Category: CNB CRIME

Two Atlantic County Men Plead Guilty to Setting Man on Fire

MAYS LANDING – Two men pleaded guilty on Thursday to aggravated assault after setting a man on fire in March, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.

Brandon Perez

Brandon Perez, 23, of Hammonton and David Sult, 24, of Mays Landing, both pleaded guilty to second degree aggravated assault in exchange for five years New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act (85% period of parole ineligibility and three years parole supervision upon release).

David Sult

On the evening of March 15, 2019, Brandon Perez and David Sult were at Sult’s residence in Mays Landing hanging out with a group of other men. Raymond Mullen was asleep on a couch when Perez and Sult decided to play a “prank” on him. Perez sprayed lighter fluid on the back of Raymond’s clothing. Perez ignited it. Raymond suffered severe burns to his back.  The men claimed Raymond had been burned accidentally by an electronic smoking device but the investigation revealed the fire had been set intentionally.

Township of Hamilton Police Det. Lawrence Fernan investigated the incident and ACPO Det. Danielle Kratky assisted with the prosecution.

The men are on pretrial release, pending sentencing. They were released after a detention hearing. Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2020.

***These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ***

***************************

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.  (source press release)

Lower Township Police Arrest Four Suspects on Robbery Charges

Villas NJ (Nov. 29, 2019)— On Monday, November 25, 2019, at approximately 4:30 P.M., officers from the Lower Township Police Department responded to a call in the Villas section of the Township for a subject reporting he was assaulted and then robbed at gunpoint.  Upon arrival, officers found the victim with injuries to his face.  The victim told officers that he went to a residence in the

first block of East Atlantic Avenue to conduct a drug transaction when a juvenile male struck him in the face.  Investigation revealed that an adult male, Louis Garcia, 18, of North Cape May, then pointed a handgun at the victim and told him to empty his pockets.

The victim was treated by Lower Township Rescue and transported to Cape Regional Medical Center for further evaluation and medical treatment.

During the investigation, Detectives from The Lower Township Police Department, The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cape May County SWAT Team executed a search warrant at the home on East Atlantic Avenue.  During the search of the home, an adult male, Jonathan Halas, 19, of Cape May and a male juvenile were taken into custody.  A short time later, additional suspects, Louis Garcia and a second male juvenile were located at a separate house, also in the first block of East Atlantic Avenue, where they were also taken into custody.

The four suspects were charged with Robbery, Title 2C:15-1a (1); Aggravated Assault, Title 2C:12-1b (1); Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Title 2C:39-5b; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Title 2C:39-4a; and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Title 2C:5-2. The adults were then lodged at the Cape May County Correctional Center and both juveniles were placed in a juvenile security facility.

Address/Location

Lower Township Police Department

405 Breakwater Rd

Cape May, NJ 08204

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 609-886-1619

Avoid Holiday Shopping Scams

Don’t Fall Victim to Online Schemes

‘Tis the season for holiday gifting, and many shoppers will go online this time of year to find the best deals on popular items. But the sellers you buy from may not be what they seem.

According to the FBI’s

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

, thousands of people become victims of holiday scams every year. Scammers can rob you of hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, a festive mood. The two most prevalent of these holiday scams are non-delivery and non-payment crimes.

In a non-delivery scam, a buyer pays for goods or services they find online, but those items are never received. Conversely, a non-payment scam involves goods or services being shipped, but the seller is never paid. In 2018 alone, the IC3 estimates that non-delivery and non-payment scams together affected more than 65,000 victims, causing almost $184 million in losses.

Similar scams to beware of this time of year are auction fraud, where a product is misrepresented on an auction site, and gift card fraud, when a seller asks you to pay with a pre-paid card.

The IC3 receives a large volume of complaints in the early months of the year, suggesting a correlation with the previous holiday season’s shopping scams.

Always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

Do your part to avoid becoming a victim. These simple tips from the IC3 can help you look out for scammers during the holiday season or any other time of year:

Always get a tracking number for items purchased online so you can make sure they have been shipped and can follow the delivery process.

Be wary of sellers who post an auction or advertisement as if they reside in the U.S., then respond to questions by stating they are out of the country on business, family emergency, or similar reasons.

Avoid sellers who post an auction or advertisement under one name but ask that payment be sent to someone else.

Consider canceling your purchase if a seller requests funds be wired directly to them via a money transfer company, pre-paid card, or bank-to-bank wire transfer. Money sent in these ways is virtually impossible to recover, with no recourse for the victim. Always remember that anyone who asks you to use one of these forms of payment might be a scammer. A credit card is generally the safest way to pay for an online purchase.

