Burlington County Operation Helping Hand Program Expanded Services

Defendants with offenses related to drug use will be offered treatment services

MT. HOLLY, NJ (February 13, 2020)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that the Burlington County Operation Helping Hand program has expanded services into the municipal court that

serves Burlington City and Burlington Township, with outreach and treatment options being offered to those arrested on nonviolent offenses related to their drug use.

In partnership with the Burlington Township Police Department, the City of Burlington Police Department, and Solstice Counseling and Wellness Center (“Solstice”), the County Prosecutor’s Municipal Court Diversion Initiative (MCDI) seeks to provide intervention to those arrested for drug-related disorderly persons offenses or petty disorderly persons offenses by presenting the opportunity to enter treatment and have their court matter adjourned for a period of time.

At the successful conclusion of treatment, the defendant will return to court to face the charges, hopefully on the path to recovery so that the municipal prosecutor and municipal judge can consider their progress when determining the appropriate disposition or sentence in the case.

“We will continue to explore different options to provide support and assistance to people struggling with addiction,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “Being arrested puts one at a crossroads, and through the MCDI, we will present the opportunity for a person struggling with substance use to start down the road to recovery. We cannot relent in this effort if we hope to conquer this horrific opioid epidemic, which continues to destroy so many lives.”

Prosecutor Coffina emphasized that the MCDI is not a get-out-of-jail-free card, and

enrolling in a treatment program is no guarantee that the charges will be dropped or reduced. However, the municipal prosecutor and judge will give consideration to program participants who make a good-faith effort to pursue treatment, participate in counseling and embrace the recovery process. Assessments, referrals to an appropriate treatment program for each participant, and assistance with aftercare will be provided by Solstice.

The MCDI program is focused specifically on defendants charged with nonviolent offenses in municipal court. Eligible defendants must be referred by a police officer from the City of Burlington or Burlington Township police departments, or by the municipal prosecutor who prosecutes cases in the joint municipal court.

“We are grateful to Burlington County Assignment Judge Jeanne T. Covert, Municipal Court Presiding Judge Dennis McInerney, Municipal Prosecutor Dan Gee, Burlington Township Public Safety Director Bruce Painter, and City of Burlington Police Chief John Fine for their enthusiastic support of this initiative,” Prosecutor Coffina added. “We look forward to working with them and their agencies to offer help to people whose offenses are driven by addiction rather than malice, while still holding them accountable for their actions.”

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This is the third round of Operation Helping Hand that has been launched in Burlington County by the Prosecutor’s Office. During May and August last year, recovery specialists responded to calls around the clock from local police officers to offer support and access to treatment to individuals soon after they had been revived with naloxone following an overdose, were arrested or were simply struggling with addiction.

The pilot MCDI is expected to run through at least August 2020. In addition, this month the Prosecutor’s Office and law enforcement agencies throughout Burlington County are again making recovery specialists available on a 24/7 basis to anyone they believe could benefit from substance abuse treatment or counseling. This initiative, in partnership with the nonprofit City of Angels, will run throughout the month of February, and be reprised in May and July 2020.

Last year, City of Angels recovery specialists had a greater than 80% success rate in having people agree to recovery coaching, and ultimately, over 33% of the people with whom this connection was made went into treatment.

Operation Helping Hand is a law enforcement-initiated outreach program funded through grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and administered by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. The Prosecutor’s current Operation Helping Hand program also includes recovery coach training (see here for more information), a veteran’s initiative, and support for the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department’s Hope One mobile outreach program and the County’s forthcoming recovery resource center, which is expected to open in the summer.

Operation Helping Hand is one of three BCPO initiatives aimed at combatting the opioid epidemic.

Operation Safe Overnight, which began in November 2018, focuses on saving lives and increasing enforcement activity at hotels and motels that have experienced overdoses and drug-related criminal activity. Through this program, with the support of Virtua Health, the BCPO has provided Narcan to county hotels and has also trained hotel employees how to use it to reverse an overdose and save a person’s life.

