Tag: U.S. Attorney’s Office
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Florida man admits assaulting two military officers at Joint Base MDL with his car
A Florida man admitted to assaulting two U.S. Air Force military police officers with his car in 2020. Hal Wander, 25, of Port Charlotte, Florida, pleaded guilty by teleconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez on Feb. 8 to an information charging him with assault on two federal officers using a deadly and dangerous…
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Area man sentenced to prison for role in gun trafficking conspiracy
A Marlboro resident with a prior felony conviction has been sentenced to five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and conspiring to illegally sell firearms, including handguns and a semi-automatic rifle, in and around Monmouth and Ocean counties, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Jan. 26. Javier Rodriguez-Valpais, 33, aka “Broly,” previously…
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Woodbridge man sentenced to home confinement for selling ivory carvings
A Woodbridge man was sentenced to five years’ probation, including six months’ home confinement, for the interstate sale of carvings made of sperm whale ivory. Richard Gontarek, 55, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court to an information, charging him with two counts of violating the Lacey Act,…
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Woodbridge man sentenced to 18 months for lying on application to join DEA
A Middlesex County man was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Jan. 26 for making false statements to United States government agencies. Gulshan Manko, 37, of Woodbridge, pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2021, by videoconference before Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to an information charging him with one count of making false…
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Area man sentenced for falsely labeling shipment of wildlife as ‘toys’
A Farmingdale resident has been sentenced to three years of probation, with six months of home confinement, for falsely labeling as “toys” a package containing 10 live rhinoceros iguanas that was destined for Hong Kong, U.S Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on Jan. 25. Jason Ksepka, 44, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid…
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Pennington massage therapist’s license revoked for misconduct
The license of a massage therapist at Renewed Spa on Route 31 in Pennington has been revoked by the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy in a “final order” filed Dec. 22, according to acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck. The massage therapist, 43-year-old Asmar R. Berry of Trenton, will be permanently barred…
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Monmouth County News Briefs, Dec. 22
The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded CASA for Children of Monmouth a $10,000 grant as part of its 2021 Giving Tuesday grant award. The grant will support CASA of Monmouth’s program of advocacy for the foster children they serve, according to a press release. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. “CASA of Monmouth is…
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Amtrak employee admits stealing, reselling equipment from North Brunswick facility
An Ocean County man admitted to fraudulently obtaining chainsaws and chainsaw parts from his employer and then selling this equipment for personal profit. Jose Rodriguez, 49, of Brick, pleaded guilty by videoconference on Dec. 13 before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi to an information charging him with one count of mail fraud, according to…
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Middlesex County residents accused of unemployment insurance fraud
A Middlesex County man and woman and a New York man were charged on Dec. 10 for their alleged roles in a fraud committed in connection with unemployment insurance benefits. Christopher Valerio, 31, of Woodbridge; Yanira Abreu, 40, of Keasbey; and Jose Tavares, 34, of New York, New York, are each charged by complaint with…