Avoid sellers who act as authorized dealers or factory representatives of popular items in countries where there would be no such dealers.

Verify the legitimacy of a buyer or seller before moving forward with a purchase. If you’re using an online marketplace or auction website, check their feedback rating. Be wary of buyers and sellers with mostly unfavorable feedback ratings or no ratings at all.

Avoid buyers who request their purchase be shipped using a certain method to avoid customs or taxes inside another country.

Be suspect of any credit card purchases where the address of the cardholder does not match the shipping address. Always receive the cardholder’s authorization before shipping any products.

Always be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

If you do become the victim of a holiday scam, contact your bank immediately. You should also inform your local law enforcement agency, and file a complaint with the IC3 at

ic3.gov

.

Resources

FBI, This Week: Holiday Scams

Philadelphia CBP Seizes more than 20,000 Counterfeit Oral-B Toothbrush Heads from China

Release Date:

November 27, 2019

PHILADELPHIA

– U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized 20,400 counterfeit Oral-B toothbrush heads recently in Philadelphia that were destined to an address in Delran, N.J.

CBP officers seized 20,400 counterfeit

Oral-B toothbrush heads in Philadelphia

November 7, 2019.

CBP officers initially examined the air cargo shipment October 1 and detained the shipment as suspected counterfeit consumer goods due to poor packaging and questionable quality. The shipment contained 1,200 10-pack and 2,800 3-pack toothbrush heads marked with the Oral-B brand name.

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, and seized the shipment November 7.

Counterfeit toothbrush heads pose a serious health threat to consumers, as do all counterfeit healthcare products. Counterfeit brush heads are manufactured in unsanitary facilities with substandard materials that may sicken users or cause bleeding to a user’s gums or mouth, and structural defects may cause the brush head to detach and potentially choke users.

The products, if authentic, would have a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of $95,600.

“Customs and Border Protection will continue to work with our trade and consumer safety partners to identify and seize counterfeit consumer goods that threaten American shoppers, such as these potentially dangerous tooth brush heads,” 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 health and hygiene products 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.

Justice Dept Launches National Strategy to Address Murdered Native Americans

WASHINGTON—Attorney General William P. Barr launched a national strategy last week to address missing and murdered Native Americans. The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiative places MMIP coordinators in 11 U.S. Attorney’s offices including the District of Oregon who will develop protocols for a more coordinated law enforcement response to missing cases. The plan also calls for the deployment of the FBI’s most advanced response capabilities when needed, improved data collection and analysis, and training to support local response efforts.

“American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer from unacceptable and disproportionately high levels of violence, which can have lasting impacts on families and communities. Native American women face particularly high rates of violence, with at least half suffering sexual or intimate-partner violence in their lifetime. Too many of these families have experienced the loss of loved ones who went missing or were murdered,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This important initiative will further strengthen the federal, state, and tribal law enforcement response to these continuing problems.”

“The FBI recognizes the violence that tribal communities face and is fully committed to working with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to provide support to those impacted by these crimes,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We are dedicated to delivering justice and to the FBI’s mission to protect all the people we serve. We reaffirm our focus on allocating resources to serve Native American needs.”

“I’m proud to join Attorney General Barr and Director Wray in announcing this new effort by the Justice Department to address the important and urgent issues attendant to missing and murdered indigenous people. These are real crime victims and their families who have been impacted by inadequate data collection and jurisdictional gaps,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Pursuing justice on behalf of tribal communities in Oregon is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We have always been deeply committed to reducing violent crime in tribal communities, especially crimes against tribal women and children. Our Indian Country team works tirelessly to be good partners with tribal law enforcement and victim services.”

The strategy has three parts.

Establish MMIP coordinators

: The Department of Justice is investing an initial $1.5 million to hire 11 MMIP coordinators in 11 states to serve with all U.S. Attorney’s offices in those states, and others who request assistance. The states are Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Oklahoma, Michigan, Utah, Nevada, Minnesota, Oregon, New Mexico, and Washington state. MMIP coordinators will work closely with federal, tribal, state and local agencies to develop common protocols and procedure for responding to reports of missing or murdered indigenous people. The first MMIP coordinator is already on board in Montana.

Specialized FBI Rapid Deployment Teams

: The strategy will bring needed tools and resources to law enforcement. Upon request by a tribal, state, or local law enforcement agency the FBI will provide expert assistance based upon the circumstances of a missing indigenous persons case. FBI resources and personnel which may be activated to assist with cases include: Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) teams, Cellular Analysis Support Teams, Evidence Response Teams, Cyber Agents for timely analysis of digital evidence/social media, Victim Services Division Response Teams, and others. MMIP coordinators will assist in developing protocols.