Straight … to Treatment is a program that allows people to walk off the street and into police stations in three municipalities to seek treatment for drug addiction, regardless of whether they are insured or live in Burlington County.

The Straight … to Treatment program began in Evesham Township in early 2018, expanded to Pemberton Township in September 2018, and to the City of Burlington in April 2019. It has helped connect over 200 people to treatment so far.

Straight … to Treatment Locations and Hours of Operation

Evesham Twp. Police Department, 984 Tuckerton Road, Evesham Township Mondays: noon – 7 p.m.

Pemberton Twp. Police Department, 500 Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, Pemberton Twp. Tuesdays: noon – 6 p.m.

City of Burlington Police Department, 525 High Street, City of Burlington Wednesdays and Thursdays: noon – 6 p.m.

Opioid Treatment

Gang Arrested for Conspiracy to Sell Sanctioned Oil to China Refinery

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain and Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers announced that the following defendants were arrested and charged by Complaint on charges of conspiracy and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) based on their attempt to transact in sanctioned Iranian oil:

Nicholas Hovan, age 33, of New York, NY;

Zhenyu Wang, a/k/a “Bill Wang,” age 39, of Dallas, TX;

Robert Thwaites, age 30, of Dallas, TX;

Nicholas James Fuchs, age 26, of Dallas, TX; and

Daniel Ray Lane, age 38, of McKinney, TX.

The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of violating IEEPA, based on allegations that from July 2019 to February 2020 they conspired in Philadelphia and elsewhere to arrange for the purchase of oil from the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of United States economic sanctions imposed on Iran, for sale to a refinery in China.

The Complaint alleges that defendants Nicholas Hovan, James Fuchs, Robert Thwaites, and Daniel Ray Lane arranged to purchase the illegal oil and sell it to a refinery in China represented by defendant Zhenyu Wang, a/k/a “Bill Wang.”

According to the Complaint, defendant Lane offered to further the conspiracy by laundering money through his company, STACK Royalties. The charges further allege that the defendants agreed to use a Polish shell corporation as a straw seller of the illicit oil, and that they planned two shipments of oil per month going forward, all for an expected profit of roughly $28 million-per-month. In addition, the charges allege that defendants Fuchs and Wang agreed to apply for foreign passports in order to set up offshore accounts that would not be reported to U.S. authorities.

“The defendants in this case allegedly committed serious federal crimes that are in direct contradiction to the United States’ national security interests,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “By devising a scheme to purchase oil from Iran, conceal its origins via a refinery in China and make tremendous profits, the defendants were attempting to enrich both themselves and the nation of Iran — thus jeopardizing the safety and security of the United States and our allies. This type of subversion of U.S. policy and law will not be tolerated: these defendants will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“With the goal of illegally enriching themselves, the defendants conspired for over eight months to devise a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, particularly the ban on foreign oil sales,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “The sale of oil is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy. At the same time the United States was increasing its sanctions in order to pressure Iran to stop its malign activities, these defendants put greed ahead of country. I commend the efforts of the agents and prosecutors who investigated and uncovered this brazen evasion of U.S. law.”

“These defendants allegedly conspired to circumvent economic sanctions enacted to protect the United States’ national security,” said Tara A. McMahon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “In their minds, sanctions weren’t so much an impediment as an opportunity. They thought they could make their millions and escape the United States Government’s notice. Well, as these charges show, they were wrong. The FBI takes sanctions violations extremely seriously and will bring all our investigative resources to bear, to end such harmful and illegal activity.”

