Category: CNB CRIME

PINE HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT PARTNERS WITH VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA

PINE HILL, NJ (Dec. 18, 2019)–Pine Hill Police Department announced this week an exciting new partnership with the Volunteers of America – Delaware Valley (VOA).  The partnership is the first of its kind in Camden County, keenly focused to provide the most effective outreach to the citizens of Pine Hill through progressive policing and community services.  Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer was honored to speak at the press conference in Pine Hill at which the Pine Hill Police Department and the VOA detailed their joint goal to foster stability in the lives of those we protect and serve.  The partnership will feature a social services satellite office embedded within the Pine Hill Police Department in order to offer much needed services to citizens as swiftly as possible.  VOA workers will also be available to assist Pine Hill Officers when they are on-site at a call.  The program also includes both the Pine Hill Police Department and the VOA partnering with the school system to provide assistance to homeless families.

Released Wednesday, December 18, 2019.

Guest Opinion: Third Church-Suing Top Cop Imprisoned

December 18, 2019

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the

conviction of another Church-suing top cop

:

Thomas Spota, who served as the District Attorney of Suffolk County for many years, was convicted yesterday of covering up for a police chief who brutally beat a handcuffed man for stealing sex toys and pornography from his car. If this were all there were to this story, it wouldn\’t be worth mentioning. But there\’s more.

In the early 2000s, following revelations of clergy sexual abuse by the Boston Globe, Spota impaneled a Long Island grand jury to probe the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He knew full well he could not prosecute anyone because of the statute of limitations, but that didn\’t matter. He never cross examined witnesses and refused to allow officials from the diocese to testify. Worse, he leaked a copy of the grand jury report to Newsday before the diocese had a chance to respond.

Spota is the third top cop with a vendetta against the Catholic Church to wind up behind bars.

In 2017, Seth Williams, the Philadelphia District Attorney, was sentenced to five years in prison on multiple counts of bribery, extortion, and fraud. He even robbed money set aside to pay for his own mother\’s nursing home care, using it to fund his lavish lifestyle.

Williams tried desperately to railroad accused priests, relying on the testimony of Danny Gallagher, a.k.a. \”Billy Doe,\” an alleged victim. He was described by journalist Ralph Cipriano as \”a former drug addict, heroin dealer, habitual liar, third-rate conman and thief [who] made up the whole story.\” As a result, four innocent men were sent to jail.

The third loser top cop to be sent to the slammer was Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane. She started the state-wide grand jury probe of the Catholic Church that was ultimately picked up by her discredited successor, Josh Shapiro. She was sentenced in 2016 for leaking sealed, confidential grand jury documents to the media and for lying under oath.

The Catholic League clashed with Spota, Williams, and Kane on many occasions. While they were not imprisoned for their misdeeds against the Catholic Church, their flawed character—which we observed many times—ultimately caught up with them in a criminal way.

Interestingly, even though the three of them are Catholic, they all harbored an animus against Catholicism. It would be good for them to reflect on their predicament this Christmas season. Redemption may be at hand.

DNREC’s Natural Resources Police deliver 585 toys

to U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Sgt. Brooke Mitchell, Officer Rebecca Schuman of the Environmental Crimes Unit, and Cpl. David Redgraves and Cpl. Andrew Manning of Delaware State Parks Natural Resources Police delivered 270 toys to the Dover Toys for Tots facility in Dover Dec. 16. DNREC photo/Joanna Wilson.

DOVER (Dec. 18, 2019) – After a statewide gift-giving campaign throughout the holiday season, DNREC Natural Resources Police units from Delaware State Parks, the Division of Fish & Wildlife, and the Division of Community Affairs’ Environmental Crimes Unit have delivered 585 toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program in Delaware to provide gifts for less fortunate children in local communities for the holidays.

“Toys for Tots ensures that less fortunate children can awaken to presents in this season of giving, and I am proud that DNREC’s three Natural Resources Police units stepped up to make that a reality for hundreds of Delaware families,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Thanks to the dedication of Cpl. Andrew Manning of our Parks Natural Resources Police and all the other officers who took part in this campaign, DNREC has helped make a difference.”

The three Natural Resources Police units placed Toys for Tots donation boxes in locations statewide, including DNREC offices and state parks, to collect new, unwrapped toys suitable for boys and girls of all ages.

