Category Archives: News
Money Laundering and Corruption Charges Dropped
Money Laundering and Corruption Charges Dropped
Newark- Louis Manz a former state Assembly has had all charges of dropped against him for one New Jersey’s largest corruption cases to date.
Among the Federal charges had been money laundering and corruption.
Out of Africa: Concert promoter freed from fraud charges
Concert promoter freed from fraud charges
Patrick Allocco a Morris Township concert promoter and his son where freed from a being held for 50 days on fraud charges in Angola, Africa after Nas who was supposed to perform was a no show.
The New Jersey Supreme Court reverses 2010 appellate court’s decision on negligence and fraud
The New Jersey Supreme Court reverses 2010 appellate court’s decision on negligence and fraud between one of the nations largest accounting firms: KPMG LLP and Cast Art Industries;
Attorney John Koufos Charged with Hit and Run After First Getting Employee to Try to Take the Fall
After a 2011 Lexus belonging to Ocean County attorney John Koufos of the firm Koufos and Norgaard, was found to be involved in a hit and run, many in the Ocean County legal community were wondering how John fit in to all of this. However, it was soon learned that an employee of his, Craig Terlizzi was the one that was driving the car. As a result, Terlizzi was charged. After the story broke, rumors swirled that Terlizzi was a “fall guy” both in the courthouse and on the app.com message boards. The fact that Koufos drove his Lexus to an Ocean County Bar Association function that night probably helped investigators unravel the lie as Koufos turned himself in to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office today to face a number of charges including the hit and run charge.
The above was taken from here and other news articles.
Clearly, Koufos’ license to practice law is in serious jeopardy. He is (was) a very talented attorney and it is tough for many in the legal community to see one of their own involved in something like this. The only good news is that no one was killed.
Holmdel CDS Defense Lawyers – State Police arrest 20 at Phish concert for drug related crimes
Holmdel CDS Defense Lawyers
New Jersey State Police arrested 20 Phish fans nabbed with various hallucinogenic and illegal recreational drugs at the band’s concert Tuesday night at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. The 20 people were found in possession of or distributing hallucinogenic drugs including ketamine, LSD, Ecstasy and psilocybin — more commonly known as mushrooms, along with marijuana, cocaine and nitrous oxide gas, according to court documents. The busts came as part of a detail of State Police officers specifically assigned to the Phish concert. According to law enforcement, Phish fans are notorious for their use of mind-altering drugs, especially hallucinogenic substances.
Some of those arrested Tuesday night are:
— Patrick R. Blanke, 25, of Pelham, Mass., who is charged with possession of Ecstasy and possession and distribution of ketamine in the north overflow parking lot of the venue. He is being held in the Monmouth County Jail in Freehold Township on $15,000 full cash bail.
— John F. Cassidy, 19, of Ambler, Pa., who is charged with selling nitrous oxide contained in yellow balloons. He is being held in the county jail on $2,500 full cash bail.
— Casey R. Decker, 29, of Norwich, N.Y., who is charged with possession of psilocybin, a drug most commonly used in the form of “magic mushrooms.” He is being held in the county jail on $10,000 full cash bail.
— James J. Philbin, 33, of Dorchester, Mass., who is charged with various possession and distribution offenses related to marijuana, LSD, and Ecstasy. He remains held in the county jail on $40,000 full cash bail.
— Evan B. Seplow, 31, of Cedarhurst, N.Y., who is charged with possessing seven hits of LSD. He is being held in the county jail on $5,000 full cash bail.
— Joseph J. Washburn, 32, of Lahabra, Calif., who is charged with possession of about one gram of cocaine and the possession and distribution of 22 Ziploc bags containing marijuana. He is being held at the county jail on $10,000 full cash bail.
If you are arrested in Holmdel for possession or distribution of CDS, call the Holmdel, Monmouth County Criminal Defense Lawyers at 732-773-2768.