If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum possible sentence of 25 years’ incarceration, as well as a maximum possible fine of $1.25 million. Four of the arrests occurred in Philadelphia and one occurred in Texas. The four defendants arrested in Philadelphia had initial appearances in federal court today.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Rinaldi and First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams, in partnership with Trial Attorney David Recker of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterespionage Section.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

NEW JERSEY SPORTSBOOKS HAVE NEVADA IN REACH WITH IMPRESSIVE JANUARY

(ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.) — After a month of milestones and a new record handle that topped $50 million, New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks are positioned to overtake Nevada for the first time since August 2019, according to analysts from

PlayNJ.com

“New Jersey could very well top Nevada, not just in January, but for the foreseeable future,” said Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for

PlayNJ.com

. “And assuming that happens, we could be seeing the beginning of New Jersey’s more permanent place as the top market in the country.”

Spurred by basketball, New Jersey’s online and retail sportsbooks generated $540.1 million in bets, up 71.3% from $385.3 million in January 2019, according to official reporting released Wednesday. In December 2019, sportsbooks generated $557.8 million in bets.

With the NFL Playoffs and college football’s national championship, football generated $129 million in bets. But basketball generated $177.5 million, or 32.9% of the state’s January handle.

Nevada has outdone New Jersey in monthly handle for four consecutive months, beginning with the kickoff of the NFL season. But New Jersey appears to be tracking ahead of Nevada, which generated $497.5 million in January 2019 and has never enjoyed a $500 million January in its history.

“While still the most popular sport in New Jersey, football does not quite command the same share of the sports betting market as it does in Nevada,” Gouker said. “Meanwhile, basketball has proven to be a big winner for the state. That puts New Jersey in prime position over the next few months in its race to become the country’s largest legal sports betting jurisdiction.”

January’s handle yielded a record $53.6 million in revenue, up 285% from $18.8 million won in January 2019 and up from $29.4 million in December. January resulted in $6.6 million in tax revenue for the state.

During the month New Jersey reached three impressive milestones: $6 billion in bets ($6.4 billion), $400 million in revenue ($447.1 million), and $50 million in sports betting taxes ($53.4 million) since the industry launched in June 2018.

Online betting remains the key vehicle for growth, generating $471.1 million, or 87.2% of the state’s January handle. In addition, new betting opportunities could help grow New Jersey’s market in February, including online-conducive Super Bowl prop bets, Oscars betting, and even a modest spike in interest from the XFL.

“New Jersey has been on the leading edge since the sports betting market first launched in 2018,” said Eric Ramsey, analyst for

PlayNJ.com

. “No market has been as innovative, and that is a significant contributor to the rapid maturity of New Jersey’s sports betting industry.”

FanDuel Sportsbook/PointsBet topped the online market once again with $22.2 million in gross revenue, up from $12.1 million in December. Resorts Digital, which is anchored by DraftKings and Fox Bet, generated $15.9 million, up from $9.1 million.

The online market leaders were followed by:

Monmouth/William Hill/Sugarhouse/TheScore ($2.8 million, up from $1.9 million in December)

BetMGM/Borgata ($2.5 million, up from $995,096)

Ocean Casino/William Hill ($2 million, up from $1.2 million)

Caesars Sportsbook/888sport ($491,164, up from $64,759)

Golden Nugget/BetAmerica ($431,643, up from $102,524)

Hard Rock/Bet365/Unibet ($340,933, up from -$294,442)

Tropicana/William Hill ($74,379, up from $32,958)

FanDuel Sportsbook at The Meadowlands continued to take advantage of its proximity to New York — posting $4.3 million in gross revenue, up from $2.4 million in December — to continue its hold on the retail market. FanDuel was followed in gross revenue by:

Monmouth Park ($883,716, up from $617,410 in December)

Borgata ($723,927, down from $1.3 million)

Ocean Casino ($377,369, up from -$68,035)

Bally’s AC ($164,575, up from $108,437)

Resorts AC ($163,436, up from -$406,493)

Golden Nugget ($116,266, up from $66,306)

Harrah’s AC ($107,424, up from -$107,646)

Tropicana Casino ($100,288, up from $71,460)

Hard Rock AC (-$4,467, up from -$51,182)

ONLINE CASINOS BLOW PAST $50 MILLION IN JANUARY

New Jersey’s online casino and poker industry enjoyed a $50 million month for the first time, generating a record $55.1 million in January. The total is up 64% from $33.6 million in January 2019.