In Sussex County Dec. 13, DNREC Natural Resources Police officers met Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Marine Patrol vessel Alpha at the Indian River Marina to pick up toys collected from six Sussex donation locations and deliver them to the Sussex Toys for Tots facility. They collected 315 toys, which will be among those distributed to children in 1,038 Sussex families.

A total of 270 toys collected in Kent and New Castle counties were delivered Dec. 16 to the Dover Toys for Tots facility for distribution. The Kent County facility is serving more than 1,200 children, with a waiting list.

DNREC Natural Resources Police officers gathered Dec. 12 at Indian River Marina near Rehoboth Beach to pick up toys collected from six Sussex donation locations for Sussex County families through their participation in the US Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program. They collected 315 toys, which will be among those distributed to less fortunate children in 1,038 Sussex families. Pictured aboard Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Marine Patrol vessel Alpha, are Fish & Wildlife Officer Billy Adkins (in back); Environmental Crimes Unit’s Lt. John McCarty; Delaware State Parks’ Cpl. Andrew Manning and Lt. Bryan John; Fish & Wildlife Chief Drew Aydelotte and Sgt. Brooke Mitchell; ECU Officer Rebecca Schuman; Fish & Wildlife Lt. Casey Zolper; and special guest Santa Claus (Fish & Wildlife Cpl. Josh Hudson), with K-9 Officer Rosco. DNREC photo/Shauna McVey.

FBI Praises Police Officers for Risking Their Lives to Save Fire Victim

Hudson, New Hampshire–

Law enforcement officers are challenged daily while answering the call of duty; they face each encounter freely and unselfishly. In certain instances, their actions warrant special attention from their respective departments. The

Bulletin

also wants to recognize those situations that transcend the normal rigors of the profession.

One night in April 2019 just after 2 a.m., Officer Colby Morton was on her way to work at the Hudson, New Hampshire, Police Department, when an unusual light caught her eye in the top left apartment of a residential building. She quickly recognized the light as a fire and immediately notified the police and fire departments. Not having equipment to act, she continued to the station for duty.

Officers Daniel Donahue, Alec Golner, and Robert McNally responded to the building, where they took action to save the lives of the occupants. They cleared the other three apartments of residents and learned that the occupant of the upper left apartment was deaf and still inside.

The three officers immediately went up the exterior stairway to the outside entry door. They heard footsteps inside the apartment and then a sound as if someone fell to the floor. The officers accessed the entry door with some difficulty because it was barricaded from within.

Facing heavy smoke and heat, Officer McNally crawled in, with Officer Golner following him. Officer McNally located the unconscious resident on the floor about 10 feet in and grabbed onto him. Officers Golner and Donahue then took hold of Officer McNally’s belt and formed a chain. The three officers pulled the resident out and carried him down the stairs and away from the building.

Fire department personnel arrived to care for the injured resident and respond to the fire. Authorities later determined that the resident himself was responsible for the fire and had a plan to confront first responders.

All four officers were recognized for their lifesaving efforts by the Hudson Police Department. Officer Morton received a lifesaving award. Officers Donahue, Golner, and McNally received lifesaving awards with valor for their efforts in facing extreme danger.

Officer Colby Morton

Officer Alec Golner

Officer Daniel Donahue

Officer Robert McNally

Nominations for the FBI Law Enforcement

Bulletin Notes

should be based on either the rescue of one or more citizens or an arrest(s) made at unusual risk to an officer’s safety. Submissions should include a short write-up, a separate photograph of each nominee, and a letter from the department’s ranking officer endorsing the nomination. Submissions can be e-mailed to

leb@fbi.gov

or mailed to Editor,

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA 22135.

RELATED:

Via

Officer Down Memorial page

CNB Crime

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BREAKING NEWS

published Gloucestercitynews.net | Dec. 19, 2019

Donna Roberts Indicted on 8 Counts of Animal Cruelty; 44 Dogs Found Dead, 161 Living Dogs

Shamong Woman Indicted on Animal Cruelty Charges

Burlington City NJ (Dec. 18,2010)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a Shamong woman has been indicted on multiple counts of causing death or bodily injury last year to dogs she kept on her property in substandard, inhumane conditions.

Donna Roberts, 66, of the 500 block of Oakshade Road, was indicted on eight counts of Animal Cruelty (Third Degree). The indictment was returned yesterday and signed by First Assistant Prosecutor Philip S. Aronow. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court in Mount Holly.

Roberts was charged late last year after New Jersey State Police found 44 dog carcasses placed in plastic bags and stored in freezers throughout the residence. Investigators also discovered 161 living dogs, four of which were in critical condition and required emergency treatment at a veterinary clinic.