Comprehensive Data Analysis

: The department will perform in-depth analysis of federally supported databases and analyze data collection practices to identify opportunities to improve missing persons data and share the results of this analysis with our partners in this effort.

More broadly, the MMIP Initiative will involve a coordinated effort by more than 50 U.S. Attorneys on the Attorney General’s Native American Issues Subcommittee (NAIS), the FBI, and the Office of Tribal Justice, with support from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

Today’s announcement follows the August NAIS meeting in New Mexico and OVW listening session in Michigan, where Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons and violence against women in Indian country were prevalent topics of discussion by U.S. Attorneys, OVW officials, and tribal representatives.

DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Blotter: Nov. 18-24

DOVER (Nov. 27, 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 Nov. 18-24 made 1,433 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 17 citations. Officers responded to 61 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 Actions

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers concluded multiple trespassing to hunt investigations, resulting in two separate arrests of individuals charged with hunting and trespassing on closed Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) properties as described in a

press release

.

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

Wildlife Conservation:

Hunting with an unplugged shotgun capable of holding more than three shells (1), unlicensed hunting (1), trespass to hunt (1), and wildlife area map violation – hunting on a Sunday in an area of Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area closed to Sunday hunting (2).

Fisheries Conservation:

Commercial:

Possession of undersized oyster (1).

Public Safety:

Failure to display required hunter orange during a firearms deer season (1), possession, purchase, ownership, or control of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited (1), possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle (1), possession of marijuana – civil (1), and driving without using headlights (1)*.

Other:

Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (6)*.

*

Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

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?

Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

For those who will be hunting this holiday, please remember the following:

Waterfowl hunters should check their hunting gear bags, coats, boats, and any other gear to make sure that they are not carrying any lead shot left over from deer or other hunting seasons.

After harvesting a deer, an appropriate tag must be attached to the animal before it is field dressed or moved from the place of harvest.

All successful deer hunters must register their deer within 24 hours of harvest.

Prior to registering a deer, hunters may not cut the meat or remove any part of the deer except the internal organs.

If you have an emergency, call the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police 24 hour dispatch line at 302-739-4580.

For more information on the 2019/2020 hunting seasons – including hunter education, licensing, hunting and trapping seasons, limits, regulations, wildlife area information, and more, with sections devoted to deer, small game, turkey, and migratory birds – click on

2019/2020 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide

.

Members of Newark’s ‘Boyz’ Street Gang Admit Drug and Firearms Offenses

NEWARK, N.J. – Members of the “Famous Boyz” street gang have admitted to firearms and narcotics distribution offenses as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Shaka McKinney, 25, of Newark, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Jahid Vauters,” a/k/a “k”, a/k/a “KO,” 31, of Newark, pleaded guilty Nov. 25, 2019, before Judge Arleo to an information charging him with one count each of: conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 28 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; possessing two firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon; and possessing two firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As part of his plea agreement, the parties have agreed to a sentence of 10 years in prison.

Karen Armstrong, 29, of Newark, pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo on Nov. 7, 2019 to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin.

Eugene Williams, a/k/a “Popa,” a/k/a “Papa,” 53, of Newark, pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo on Nov. 7, 2019, to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Saeed Dawes, a/k/a “Nasty,” 22, of Newark, pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo on Nov. 6, 2019, to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin.

In October 2018, McKinney, Vauters, Armstrong, Williams, and Dawes, and 12 other members of a violent drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Newark were charged by criminal complaint after a lengthy wiretap investigation with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and/or heroin. McKinney and Vauters were also charged with firearms offenses.

On Feb. 25, 2019, a grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging three of the defendants, Patricio Hernandez, Jonathan Hernandez, and Jonathan Garcia, a/k/a “Bebo,” with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine for their alleged participation in supplying the “Famous Boyz” with cocaine.

On Sept. 30, 2019, a grand jury returned a 21-count superseding indictment against the remaining defendants and Patricio Hernandez, Jonathan Hernandez, Garcia, Javon Holmes, a/k/a “J-Dot”, and John Mosley, a/k/a “Breezy,” a/k/a “Brazy.” The charges in the superseding indictment are pending against the remaining defendants.

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

The defendants are members and associates of the Famous Boyz – a subset of the Brick City Brims set of the Bloods street gang – which dealt significant quantities of heroin and crack cocaine, in the area of South 18th Street and 15th Avenue, in Newark. The gang often referred to this area as the “8 Block,” “18th,” or simply by reference to the number “8.”