After posting eight record months in 2019, the market is showing no signs of slowing down. The state’s online casinos recently launched live online slots, adding a new avenue for growth. If online casinos continue their current trajectory, the industry will easily generate more than $650 million in revenue in 2020. That would smash 2019’s record of $482.7 million.

“$700 million in revenue is within reach in 2020, which would have been inconceivable just a few years ago,” Ramsey said. “The industry’s ability to find new areas of growth, along with the symbiotic relationship that exists with online sports betting, will keep online casino gambling moving forward.”

Some other important online casino and poker data from the January report:

Online casinos injected $8.3 million into state coffers.

The Golden Nugget generated a record $21.2 million in online revenue to lead the market. That again outpaced its own New Jersey casino, which produced $15 million in revenue.

Online casinos and poker generated $1.8 million per day during the 31 days in January, up from $1.1 million per day in January 2019.

Online casino games attracted $53.3 million in bets, up from $31.7 million in January 2019. Online poker posted $1.8 million, down from $1.9 million in January 2019.

For more information and analysis on regulated sports betting and online gaming in New Jersey, visit

PlayNJ.com/news

About the

PlayUSA.com

Network:

The

PlayUSA.com

Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states,

PlayUSA.com

and its state-focused branches (including

PlayNJ.com

and

PlayPennsylvania.com

) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

Jersey City Woman Sentenced To Prison Smuggling Fentanyl Into Prison, Resulting In Inmate Overdose

NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 135 months in prison for her role in conspiring to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in the overdose of an inmate at a New Jersey State prison, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jasmir Humphrey, a/k/a “Jasmir Jackson,” 31, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Noel Salgado, a/k/a “Kuko,” who is the leader of the “Loyal Hoody Gang” subset of the Neighborhood Rolling 20 Bloods, a nationwide street gang, was previously incarcerated as an inmate at Bayside State Prison. While incarcerated, Salgado directed Humphrey, gang members, and associates to provide narcotics proceeds to him and his associates and to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into the prison in order to distribute to other inmates.

In particular, on October 17, 2015, Salgado called Rodgerick Garrett, a/k/a, “Fif,” a/k/a, “Boo,” from prison to arrange for the purchase and smuggling into the prison of heroin and fentanyl. Humphrey picked up the narcotics from Garrett and smuggled them to Salgado on October 18, 2015. The following day, an inmate of Bayside State Prison, to whom Salgado had distributed the narcotics, was found unresponsive in his cell suffering from a drug overdose. Despite rescue breathing efforts, the inmate remained unconscious for approximately 20 minutes. The inmate only regained consciousness after medical personnel administered an opiate antidote to revive the inmate. The inmate was hospitalized for two days following his overdose. Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that Humphrey had smuggled in drugs for Salgado on prior occasions. Charges against Salgado and Garrett are still pending, and they are both presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Humphrey to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, and investigators with the N.J. Department of Corrections, Special Investigations Division, under the direction of Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, with the investigation leading to the charges resulting in today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Jersey City Police Department and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Amore and Elaine K. Lou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.

Defense counsel: Joseph M. Corazza, Esq.

Curtis Miller and Ryan Wilkins Guilty of Murder

Curtis Miller (L) and Ryan Wilkins (R) taken in 2018

Camden City, N.J. (February 13, 2020)–– Two men were found guilty Feb. 12 in the November 2018 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Thomas Reyes in Camden, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Camden County Police Chief Joseph D. Wysocki.

Brothers Curtis Miller, 26, and Ryan Wilkins, 24, both of Camden, were found guilty by a jury of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accomplice to murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with the murder of Thomas Reyes.