Hoboken issues large number of tickets for Saint Patricks Day Parade including Public Urination and Open Container
This past weekend, the Hoboken Police Department issued a large number of tickets during the Saint Patricks Day Parade. Police issued tickets for Public Urination, Open Container, DWI, DUI, Simple Assault, Disorderly Conduct among others. Fines in Hoboken for some of these offenses such as Public Urination could be $2,000. These tickets are big money makers for the city and having a criminal conviction on your record may impact various aspects of your life. Because we do so many cases out of Hoboken, our rates are very competitive. Thus, call us at 732-773-2768 to discuss your case with out of our tough, smart attorneys. Our fee plus the fine we can work out for you (assuming you decide to plea guilty) may be less than half of the maxium fine!
For more information, visit the Hoboken Criminal Defense Lawyers website now.
Joseph Spicuzzo, former Middlesex County Sheriff, charged with corruption
Attorney General Paula T. Dow announced that former Middlesex County Sheriff Joseph C. Spicuzzo was arrested this morning on charges that he demanded bribes of up to $25,000 from individuals seeking employment or promotions in the sheriff’s office. According to the State, Spicuzzo, 65, of Helmetta, N.J., surrendered to State Police detectives in Hamilton, Mercer County. He was charged by complaint with pattern of official misconduct and bribery, both second-degree offenses. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, with a mandatory minimum term of five years without possibility of parole. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Bureau. The Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau is prosecuting the case.
It is alleged that on two or more occasions from 2007 to 2008, while serving as county sheriff, Spicuzzo demanded that severa people pay him bribes in return for him appointing them as new sheriff’s investigators or promoting them within the sheriff’s office. Sheriff’s officers are hired through the civil service system, but sheriff’s investigators are appointed by the sheriff. It is alleged that Spicuzzo solicited and accepted individual bribes of up to $25,000 from new hires for investigator positions. He allegedly took bribes totaling at least $50,000.
Spicuzzo was Middlesex County Sheriff for nearly 30 years. He is currently Middlesex County Democratic Party chairman, a position he has held for 16 years, and a commissioner on the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, to which he was appointed in December 2009. Clearly, there are many calls for him to step down.
The state’s investigation revealed that young applicants who were trying to obtain law enforcement positions as investigators were forced to use all sources of funding available to them to pay the alleged bribes. It is alleged that Spicuzzo also solicited bribes from more senior members of the office seeking promotion to new positions. The investigation into alleged misconduct by Spicuzzo in the sheriff’s office is continuing, and further details of the investigation have not been released yet.
Under state law, second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000. Each of the charges carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison without parole under New Jersey’s statutory sentencing enhancements for public corruption. The mandatory minimum sentence applies to certain listed offenses occurring on or after April 14, 2007 that involve or touch upon the defendant’s public office. Spicuzzo could potentially face consecutive sentences on the charges.
Vineland police charge VHS-South substitute teacher in sex assault of student at party
A substitute teacher has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a student at a party, according to Vineland police. Remarno O. Chambers, 27, of Vineland, is charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault. Chambers is accused of assaulting the student at a party attended by high school students after supplying the alleged victim with “alcohol and/or drugs,” according to police.
Chambers had been a substitute teacher at Vineland High School South, on East Chestnut Avenue. Vineland Public Schools spokesman John Sbrana stated he had been teaching there since September 2010. Sbrana stated he could not comment on Chambers’ current employment status with the school district, adding the school board will review the case and come to a decision at a later date.
According to records available at Cumberland County Courthouse, Chambers had been charged in July 2006 with assault. However, the offense was later downgraded to municipal court. The records list Chambers’ address at that time as West Chestnut Avenue, in Vineland.
Story is here.
New Brunswick man accused of leading police on 50-mile chase after jewelry store heist
A New Brunswick man has been charged with leading police on a 50-mile chase in a stolen van after allegedly stealing $7,000 worth of jewelry from a Middletown store, authorities said yesterday. After crashing the van in Newark on Monday, Eugene Andreola was arrested and charged by police in Middletown and Woodbridge in connection with the theft of the van, two car chases and the robbery of a jewelry store, said Middletown Detective Lt. Stephen Dollinger.
