Staten Island Man Faces Charges After Allegedly Trying to Run Over Girlfriend
Douglas Parsley, of Staten Island, was charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, drunken driving and multiple motor vehicle violations. He allegedly got into an argument in front of a gas station on Route 35 with his girlfriend, Tammy Robinson, also of Staten Island, over whether he was too intoxicated to drive. He then allegedly attempted to run over Robinson while she was standing with her 8-year-old daughter and the girl’s 6-year-old friend. When officers arrived, Parsley had fled in his blue Infiniti. Several minutes later, other officers attempted to pull the car over, but Parsley allegedly failed to stop for the officers and was eventually apprehended at a cul-de-sac in Hazlet.
Hazlet police assisted and charged Parsley with eluding and criminal mischief.
Story is here.
Possession of fireworks in New Jersey is a Crime
The New Jersey Attorney General has reminded the public that fireworks are illegal in New Jersey and that police will be cracking down on anyone who is found in possession of fireworks. In addition, State Police will be watching for people who are driving to Pennsylvania to buy fireworks to bring back to New Jersey. How they actually plan to do this is unknown.
Possession of fireworks in New Jersey is a disorderly persons offense which means that jail time is possible and you will have a criminal record if convicted. Possession of fireworks with the intent to sell is a fourth-degree offense with a possible maximum penalty of 18 months imprisonment and fines up to $10,000. If you are charged with possession of fireworks in any court in New Jersey, you should call an attorney right away. I can be reached at anytime.
16 arrested in prostitution bust in Asbury Park
Two undercover female police officers waited on Kingsley Avenue in Asbury Park and were approached by 16 men offering between $10 and $100 for sexual services. Among those arrested and charged with solicitation for prostitution were:
Anthony Berry, 38, of Neptune
Joseph World, 69, Asbury Park
Jason Cohen, 39, of Matawan
Peter Coussoulis, 45, of Wall
Troy Dooney, 25, of Manalapan
Lawrence Kelly, 66, of Hamilton
Albert Hairston, 47, of Long Branch
Yonathan Zvuluni, 63, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Camilo Jose-Jimenez, 35, Asbury Park
Clifton Edwards, 35, of Bradley Beach
Robert Akes, 62, of Mooringsport, La.
Orlando Cajigas, 33, of Freehold
Gary Swartz, 78, of Ocean Township
Israel Cantera-Guerrero, 27, Asbury Park
John Szeles, 52, Asbury Park
Brick man charged with extortion
James V. Randazzo Jr. of Brick, New Jersey was arrested after a confrontation with a fence installer. He started yelling about the installation of the fence by a neighbor and an employee of Missing Link Fence Co. allegedly telling the two men he will “have some friends of his take care of them,”. There was also a dispute about money which allegedly led him to say “You don’t get me some money in an hour I will shoot you”.
He was charged with extortion and making terroristic threats. I think a good attorney could handle these charges pretty quickly.
Story is here.
40 Charged in Investigation Targeting Drug Dealing in Violent Newark Neighborhoods
TRENTON – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor today announced charges against 40 people as a result of an investigation into a drug distribution network linked to the Bloods street gang that operated in two violent Newark neighborhoods. The investigation, which resulted in arrests of the leaders of the ring, also uncovered smuggling of cell phones and drugs into Northern State Prison.
The charges stem from Operation Red Storm, an 18-month investigation led by the Division of Criminal Justice, with assistance from the Boonton Police Department, Newark Police Department, New Jersey Department of Corrections and New Jersey State Police.
Detectives and officers of the Division of Criminal Justice, Newark Police Department, Boonton Police and Department of Corrections arrested 19 individuals yesterday at various locations. Ten other defendants were arrested previously in the investigation. Another 11 defendants are being sought on arrest warrants or summonses. Detectives have seized more than 250 “bricks” of heroin, over a kilogram of cocaine, more than $60,000 in cash, four semi-automatic handguns, an assault rifle, and four vehicles.
The investigation focused on a network that was distributing heroin and cocaine in two sections of Newark: the Fabyan Avenue area and the “Chadwick Corridor” including Avon and Chadwick Avenues. The Chadwick Corridor has been identified by the Newark Police Department as one of the most violent districts in the city. Among those arrested are two Newark men alleged to be leaders of the network: Ameer Thompson, 28, and Cardeia “Fatboy” Harrell, 33. The investigation also resulted in charges against a cook employed at Northern State Prison, Elijah Harris, 35, of Newark, and an inmate, Norman Willie Wade, 45, who allegedly were smuggling drugs and cell phones into the prison to sell to inmates.