The trial for both defendants began Jan, 7; the jury reached their verdict after two days of deliberation. Acting Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Spittal represented the State at trial.

Camden County Police officers initially found Reyes suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1000 block of Carl Miller Blvd. in Camden Nov. 20, 2018 after a ShotSpotter activation went off. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The extensive investigation was led by Detective James Brining of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office along with Sgt. Gordon Harvey and Detective Shawn Donlon of the Camden County Police Department.

The team tracked down surveillance footage that captured the defendants fleeing the scene of the homicide in a vehicle they later abandoned on a nearby street. Additional surveillance footage showed the defendants discarding their clothing as they continued to run from the area.

During the trial, Agent William Shute of the Federal Bureau of Investigation testified cell phone records placed Miller in the area at the time of the homicide.

Spittal also presented evidence that showed that Miller contacted the registered vehicle owner after the shooting and told them to report the vehicle stolen. Further testimony revealed that the clothing that was discarded by Curtis Miller tested positive for gunshot residue.

Miller and Wilkins face a minimum of 30 years to a maximum of life behind bars. They’re scheduled for sentencing March 26, 2020 before the Honorable Judge Gwendolyn Blue.

Majority Say Houston Astros Players Involved in Cheating Should Be Held Accountable

Research Also Finds Strong Support for Strengthening Whistleblower Programs While Most Say Leadership Punishments Will Motivate Culture Change

Arlington, Va., February 11, 2020 – As Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers and catchers report to spring training this week, new research finds that the overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the players involved in the Houston Astros cheating scandal should be punished for their actions. Ninety percent of Americans say that players on the team who broke the rules should be punished. There was a slight variation among gender, with 94 percent of women in agreement and 86 percent of men in agreement.

On the issue of holding Astros leadership accountable, less than half (48 percent) of Americans say the punishments handed down to leadership will result in changing player behavior. But, 74 percent say that the leadership punishments indeed will motivate changes to the organizational culture that enabled the cheating.

When it comes to the role of whistleblowers in outing bad behavior, 86 percent of Americans are in favor of employers strengthening whistleblower programs to encourage early identification of problems.

These findings are from a national poll of Americans conducted by

Eagle Hill Consulting

on the heels of one of the biggest scandals to hit professional baseball in more than 100 years. After a whistleblower account was

published

by the news media, MLB investigated an extensive cheating scandal by the Houston Astros that determined the rules violations were “player-driven and player-executed.” Yet,

punishments

were levied by MLB only against team management and leadership. No players were punished for breaking the rules as part of a deal to encourage players to disclose what happened.

“The results show that Americans understand that it’s critically important to hold both leadership and employees accountable for unethical actions. Whether in sports or business, just holding leadership accountable may not correct employee bad behavior,” said

Melissa Jezior

, Eagle Hill president and CEO.

Part of MLB’s rationale for the punishments was that the scandal stemmed from a failure by the leaders “to adequately manage the employees under their supervision, to establish a culture in which adherence to the rules is ingrained in the fabric of the organization, and to stop bad behavior as soon as it occurred.”

“Leadership ultimately is accountable for a toxic culture that allows bad behavior, and it is leadership’s responsibility to right the ship. The difficult task leaders face, however, is aligning the stated culture with the day-to-day behavior of employees. Culture can be measured and managed – from incorporating it into performance reviews to fostering an environment where employees can report problematic behaviors before they escalate and permeate the organization. Otherwise, organizational culture failures can result in financial losses and reputation damage, a lesson the Astros learned the hard way,”Jezior said.

The polling research found that:

Nearly all (90 percent) of Americans polled say that players who broke the rules should be punished

Only 48 percent believe that holding leadership accountable for player bad behavior will result in correcting the behavior.

Nearly three-fourths (74 percent) indicate that punishments will motivate leaders to change the organizational culture that enabled cheating.