The investigation began after officials went to inspect her property on November 13 and discovered dogs living in deplorable conditions. A search warrant was then secured and an inspection of the entire premises revealed the extent of the neglect.

The remaining dogs were evaluated and treated at the scene. In the immediate aftermath, multiple agencies came forward to assist with the care of those dogs, most of which were then placed for adoption.

Roberts was not detained pending trial, but has been forbidden by a judge from owning, possessing or caring for any animals.

The investigation was conducted by the New Jersey State Police, with assistance from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Burlington County Health Department. The case was presented to the grand jury by Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Handy.

An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

Man Pleads Guilty to Causing Friend’s Death While Driving Impaired

BURLINGTON CITY NJ (Dec. 18, 2019)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a 22-year-old Pemberton Township man pled guilty today in Superior Court to driving impaired and causing a crash late last year in Woodland Township that killed a friend who was traveling in his vehicle.

Under an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office, Donald Shinn pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide (Second Degree) in exchange for a four-year term in New Jersey state prison. The Hon. James J. Morley, J.S.C. scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2020.

The investigation began on December 22, 2018 just after 3 a.m. when New Jersey State Police Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash on County Road 563.

The investigation revealed that Shinn’s Toyota Tundra left the roadway and struck several trees after attempting to illegally pass another vehicle. Cody Watson, 20, of Pemberton Township, was seated in the front passenger’s seat and was pronounced dead at the scene. Shinn was treated for moderate injuries at a local hospital. A third passenger seated in the rear of the vehicle declined to accept medical treatment.

Toxicology tests performed on blood drawn from Shinn following the crash indicated he was legally impaired at the time of the incident.

The investigation was conducted the New Jersey State Police. Shinn is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Joshua Dennis, supervisor of the BCPO Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit.

Pennsylvania Forms Task Force to Reform Commonwealth\’s Juvenile Justice System

By Steve Bittenbender |

The Center Square

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, legislative leaders and judges from across the state announced on Monday the creation of a task force that will recommend reforms for the commonwealth’s juvenile justice system.

Monday’s news conference in the state Capitol came about six weeks after Wolf’s Council on Reform identified juvenile justice as a system in need of overhaul. Studies indicate that as many as 9-in-10 kids in the juvenile justice system were exposed to a traumatic event in their young lives, the governor said, with about a third meeting criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Improving our juvenile justice system can have an enormous positive impact on our commonwealth by preventing young Pennsylvanians from ever entering our state prison system, and that\’s a very good thing,” Wolf said.

Each of the three branches of state government will appoint members to the task force within the next 30 days. That panel will deliver its recommendations by Nov. 30, 2020.

The task force will receive help from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Crime and Justice Institute. In

a study last year

, Pew noted that Pennsylvania held 999 youth for status offenses, which include underage drinking and truancy, or committing technical violations of their sentence, like missing a probation meeting or not completing a treatment program.

Only California and Texas detained more youth, and Pennsylvania’s percentage of children confined for those matters, 36 percent, ranked fifth nationally.

State lawmakers are already working on reforms to the criminal justice system. The Justice Reinvestment Initiative, which has already cleared the Senate, passed the House Judiciary Committee last week.

“Common sense tells us that as we look at our criminal justice system, we must also look upstream to our juvenile justice system,” said House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler. “By assessing evidence about what works to prevent re-offending, we can direct young people who may otherwise end up off in our adult jails and prisons at a great taxpayer expense. By intervening early, we can save money and improve lives.”

Judge Kim Berkeley Clark, who currently serves as the president judge for the family division of the state’s Fifth Judicial District and as chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission, said that judges, juvenile probation officer and other stakeholders have worked hard to produce good outcomes for kids engaged in the system. However, more needs to be done, she said, and that it will require input from both parties.

“I think no matter what side of the aisle you\’re on, so to speak, we all agree that we want our communities to be safe and we want our children to thrive,” Clark said “And this task force will seek to do that.”

published here with permission of

|

The Center Square

Delaware Fish & Wildlife Police Blotter: Dec. 2-8

Reminder for the week: Waterfowl hunters, check your gear

for prohibited lead shot, ensure your boats are weather and safety ready

DOVER (Dec. 13, 2019) – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers between Dec. 2-8 made 2,239 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 12 citations. Officers responded to 44 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

On Dec. 7, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers discussed their role and reviewed safe hunting practices, hunting laws, and what to expect when checked by an officer in the field with attendees of a Hunter Education Class held at the Little Creek Hunter Education Training Center.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

On Dec. 11-12, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers and Wildlife Section staff responded to reports of black bear sightings in and near Wilmington, and worked with multiple agencies with the intent of capturing and relocating the bear. The bear evaded capture and appears to have left Delaware as there have been no recent documented sightings.