“We have arrested the alleged leaders and numerous other members of a drug network linked to the Bloods, which used guns to control its turf in two particularly violent sections of Newark,” said Attorney General Dow. “Our goal in taking down this criminal network is to disrupt its drug trafficking activities and make these neighborhoods safer.”
“This is another great example of an intelligence-led investigation involving cooperation among state and local law enforcement agencies,” said Director Taylor. “We will continue to make such investigations a priority in our efforts to combat drug trafficking and violent street gangs.”
“I commend the dedicated and cooperative efforts of all the law enforcement agencies that took part in this exhaustive investigation,” said Director Garry McCarthy of the Newark Police Department. “Today’s arrests are another step toward ridding our city of violent, habitual offenders who have little regard for the law or the neighborhoods they attempt to control,” he concluded.
“I commend the law enforcement agencies whose collaborative efforts throughout this investigation led to these charges,” said Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan of the Department of Corrections. “Bringing a cell phone – not to mention narcotics – into a prison is rightfully classified as a criminal offense, and the individuals responsible have been appropriately charged. This is just the latest example of why the passage of the Safe Prisons Communication Act, which would allow cell phone jamming in prisons under specific circumstances, is so critically important. Passage of the bill would mean that even if an inmate managed to acquire a cell phone, it would be useless in a prison setting.”
“Operation Red Storm was a first class undertaking from start to finish,” said Boonton Police Chief Mike Beltran. “It is an outstanding example of teamwork among law enforcement agencies large and small in engaging drug trafficking activity that affected not only Newark but suburban regions also. The Boonton Police Department was glad to participate in the success of the operation. We thank Detective Renshaw and the other members of the Division of Criminal Justice team who worked with our detective on the case. Their professionalism and work ethic made the difference.”
Thompson was arrested today. He is charged with first-degree offenses, including leading a narcotics trafficking network, distribution of narcotics, and conspiracy to distribute narcotics. The charge of leading a narcotics trafficking network carries a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Harrell is charged with distribution of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, both in the second degree.
Harrell was arrested on June 10 along with Aaron Watson, 33, of Newark, as the two men allegedly met to conduct a drug transaction. Watson allegedly had 171 grams of cocaine and two bricks of heroin in a hidden compartment in his vehicle, along with bylaws and other documents related to the Brick City Brims set of the Bloods. He allegedly had $2,000 on his person. Harrell allegedly had $2,304 on his person, and $8,000 in a hidden compartment of his car.
A search warrant was executed that day at Watson’s apartment, where detectives allegedly seized approximately a kilo of cocaine, 12 bricks of heroin, $40,255 in cash, a scale and narcotics packaging materials. Watson is charged with first-degree offenses of distribution of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute. Search warrants were executed at eight other locations. Arrests made yesterday resulted in the recovery of additional drugs, three handguns, one assault rifle and $6,000 in cash.
Elijah Harris was arrested on June 11 by members of the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division and New Jersey State Police. Harris is charged with bribery, official misconduct, conspiracy to distribute heroin, and providing a cell phone to a prison inmate, all second-degree offenses.
Wade is charged with second-degree conspiracy for allegedly conspiring with Harris to distribute narcotics and cell phones in the prison.
A Newark woman who is employed as a state corrections officer at Northern State Prison, Gale Bishop, 53, is charged with second-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute. The charge relates to alleged conduct that occurred outside of the prison.
The remaining defendants are charged with second- and third-degree offenses of drug distribution or possession with intent to distribute. A full list of the defendants and charges is attached to this release.
Six arrested in Toms River heroin bust
A three-month narcotics investigation by the Toms Rover Police Special Enforcement Team culminated in the arrest of six people, along with 719 bags of heroin, drug paraphernalia and prescription drugs. Arrested in the raid were: Derrick Parrish of Alexandria Drive; Carol Plant of Brick; and Miguel Ortiz of Farmingdale. They are each charged with possession of heroin and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone.
Tiffani Bragg, of South Toms River, is facing the same charges and a warrant has been issued for her arrest. Regina Valerioti and Patrick Turco both of the same Alexandria Drive address as Parrish, are charged with possession of heroin.
Story is here.
Brick man arrested after fight with neighbor
When police arrived on the 900 block of Lynnwood Avenue, Brick around 3:30 p.m. Friday, neighbors across the street from Louis Sollitto reported he threatened them, and they played a recording of an argument. While police were talking with the neighbors, Sollitto continued to yell and threaten them, including threatening to kill the neighbor and cause damage to the neighbor’s property. Police tried to approach Sollitto, who kept the officer at bay using a pair of pit bulls as a barrier.