The vast majority (86 percent) say that employers should strengthen whistleblower programs to encourage early identification of problems.

The survey was conducted online on January 30-31, 2020, and included more than 1,000 respondents from a random sample of American adults across the United States.

The polling research found that:

Nearly all (90 percent) of Americans polled say that players who broke the rules should be punished

Only 48 percent believe that holding leadership accountable for player bad behavior will result in correcting the behavior.

Nearly three-fourths (74 percent) indicate that punishments will motivate leaders to change the organizational culture that enabled cheating.

The vast majority (86 percent) say that employers should strengthen whistleblower programs to encourage early identification of problems.

The survey was conducted online on January 30-31, 2020, and included more than 1,000 respondents from a random sample of American adults across the United States.

Eagle Hill Consulting LLC is a woman-owned business that provides unconventional management consulting services in the areas of Strategy & Performance, Talent, and Change. The company’s expertise in delivering innovative solutions to unique challenges spans across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, from financial services to healthcare to media & entertainment. Eagle Hill has offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Boston, MA and Seattle, WA. More information is available at

www.eaglehillconsulting.com

Mt. Holly Woman Found Guilty of Murdering Her Wife

MOUNT HOLLY, NJ (February 12, 2020)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a 31-year-old woman was convicted today in Superior Court of fatally shooting her wife inside their Mount Holly

home during the summer of 2017.

After deliberating over three days, the jury found Laura Bluestein guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter (First Degree) and Tampering with Evidence (Fourth Degree). The Hon. Terrence R. Cook, P.J.Cr., scheduled sentencing for April 23.

The investigation began on August 6, 2017 when Mount Holly police went to the couple’s Mill Street residence after being notified by Bluestein’s father that an incident had occurred inside the home.

Upon arrival, police discovered the body of Felicia Dormans, 29, who had been shot in the face. Dormans, who was Bluestein’s wife, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutors Jeremy Lackey and Lisa Commentucci. The investigation was conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Unit, along with the Mount Holly Police Department. The lead investigator was BCPO Detective Michael Reagan.

In Burlington County, help for victims of domestic abuse and their children is provided free of charge by Providence House. The organization emphasizes that services are offered regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

Providence House can be reached through a 24-hour hotline at 1-877-871-7551 or 609-871-7551, or online at

Providence House Domestic Violence Services

Newark Resident Sentenced to Prison for Bribing Letter Carriers to Deliver \”Pot\” Parcels

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, resident was sentenced today to 24

months in prison for bribing mail carriers from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to deliver to him parcels containing marijuana, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Glenn Blackstone, 50, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to an information charging him with one count of giving bribes and one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Judge Salas imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From October 2014 to September 2017, Blackstone purchased marijuana from a conspirator, who produced the marijuana in California and shipped it in parcels to New Jersey. On multiple occasions, Blackstone bribed two USPS mail carriers to remove the parcels from the normal delivery stream and deliver them instead to him at various locations in Newark. These parcels had fictitious names and addresses on them and were not addressed directly to Blackstone. After receiving the packages from the mail carriers and paying the bribes, Blackstone then sold the marijuana to others in Newark.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Blackstone to five years of supervised release.

One of the mail carriers, Leonard Gresham, 52, of Rahway, New Jersey, also was sentenced by Judge Salas today to three years of probation for taking bribes from Blackstone. Another mail carrier, Fred Rivers, 47, of Newark, was sentenced to three years of probation with a condition of one year of home confinement by Judge Salas on Jan. 23, 2020 for his role in the bribery scheme.

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito credited special agents with the USPS-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office, and inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge James Buthorn, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings.

The government is represented by Lee M. Cortes Jr., Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Farrell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.

*Supporting Those Who Served

Camden City, N.J. — Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer announced the Office will host a symposium for military and veterans affairs Feb. 19 in Oaklyn as part of the Attorney General’s 21 County/21

Century Policing Project.