Mosley was a primary source of narcotics for the Famous Boyz and often directed the gang’s drug operations. He and other members of the Famous Boyz shared narcotics, customers, and firearms with one another in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking activities, and they used juveniles to distribute narcotics and stash firearms. Patricio Hernandez and Jonathan Hernandez were among the main suppliers of crack cocaine to Mosley, while Vauters supplied Mosley with heroin. Heroin sold by Famous Boyz members, including Dawes, Armstrong and Williams, contained a fentanyl analogue, which is an extremely dangerous and highly addictive substance.

Members of the Famous Boyz used social media to promote the gang’s criminal activities, including by advertising their narcotics trafficking activities and proceeds and by threatening both rival gang members and any individuals who considered cooperating with law enforcement. Those members who sold narcotics also enriched themselves by committing other crimes, including robberies.

The heroin and crack cocaine conspiracy and heroin and crack cocaine distribution counts to which Vauters pleaded guilty each carry a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. In addition, the firearm possession count to which Vauters pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other punishment.

The crack cocaine conspiracy count to which Williams pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The heroin conspiracy to which Williams pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million.

The heroin and crack cocaine conspiracy counts to which Dawes and Armstrong pleaded guilty each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson in Newark, and officers of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Anthony F. Ambrose, with the investigation.

He also thanked the special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini; and the Livingston Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gary Marshuetz, for their assistance with the investigation.

This investigation is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Newark. The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety to combat violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Board of Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department.

The government is represented by Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Mary E. Toscano and Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelica M. Sinopole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations against the remaining defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Drug Raid in Cape May County Nets Meth and Heroin

Cape May Court House, New Jersey (Nov. 27, 2019)–– Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland, and Lower Township Police Chief William Mastriana announce the arrest of Jennifer R. Pagano, a 48 year old resident of Seagrove Avenue in

Lower Township, N.J. on drug possession and distribution charges.

On November 8, 2019, detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutors Office Gangs, Gun’s and Narcotics Task Force and the Lower Township Police Department concluded a two month long investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics by Pagano in Cape May County.

On November 8, 2019, the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team executed a Court authorized search warrant in the 600 block of Seagrove Avenue in Lower Township. As a result of this search warrant, distribution amounts of suspected heroin and methamphetamine were seized from Pagano’s residence along with drug paraphernalia.

Pagano was charged with possession of heroin, a crime of the third degree; possession of methamphetamine, a crime of the third degree; distribution of heroin, a crime of the third degree; distribution of methamphetamine, a crime of the third degree; and possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, a crime of the fourth degree. Pagano was processed and released with summonses pending Court proceedings. *

Prosecutor Sutherland stated that his office will continue to work hand in hand with the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to target anyone selling illegal controlled dangerous substances. Prosecutor Sutherland continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report any information regarding illegal drug activity and or any criminal activity within the community and that this information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800, or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135.

* Any charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless she is proven guilty.

Authorities Arrest Rooftop Copper Bandits; Suspects Caused over $1M in Damages

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ (Nov. 27, 2019)–Nov. 8, 2019 at approximately 2035 PM, Gloucester Township Police patrol officers located a suspicious male, later identified as

Rahjahn Waters

from Pine Hill, on the rooftop of

Commerce Square

1435 Blackwood-Clementon Rd, posing a New Jersey American Water employee servicing the HVAC units.  Investigation revealed the male removed copper coils from several rooftop HVAC units causing damage in excess of $140,000.

On Nov. 11, at approximately 3:45 PM, detectives were conducting enhanced police operations and follow up at

Commerce Plaza II

. Detectives located two (2) males, later identified as

Jason Hutzler

and

Moises Ambriz,

actively dismantling rooftop air conditioning units. The males fled on foot and utilized a rooftop hatch ladder in an attempt to evade police. Gloucester Township Police patrol officers established a perimeter containing the subjects and several Gloucester Township Police detectives apprehended the males after a brief foot pursuit.  Damage caused was estimated at $103,619.

On November 13, detectives from the Gloucester and Voorhees Township Police Departments launched a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a series of rooftop air conditioner thefts.  Information was developed from partnering detectives that the rooftop bandits were responsible for a similar incident in Voorhees Township at –

American Water

causing damage in excess of $1,000,000.

Waters

and an additional male,

Leon Dandy

, and female

Miranda Ulmer

, were charged with Burglary, Theft, and Criminal Mischief in connection with the Voorhees incident. Waters used materials stolen from this incident to pose an American Water employee in Gloucester Township on Nov. 8.