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation:

Possession of unlawfully taken game – antlerless deer (1), failure to check antlerless deer within 24 hours (1), failure to tag antlerless deer (1), removing antlerless deer parts prior to checking (1), and trespass to hunt (1).

Fisheries Conservation:

Commercial:

Failure to tag oysters (1).

Public Safety:

Possession, purchase, ownership, or control of a firearm, deadly weapon, or ammunition by a person prohibited (3) and failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (1).

Other:

Driving with a suspended or revoked license (1) and driving at an unreasonable speed (1).

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The public are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to

http://de.gov/ogt

, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?

With the last 2019 regular waterfowl hunting season split opening today, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind waterfowl hunters to continue to check their hunting gear bags, coats, boats, and any other gear to make sure they are not carrying  lead shot.

Non-toxic shot, as approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is required for all waterfowl hunting within the State of Delaware. There are no exceptions. For a list of currently approved non-toxic shot types visit

http://flyways.us/faq/what-type-shot-approved-non-toxic-us

.

Also, if you are waterfowl hunting from a boat, please ensure that you have all the required safety equipment and cold weather equipment and supplies on board.

For more information on waterfowl hunting and boating safety requirements in Delaware, click on

2019-2020 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide

.

Philadelphia CBP Seizes $130,000 in Counterfeit Designer Handbags from Hong Kong

December, 2019

PHILADELPHIA

– Looks like there will be a few less ladies designer brand handbags under the Christmas tree this year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized a shipment of 37 counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags Thursday that arrived in Philadelphia from Hong Kong. If authentic, the handbags would have had a manufacturer suggested retail price of $130,610. They were destined to an address in Logan Township, N.J.

Counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags

The shipment of three boxes initially arrived November 25 manifested as “Lady Bag Sample.” CBP officers suspected the shipment to be counterfeit and detained it.

CBP officers worked with CBP’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising

Centers for Excellence and Expertise

, the agency’s trade experts and verified through the trademark holder that the products were counterfeit.

“Customs and Border Protection officers encounter a wide variety of counterfeit consumer goods, like these trademark-infringing handbags, and we continue to work with our trade and consumer safety partners to identify and seize counterfeit products when we encounter them,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “CBP urges consumers to protect themselves and their families by purchasing authentic consumer goods from reputable vendors.”

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program

. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, damage the U.S. economy, and threaten the health and safety of the American people.

On a typical day in 2018, CBP officers seized $3.7 million worth of products with IPR violations. Learn more about what CBP did during \”

A Typical Day

\” in 2018.

In fiscal year (FY) 2018, the number of IPR seizures decreased by 333 seizures to 33,810 from 34,143 in FY 2017. The total estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the seized goods, had they been genuine, increased to nearly $1.4 billion from over $1.2 billion in FY 2017. Read more

2018 IPR Enforcement Statistics

.

As a result of CBP enforcement efforts, ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested 381 individuals, obtained 296 indictments, and received 260 convictions related to intellectual property crimes in 2018.

CBP\’s

border security mission

is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations.  Please visit

CBP Ports of Entry

to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.

Learn more about CBP at

CBP.gov

.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation\’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Former Owner of Trailblazers, Inc. Sentenced to 18 Months for Bankruptcy Fraud

LEXINGTON, Ky. –

Barry E. Sanders, 64, the former owner and CEO of Trailblazers, Inc., an auto and truck parts supply business formerly located in Lexington, was sentenced today, by Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph M. Hood, to 18 months imprisonment for bankruptcy fraud.

Sanders had previously admitted in U.S. District Court that, while Trailblazers, Inc. was in the process of contemplating bankruptcy in the summer of 2013, he transferred $315,000 from the business to his personal banking accounts, using four cashier’s checks.  Sanders then knowingly concealed the receipt of those funds, by failing to report the cash transfers on Trailblazers’ corporate bankruptcy filings in August 2013, as required by federal bankruptcy law.

Under federal law, Sanders must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Sanders will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years, following his release.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation leading to Sanders’ conviction was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Roth and Will Moynahan.