“Veterans put their lives on the line countless times for our country,” said Acting Prosecutor Mayer. “I’m proud to lead an office that supports these men and women by hosting a public forum to educate our veterans about the many services offered in Camden County for veterans in need.”

Representatives from various agencies, including the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the New Jersey Department of Military Veterans Affairs, Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs and Rutgers Office of Military and Veterans Affairs will be present among others at the Oaklyn VFW Post 4463 beginning at 6 p.m.

The event will link veterans, their families and friends with the support and services needed to reduce the risk of contact with the criminal justice system.

According to a 2012

National Institutes of Health Study

, 9 percent of Veterans and service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have been arrested since returning to their homes.

“The resources are out there for veterans, but not everyone knows about them,” said Acting Prosecutor Mayer. “By having multiple organizations in one place and giving each an opportunity to speak, we hope to educate the county on what kind of help is available for either themselves or a veteran they know.”

The event will run from 6 to approximately 8 p.m. at 5 Manor Ave., Oaklyn.

200 Club of Burlington County Announces 30th Annual Valor/Scholarship Awards Banquet

Moorestown: The 200 CLUB OF BURLINGTON COUNTY is pleased to announce they will celebrate the organization\’s 30th annual Valor Awards Dinner on Friday February 28, 2020 at Merion Caterers, Route 130, Cinnaminson NJ.

The 200 Club or Burlington County is a charitable, non-profit organization comprised entirely of dedicated volunteers with the primary mission of providing financial assistance to the families of fallen or injured members of the State Police, County and Municipal Police, Fire or Emergency Medical Services serving the citizens of Burlington County. The Club also supports these public safety professionals through the awarding of higher education scholarships, advanced training awards and special recognition awards. The program will include the presentation of awards to several members of the Burlington County law enforcement, fire and EMS community in the categories of HONOR-VALOR, awarded for an act or deed of personal bravery involving risk to the individual\’s own life, above and beyond the performance of duty and the, MERITORIOUS AWARD, awarded for service rendered when an individual, with diligence and perseverance, conspicuously performs their duty, above and beyond the call of duty. Examples: prevents crime, protects life and/or property, apprehends criminals, or otherwise performs a deed which reflects credit upon the individual and the agency he or she represents. The DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD is awarded to an individual who has dedicated years of unqualified giving and service for the betterment of their community, department and profession and ADVANCED TRAINING AWARDS, presented to a department or agency for the purpose of funding advanced public safety training programs which enhance the individual’s ability to perform their duties or conduct the training necessary to improve other members’ capabilities.

In addition, the 200 Club of Burlington County will distribute $10,000 in Scholarship funds by presenting four $2,500 Scholarships to family members of Burlington County police officers, County detectives, troopers, firefighters, or EMS personnel to offset the cost of college.

More………….

The recipients of this year\’s scholarships, one of which is sponsored by Republic Bank and Bowman & Company LLP, Certified Public Accountants include: Haley Chenier of Medford, N.J.,

Madison Congemi of Cinnaminson, N.J. , Jacob Dotson of Pemberton, N.J. and Jarrod LaRosa, of Medford, N.J.

The 200 Club will also present four Advanced Training Awards to local fire and police agencies to fund training for their personnel. The agencies receiving these awards, two of which are sponsored by Bowman & Company, LLP include: Riverside Township for Emergency Medical Technician training, sponsored by the Dietz & Watson Company; Maple Shade Township Police to attend De-Escalation Instructor Course training; Palmyra/Cinnaminson/Riverton EMT to attend a Stop The Bleed Training Control Course and to Evesham Township Fire District for training on the Lion Gas Monitoring Training System to be used at fire scenes. Funds totaling $6,000.00 will be divided and awarded to these agencies to fund, and/or provide education and training. In addition, Mount Laurel resident Debbie Johnson, wife of former Moorestown Police Public Safety Harry Johnson also contributes funds for the training and education in his memory.