Police were first tipped off to Andreola’s whereabouts by the owner of an Edison business, who told authorities his van was stolen earlier that day and the GPS tracking indicated the vehicle was in Middletown, Dollinger said. Middletown police Sgt. Paul Bailey first spotted the van traveling in the wrong direction on Route 35. Bailey chased the van into Perth Amboy where Middletown police called off the pursuit, Dollinger said. During the chase, Middletown police received a report of an alarm at the Jovi Fine Jewelry store on Route 35 near New Monmouth Road. The glass front door had been smashed, a jewelry case had been damaged and several trays of jewelry, valued at $7,000, were stolen, Dollinger said.
Spotting the van, Woodbridge police gave chase. Andreola was arrested after the van crashed in Newark, Dollinger said. He said police found the stolen jewelry in the van. Middletown police charged Andreola with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, numerous motor vehicle offenses and possession of burglary tools, said Dollinger. Woodbridge police charged him with possession of stolen property, eluding and resisting arrest.
Story is here.
Former Bridgeton cop confesses to New Jersey, Pennsylvania bank robberies
A former Bridgeton police officer, who served prison time for official misconduct, has confessed to seven bank robberies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including two robberies of the same Millville bank, according to authorities in Pennsylvania. Carl Holliday, 33, confessed Thursday to eight robberies, including one at a drug store, police in White Haven, Pa., confirmed Friday afternoon. Two of the alleged robberies occurred at the TD Bank branch on Second Street in Millville.
Around 4:15 p.m. Thursday, a man who had been present at the Nov. 18 robbery of a PNC Bank in White Haven, noticed the same gold-colored Honda Accord parked outside of the same bank. The car did not have license plates. The witness called police, who pulled over the car for the plate violation. Holliday was identified as the driver. White Haven police took him into custody and met with FBI agents at the White Haven police station.
Shupp said that while talking to White Haven police and FBI agents, Holliday confessed to robbing six banks and a Rite Aid. In Pennsylvania, he said he had robbed banks in Allentown, Quakertown and White Haven, where he also robbed a Rite Aid drug store, according to police. He said he had robbed banks in New Jersey in Paulsboro, Harrison Township and Millville. Specific dates and locations of those robberies were not released.
The Millville TD Bank was robbed twice in less than 20 days last fall, on Oct. 15 and Nov. 4. At the time, authorities said they believed those robberies were committed by the same person. Shupp said that it was through extensive efforts by White Haven Officer Thomas Szoke, whose idea it was to institute a neighborhood watch program in White Haven, as well as the reporting resident, that the case was solved as fast as it was.
He said he was taken to the Federal Courthouse for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Scranton, and was arraigned Friday afternoon on one charge of bank robbery in relation to the robbery of the PNC Bank in White Haven. He was formerly an officer with Millville, the Bridgeton Board of Education, and most recently the Bridgeton Police Department. Holliday’s tenure in Bridgeton came to an end following a November 2006 incident, in which he and Gregory Willis, who were on duty in an unmarked police vehicle, arrested Rigoverto Diaz. Holliday told the man in Spanish they were taking him home. While driving with Diaz, he and Willis pulled over a man for suspicion of drunken driving. The man was the brother of another police officer, and rather than arrest him, Holliday and Willis dropped him off at another bar.
After dropping the man off, they continued with Diaz to Bridgeton City Park, where Holliday allegedly punched and kicked him, and stole his wallet, cell phone and hat.
Diaz reported the incident to the Bridgeton police. Willis and Holliday eventually pleaded to second-degree official misconduct for not arresting the drunken man, though they never actually pleaded to anything involving their alleged robbing of Diaz. Willis was sentenced to three years in state prison and Holliday to three and a half, though both were released into an intensive supervision program after about only three months in the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Wrightstown. The ISP included mandatory employment, curfews, drug tests and community service.
Story is here.
Tonacchio Law LC 