When the police tried to arrest Sollitto, he took a swing at the officer before the two fought to the ground. The dogs came out of the house during the altercation, forcing the officer to use pepper spray to force the animals to retreat. Sollitto was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, making terroristic threats, resisting arrest and weapons offenses. Additional charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief were lodged against Sollitto after he spit inside of the patrol car.
Story is here.
Nine Indicted on Gun Trafficking & Weapons Charges
Attorney General Paula T. Dow today announced indictments against nine individuals, including a man who allegedly was bringing guns from Virginia to sell to gang members in Trenton, and a Glassboro man who allegedly was illegally selling assault weapons. The indictments stem from a historic partnership involving the New Jersey State Police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Division of Criminal Justice and other agencies to trace crime guns and investigate those illicitly trafficking guns in New Jersey.
The Division of Criminal Justice obtained an indictment charging Trayle Beasley, 29, of Trenton, with leading a network that trafficked guns to Trenton from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, including guns recovered in connection with several homicide investigations and a narcotics investigation. Three Virginia men and a New Jersey man are charged with conspiring with him. Beasley is charged with leading a gun trafficking network, a first-degree crime which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
A second indictment charges a Glassboro man with selling assault weapons to an undercover trooper, and possessing a machine gun and assault rifles in his home. Two more indictments charge a Fort Dix soldier with unlawfully disposing of two handguns he brought to New Jersey from Texas, and mailing a third gun from Texas to two co-defendants in New Jersey.
The indictments resulted from investigations led by the New Jersey State Police – ATF Joint Firearms Task Force and Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. The task force includes members of the Trenton Police Department, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. The task force also worked with the Hamilton Police Department (Mercer County), East Windsor Police Department, Glassboro Police Department, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, and officers from the Eastern Shore Drug Task Force in Virginia, including members of the Virginia State Police, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Department and the Accomack County Sheriff’s Department.
Two of the cases resulted from NJ Trace, a first-in-the-nation partnership of the Attorney General’s Office, State Police and ATF to trace crime guns recovered in New Jersey using ATF’s national eTrace information system. An Attorney General directive requires that information on all guns seized by police in New Jersey be entered into the system for tracking within 24 hours.
According to ATF statistics, approximately 75 percent of the guns that were recovered by police in New Jersey in 2009 and traced to their state of origin came from outside of New Jersey. Approximately 16 percent – the largest share of any other state – came from Pennsylvania, followed by Virginia, which was the source of 9 percent of the guns. Texas ranked ninth among the source states, with 55 guns originating there.
Beasley Indictment
According to Director Taylor, Beasley was indicted by a state grand jury on Friday, May 21. The indictment stems from an investigation by the State Police – ATF Joint Firearms Task Force, Trenton Police Department, Hamilton (Mercer County) Police Department, East Windsor Police Department, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and Eastern Shore Drug Task Force in Virginia.
Four other men were charged with second-degree conspiracy and other offenses for allegedly conspiring with Beasley to transport guns into New Jersey illegally, or to unlawfully possess or dispose of guns in New Jersey. They are:
■Amoi Smith, 21, of Cranbury;
■Johnathan Johnson, 28, of Cape Charles, Va.;
■Bobby Lee Henderson, 24, of Townsend, Va.; and
■Larry Nottingham, 28, of Eastville, Va.
It is alleged that Beasley was selling guns to drug dealers and gang members in Trenton. He allegedly solicited individuals in the Eastern Shore of Virginia to provide him with guns. Growing up, Beasley lived in both New Jersey and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Beasley allegedly preferred to deal in revolvers because they do not leave shell casings at crime scenes.
Beasley is charged specifically in connection with 12 guns, including eight handguns, two shotguns and two rifles. Five of the guns were seized by the Maryland State Police on Nov. 16, 2008, when they executed a search warrant for Beasley’s car after stopping him as he drove north on Route 13 in Worcester County, Md. Beasley served a one-year prison sentence in Maryland for unlawful possession of those guns, which included a shotgun and four handguns. The other seven guns were recovered by police in New Jersey in connection with crimes. The investigation into Beasley stemmed from intelligence gathered through the NJ Trace program.