Rahjahn Waters

was charged with Theft (2

nd

degree), Criminal Mischief (3

rd

degree), Criminal Trespass (Disorderly Persons), Possession of Burglary Tools (Disorderly Persons), an Impersonation (2

nd

degree).

Waters

was remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a Central First Appearance in accordance with the New Jersey Criminal Reform Act.

Jason Hutzler

was charged with Criminal Mischief (3rd Degree), Resisting Arrest (4th Degree), Criminal Trespassing (Disorderly Persons Offense) and Possession of Burglary Tools (Disorderly Persons Offense).

Hutzler

was released pending a court appearance.

Moises Ambriz

was charged with Criminal Mischief (3rd Degree), Resisting Arrest (4th Degree), Criminal Trespassing (Disorderly Persons Offense) and Possession of Burglary Tools (Disorderly Persons Offense).

Ambriz

was remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a Central First Appearance in accordance with the New Jersey Criminal Reform Act.

Arrest: Rahjahn Waters

24 YOA 2600 block of Kenwood Drive Pine Hill NJ 08021

Arrest: Jason Hutzler

25 YOA 1100 block S. Merrimac Road, Camden NJ 08104

Arrest: Moises Ambriz

25 YOA 2200 block of Tall Pines, Pine Hill NJ 08021

Arrest/Voorhees: Leon Dandy

34 YOA 828 Blackwood-Clementon Rd. Pine hill NJ 08021

Arrest/Voorhees: Miranda Ulmer

28 YOA 500 block of Erial Rd. Sicklerville NJ (Winslow)

This collaborative investigation is the result of local police partnership and networking that led to the disruption of a serial theft crew.  Business owners are encouraged to inspect their air condition units during the off season to ensure they were not victimized by similar crimes.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certified Gloucester Township officers utilized the Gloucester Township Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to capture images of the destruction caused by the copper bandits.

Owner Of Empire Pharmacy In Hudson County Admits Role In Multi-Million Dollar Conspiracies

TRENTON, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man today admitted participating in conspiracies to commit health care fraud and to bribe a doctor, U.S. Attorney Craig

Carpenito announced.

Eduard “Eddy” Shtindler, 36, of Paramus, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks to a doctor.

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

From 2012 through at least 2017, Shtindler owned and operated the now-defunct Empire Pharmacy in West New York, New Jersey. Starting in 2015, Empire began filling prescriptions for expensive specialty medication that required “prior authorization” before being approved for reimbursement payment by Medical, Medicaid, and some private insurance providers. To entice doctors to use Empire to fill such medications, Shtindler planned to have Empire receive prior authorization approval more successfully than any other pharmacies. He directed Empire employees, including two pharmacists, to repeatedly falsify prior authorization forms for medications for different conditions, including psoriasis and Hepatitis C. Shtindler was captured on recorded conversations admitting to his and Empire’s practice of falsifying prior authorization forms in order to receive approval for medication that would not have otherwise been approved.

From 2012 through early 2017, Shtindler participated in a conspiracy to pay bribes to a psychiatrist in Hudson County, New Jersey, to induce the doctor to send prescriptions to Empire. Shtindler sent Empire employees to deliver some of the bribe payments to the doctor. On occasion, Shtindler secreted cash bribes, in $100 denominations, in pill bottles that were delivered to the doctor. In exchange for these bribes, the doctor steered patients to use Empire pharmacy, even though the patients used other pharmacies closer to their homes for all of their other prescriptions. In one recorded conversation between Shtindler and a concerned former Empire employee who had delivered a bribe to the doctor on Shtindler’s behalf, Shtindler was captured stating, “You think [the doctor]’s going to go to the FBI and rat himself out?” In another conversation with the same former employee regarding the same topic of bribe payment Shtindler had the employee deliver to the doctor, Shtindler was captured saying, “First off, I didn’t make you do it. I didn’t put a gun to your head. We all made money together.” Shtindler concluded, “It is business.”

As part of his plea agreement, Shtindler agreed to loss amounts between $1.5 million and $3.5 million for each of the charged conspiracies to which he pleaded guilty.

The count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and the count of conspiring to pay illegal kickbacks is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison. Both offenses are punishable by a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; special agents of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; and the N.J. Office of the State Comptroller, under the direction of Comptroller Philip James Degnan, with the ongoing investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua L. Haber of the Health Care & Government Fraud Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.

Defense counsel: Albert Y. Dayan. Esq., Queens, New York