the department tried to limit the impact on the municipalities with more needs.

“We are concerned about the rural communities because that’s where we should be doing our greater work,” he said. “We understand that these communities don’t have resources out there.”

Rep. John Lawrence, R-Chester, pressed PSP on the amount of free police coverage it provides at public events. In 2019, Evanchick said the agency staffed more than 111,000 events for free– including protests and little league baseball games. PSP also received $1.5 million in reimbursements for covering professional and college sporting events, he said, such as Eagles games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

“We looted the Motor License Fund to pay the state police while the Eagles, Penn State and the Farm Show are getting a free ride on behalf of the Pennsylvania taxpayers?” Lawrence said. “We should really be taking a look at that.”

Evanchick again clarified that Lawrence’s statements weren’t “entirely true,” noting that the department had been paid for covering certain events.

Wolf’s budget also proposes a $13 million appropriation to fund four cadet classes to replace the 200 troopers expected to retire next year. Evanchick said PSP staffing levels are at a 10-year high, reaching 4,719 in 2019.

Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, said despite the record amount of troopers currently employed, the numbers alone highlight the limitations of the agency.

“I think there’s room for both local and state police in Pennsylvania,” he said. “With your complement, you can’t do everything. It’s impossible, with your numbers, to solve everything out there.”

published here by The Gloucestercitynews.net with permission of

The Center Square

Two People Shot Inside Maple Shade Apt., One Dead

MAPLE SHADE – Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Maple Shade Township Police Chief Christopher Fletcher announced that two people were shot inside a Lenola Road apartment building this afternoon, including a 22-year-old woman who later died at a Camden hospital.

The investigation began after Maple Shade police officers were called to The Arbors apartment complex just before 2:30 p.m. for a report of a shooting.

Upon arrival they found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds in the hallway outside a unit on the seventh floor.

Both victims were transported to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, where the woman, Kayla Winkler, 22, was pronounced dead. The male, Ramek Bass, 24, of Philadelphia, was treated and released for a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Winkler resided in the unit where the shooting occurred. She and Bass were acquaintances.

The details surrounding the shooting are being investigated by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Maple Shade Township Police Department. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to call Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113, or send an email to tips@co.burlington.nj.us or tips@mapleshadepd.com.