It is alleged that Johnson would either purchase or gather weapons for Beasley or would coordinate meetings for Beasley, during which Beasley would purchase weapons from others in the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Beasley allegedly bought guns with money, marijuana or other narcotics. Henderson and Nottingham alleged sold guns that Beasley transported or attempted to transport to New Jersey. Smith allegedly traveled to Virginia with Beasley on trips to get guns. Beasley and Smith are also charged in a pending indictment obtained by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office in connection with an armed robbery in East Windsor in March 2009.
Beasley is being held in the Mercer County Jail with bail set at $250,000 cash. Arrest warrants were issued for the other four defendants in connection with the indictment.
Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a $150,000 fine. In addition to the second-degree conspiracy count against all five defendants, Beasley and Johnson each face numerous other second-degree counts. Smith and Henderson each face one second-degree count of either transportation or attempted transportation of a firearm into New Jersey for unlawful sale or transfer. Beasley and Nottingham are charged with fourth-degree unlawful disposition of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Beasley is charged with four counts, and Nottingham with one.
Dixon Indictment
According to Director Taylor, Horace Dixon Jr., 49, of Glassboro, is charged in a May 20 state grand jury indictment in connection with 11 guns, including one machine gun, six semi-automatic rifles, three semi-automatic pistols, and one shotgun. He allegedly sold four of the guns to an undercover State Police detective, and the other seven guns were seized when investigators executed search warrants for his car and home.
Dixon was arrested by state troopers on Aug. 13, 2009, in the parking lot of a bowling alley on Route 47 in Glassboro as a result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police – ATF Joint Firearms Task Force, Glassboro Police Department and Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office. Dixon was allegedly at the location to sell guns to an undercover State Police detective.
In early July, the Glassboro Police Department learned of two assault rifles for sale and contacted the ATF. As a result, a State Police detective acting undercover as part of the Joint Firearms Task Force allegedly arranged to purchase weapons from Dixon. When purchasing the guns, the undercover detective allegedly indicated to Dixon that he planned to deface the serial numbers on the guns and sell them on the street.
It is alleged that on July 17, 2009, Dixon sold the undercover detective two guns for $3,000, a 7.62 x 39 mm FEG semi-automatic rifle and a .233-caliber Norinco semi-automatic rifle. He allegedly included three large-capacity ammunition magazines for the Norinco rifle. It is alleged that on Aug. 7, 2009, Dixon sold two more guns to the undercover detective for $2,000, a .380-caliber Bersa semi-automatic pistol and a .223-caliber Romarm semi-automatic rifle. He allegedly included a large-capacity magazine for the Romarm rifle.
When Dixon was arrested, police executed a search warrant for his car and seized a .45-caliber Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistol, a .380-caliber Star semi-automatic pistol, a 12-gauge Shandong 1st Machine Works pump action shotgun, a 7.62 x 39 mm Romarm semi-automatic rifle, and a large-capacity magazine for the Romarm rifle.
A search warrant executed at Dixon’s home allegedly yielded a grenade launcher and more than 60 guns, including three guns that are charged in the indictment: a Deutsche Waffen Munitionsfabriken water-cooled, belt-fed machine gun, a .223-caliber Ruger semi-automatic rifle, and a 7.62 x 39 mm Norinco semi-automatic rifle.
Dixon was charged in the 25-count indictment with one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun (2nd degree), five counts of unlawful possession of an assault firearm (2nd degree), three counts of unlawful possession of a handgun (2nd degree), two counts of unlawful disposition of an assault firearm (3rd degree), four counts of unlawful possession of a rifle (3rd degree), one count of unlawful possession of a shotgun (3rd degree), seven counts of possession of a prohibited weapon (4th degree), and two counts of unlawful disposition of a firearm (4th degree).
Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. The second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a handgun and unlawful possession of a machine gun each carry a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of three to five years in prison. The third-degree offenses carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, including a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, and a $15,000 fine. Fourth-degree offenses carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Dixon is currently free on bail.
Ivery Indictments
William James Ivery, 30, a member of the U.S. Army who is currently stationed at Fort Dix, was charged in a state grand jury indictment returned on Tuesday, May 25, with one count of third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of fourth-degree unlawful disposition of a firearm. It is alleged that Ivery purchased two Jennings .380-caliber handguns in Texas, while stationed there, and later disposed of them unlawfully in New Jersey. One of them was recovered from a stolen vehicle in New Brunswick.