The 200 Club’s Honor-Valor Award Committee will present the Distinguished Service Award to Colonel Edward R. Reynolds, for his lifetime commitment to the betterment, protection and service to his country and community for over 50 years and to acknowledge his service to the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management and the citizens of Burlington County.

The recipients of the Meritorious Service Awards include Maple Shade Police Corporal Robert Bennett, Officer Mark O’Brien, Officer Joseph Capate and Officer Justin Jericho for their actions dealing with an armed suspect. Corporal Bennett began negotiations with the armed suspect while Officers O’Brien, Capate and Jericho removed the suspect’s wife from danger and secured the area to protect surrounding residents. Corporal Bennett convinced the suspect to surrender. Officers located a fully-loaded handgun with an extended magazine and ammunition.

Also included in the Meritorious Service Awards are Riverside police Sergeant Brando Conard, Ptlm. Anthony Congemi, Ptlm. Brandon Griffin and Ptlm. Shane Pettit for their efforts in apprehending a violent sexual predator. Officers responded to a report of a missing 14-year-old female. When Officers arrived they were briefed by the victim’s mother and learned a suspect known to the girl broke into her bedroom window and forced the victim to go with him at knifepoint. The suspect, a 17-year-old male, was located and arrested in Delanco as a result of these Officers\’ quick actions. The victim was located unharmed.

The Honor/Valor Award is being presented to Chief Robert McFarland, Bordentown Fire District and Firefighter Tom Capraro, Vincentown Fire Company, and a Good Samaritan, Tyler Schulte, for their actions in rescuing a trapped occupant from a residential dwelling fire on April 16, 2019. As a result of their bravery, the occupant survive the ordeal.

President’s Award 200 Club President Steve Raymond will be presenting five (5) President’s Awards to several members of the Law Enforcement community helping the fight against opioid addiction. Prosecutor

Scott Coffina, Evesham Chief of Police Christopher Chew, City of Burlington Chief John Fine and Pemberton Township Chief David H. Jantas will be recognized for developing Straight to Treatment. The Straight to Treatment program allows anyone struggling with addiction to voluntarily walk into a police station and be referred immediately to a treatment program. Individuals will not be subject to charges even if they come in high or carrying drugs. Additionally, Lt. Louis Fisher, Riverside Police Department, will be recognized for his development of NJ Treatment Incentive Program (NJTIP). NJTIP tasks police with identifying “high risk” addicted individuals, and these individuals are brought in and given the opportunity to go into long-term treatment as an alternative to prosecution. With both programs the recidivism rates are drastically lower than individuals who are subjected to the ordinary criminal justice process.

Major Albert Della Fave, (Ret) N.J.S.P

The guest speaker for the event is Albert Della Fave, Major (Ret) New Jersey State Police. Major Della Fave retired from employment with the New Jersey State Police in November of 2009, having served the agency with distinction since June 1985. On September 27, 2008 he was promoted to Major and assigned as the Regional Operations Intelligence Center Task Force Commander, which also encompassed the Office of Cease Fire Operations. This statewide initiative focused on reducing urban street violence through the coordination of intelligence-led policing partnered with social services and community outreach activities. Prior to his promotion to Major he was assigned to the Office of Public Information since 1993. He was designated chief spokesperson and Director of Communications responsible for the dissemination of information concerning the functions and activities of the Division of State Police. He is a graduate of Upsala College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, and Seton Hall University where he received a master degree in education.

Event Details

Date: February 28, 2020

Time: Reception: 6:00 p.m. – Dinner/Awards: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Merion Caterers, Route 130 Cinnaminson, New Jersey 08077

The banquet is open to members of the general public, friends and family of recipients. Tickets may be obtained by contacting the 200 Club of Burlington County at 856-222-0100. Single tickets are $90 per person and a table for 10 guests for $900. Each ticket includes dinner and 1 hour open bar reception.