A second indictment returned on Tuesday, May 25, charges Ivery and two other men, Ronald Blakely Jr., 29, of Hamilton, and Abdul Smith, 28, of Trenton. It is alleged that Ivery, at Blakely’s request, mailed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun that he purchased in Texas to an address in Maple Shade, N.J., where Blakely and Smith allegedly retrieved it. The Trenton Police arrested Smith in possession of the gun on March 9, 2008. In connection with that arrest, Smith is charged in a pending indictment obtained by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office with second-degree possession of a gun as a convicted felon and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point bullets.
The state grand jury indictment charges Ivery, Blakely and Smith with third-degree conspiracy, which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. In addition, it charges Ivery and Blakely with fourth-degree unlawful disposition of a firearm, and charges Blakely and Smith with third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and fourth-degree violation of firearm regulations.
Bail is set at $50,000 for Smith, $40,000 for Ivery, and $35,000 for Blakely.
James Leonard, retired assistant principal of Toms River North, charged with aggravated sexual assault
James Leonard, a retired assistant principal was arrested Friday and charged with sexually assaulting a 20-year-old Toms River man last month. He was charged with aggravated sexual assault after an investigation into the incident, which reportedly occurred at his home. His bail was surprisingly low at $25,000. This could reflect the strength of the State’s case.
Story is here.
Update – May 24, 2010 – 2:10PM
The latest story from the APP is still short on details. However, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is now looking to the public to see if anyone else has any relevant information. My opinion? The case is very shaky and they need to bolster the alleged victim’s credibility. This guy needs a good attorney to jump on this case right away.
Updated story is here.
DYFS Dispositional Hearings
The recent case of DYFS v. O.G. (App. Div. 2010) shows us that the Appellate Divison is going to use MCIII to shut down a lot of appeals based upon invited error, including dispositional hearings. Thus, it is important to clarify whether the court apperance is a compliance hearing or a dispositional hearing as there was clearly some confusion in OG. It seems like the parent at issue probably thought that there would be another day to fight but as a result of the parent consenting to a visitation schedule, the Appellate Division shut down the appeal based upon invited error. Thus, it is important to under what a dispositional hearing is and to fight to get the child (or children) back at that hearing.
As the Supreme Court recently re-emphasized in N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. G.M., supra, 198 N.J. at 401, there is a distinction between the initial fact-finding hearing at which the Family Part decides whether the child has been abused or neglected, and the later dispositional hearing at which the court determines “what order should be made.” See
On the other hand, after the fact-finding hearing, the court may adjourn the proceedings “to enable it to make inquiry into the surroundings, conditions and capacities of the persons involved in the proceedings.”
Following a dispositional hearing, the court “shall enter an order of disposition” which may include releasing the child to the parent who had custody at the time the action commenced,
A parent who did not have primary physical custody, i.e., a non-custodial parent, certainly may be a “suitable person” and is obviously a “relative” of the child. Consistent with the plain words of Title Nine, we find no reasonable basis to exclude a non-custodial parent from being considered as someone with whom the court may place the child. See
[G.M., supra, 198 N.J. at 404.]
In G.M., supra, the Court held that a dispositional hearing is a critically important stage of a Title Nine proceeding:
[U]pon a finding of abuse and neglect, the offending parent or guardian is entitled to a dispositional hearing to determine whether the children may safely return to his or her custody, and if not, what the proper disposition should be.
[Id. at 387-88.]
In G.M., the children were appropriately removed from their mother’s custody in New Jersey and temporarily placed with their father in Florida, based on substantiated findings of her neglect. Id. at 400-01. However, the mother’s Title Nine rights were violated when DYFS, having previously recommended that the children be reunited with their mother, unexpectedly announced at a later hearing that it believed the children should remain with the father, and the trial court adopted that recommendation without giving the mother an opportunity for a dispositional hearing. Id. at 393.
While the Court disapproved our determination that the trial court should have held a custody hearing of the type that would be held in a non-Title Nine matrimonial case, the Court affirmed the mother’s right to a dispositional hearing:
[W]e disagree with the [appellate] panel’s judgment to remand for a custody determination based on the best interests of the child standard. The key deficiency of the proceeding below was not in the failure to hold a custody hearing, but in the failure to hold a dispositional hearing.
At the dispositional hearing, both sides may present material and relevant evidence for the court to determine whether the children may safely be released to the custody of their mother, who was responsible for their care at the time of the filing of the complaint, or whether, consistent with
[Id. at 402.] If you are facing a dispositional hearing in any court in New Jersey and you want a DYFS lawyer on your side that will fight for you, call me now.
For more information visit http://www.njdyfsattorney.com
Tonacchio Law LC 