STL News

N.J: Javier Maldonado Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

6Nov

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N.J: Javier Maldonado Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

N.J: Hunterdon County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for His Role in Plot to Distribute Cocaine (STL.News) – A Hunterdon County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Javier Maldonado, 46, of Hampton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. Judge Thompson imposed the sentence by videoconference today. According to...

NJ: Giuseppe D’Arancio Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison

28Oct

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NJ: Giuseppe D’Arancio Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison

NJ: Giuseppe D’Arancio Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Filing False Income Tax Returns (STL.News) – The owner of a Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, pizzeria was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for filing false income tax returns, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Giuseppe D’Arancio, 61, of Cape May Court House, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to an information charging him with five counts of filing a false income tax return for tax years 2012 through 2016. Judge Rodriguez imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court: D’Arancio and another individual owned and operated a pizzeria and kept two sets of accounting books. For tax years 2012 th...

Camden, N.J: Postal Service Employee Daniel Talorico Admits Stealing Mail

20Oct

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Camden, N.J: Postal Service Employee Daniel Talorico Admits Stealing Mail

(STL.News) – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man today admitted to stealing gift cards and cash from mail that passed through post offices where he was employed, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Daniel Talorico, 40, of Sewell, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference today before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to an information charging him with one count of theft of mail by a postal employee. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Talorico was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a laborer custodian in post offices in Burlington County and Camden County, New Jersey. Between May 2019 and October 2019, Talorico stole gift cards and cash from greeting cards and other mail that passed through the post offices where he worked. The ...

Newark, N.J: William Kaetz Arrested for Threatening to Injure Federal Judge

19Oct

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Newark, N.J: William Kaetz Arrested for Threatening to Injure Federal Judge

(STL.News) – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested Oct. 18, 2020, for threatening to injure a federal judge, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. William Kaetz, 56, of Paramus, New Jersey, was charged by criminal complaint with making an interstate communication containing a threat to injure a person and with threatening to assault and murder a federal judge. Kaetz is scheduled to have his initial appearance this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor. According to the criminal complaint filed in this case: On Sept. 24, 2020, Kaetz sent a communication via U.S. Mail to a federal district judge’s house, claiming to have a pending civil matter before the judge and requesting that the judge expedite the case. Kaetz was interviewed that...

Newark, N.J: U.S. Attorney Carpenito Announces Reduction in Gun-Related Violence

13Oct

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Newark, N.J: U.S. Attorney Carpenito Announces Reduction in Gun-Related Violence

Newark, N.J: U.S. Attorney Carpenito Announces Reduction in Gun-Related Violence through ‘Project Guardian’ (STL.News) – The Department of Justice today announced it charged more than 14,200 defendants with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. Of those cases, 342 have been brought by the District of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as an important part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy. These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership...

Newark, N.J: Jesus Henoc Castaneda Soberanis Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison

8Oct

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Newark, N.J: Jesus Henoc Castaneda Soberanis Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison

Newark, N.J: Jesus Henoc Castaneda Soberanis Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Heroin (STL.News) – An Illinois man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Jesus Henoc Castaneda Soberanis, 26, of Chicago, Illinois, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made ...

Newark, N.J: Bergen County Postal Employee Juan Torres Arrested for Bank Fraud

7Oct

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Newark, N.J: Bergen County Postal Employee Juan Torres Arrested for Bank Fraud

Newark, N.J: Bergen County Postal Employee Juan Torres Arrested for Bank Fraud and Mail Theft (STL.News) – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee was arrested today for stealing mail and committing bank fraud, including stealing checks sent through the mail and fraudulently depositing those checks without authorization, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Juan Torres, 27, of Hackensack, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of bank fraud and one count of mail theft. He is scheduled to appear/appeared this afternoon via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From November 2019 to Jan. 11, 2020, certain checks addressed to third-party victims and mailed to addresses on postal r...

Newark, N.J; Trevontae Washington and Ronnie Magrehbi Charged

30Sep

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Newark, N.J; Trevontae Washington and Ronnie Magrehbi Charged

Newark, N.J; Trevontae Washington and Ronnie Magrehbi Charged in Social Media Account Takeover Schemes Involving Professional and Semi-Professional Athletes | USAO-NJ (STL.News) – Two men will appear in federal court to face charges that they were involved in the unauthorized takeover of social media and other personal online accounts belonging to professional and semi-professional athletes, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. Trevontae Washington, 21, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and Ronnie Magrehbi, 20, of Orlando, Florida, are each charged in separate criminal complaints with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse. Washington is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld in the E...

Newark, N.J; District of New Jersey Announces Charges in Health Care Fraud

30Sep

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Newark, N.J; District of New Jersey Announces Charges in Health Care Fraud

Newark, N.J; District of New Jersey Announces Charges in Health Care Fraud Cases as Part of Nationwide Federal Law Enforcement Effort (STL.News) – Six individuals have been charged in New Jersey for their roles in a massive nationwide prescription medication and durable medical equipment telemedicine scheme, and three others admitted their roles in three other health care fraud cases. The announcements are part of a federal law enforcement effort to crack down on health care fraud nationwide. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, District of New Jersey, announced charges against six people: Mark Belter, 46, of North Ridgeville, Ohio; David C. Laughlin, Jr., 46, of Buckeye, Arizona; Stephen Luke, 52, of Phoenix, Arizona, were charged by complaint with conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Stat...

Newark, N.J; Jersey City Police Officer Gicella Sanchez Admits To Fraud Involving Off-Duty Work Assignments

29Sep

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Newark, N.J; Jersey City Police Officer Gicella Sanchez Admits To Fraud Involving Off-Duty Work Assignments

(STL.News) – A Jersey City police officer today admitted to conspiring to defraud Jersey City by obtaining compensation for off-duty work that she did not perform, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Gicella Sanchez, 36, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge John M. Vazquez to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to defraud a local government receiving federal funds. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Private contractors and businesses sometimes needed to use the services of off-duty Jersey City police officers for certain projects, including work within Jersey City that could obstruct the flow of traffic. The off-duty assignments were made by a Jersey City Police Department-designated ...

Camden, N.J; Joseph Brandenberger Admits Drug and Firearm Offenses

22Sep

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Camden, N.J; Joseph Brandenberger Admits Drug and Firearm Offenses

(STL.News) – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing large quantities of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, along with a firearm, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Joseph Brandenberger, 35, of Absecon, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to an information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Brandenberger was arrested following an investigation that revealed he was using a rented storage unit to conceal a large cache of drugs and a firearm. Upon execution of...

Trenton, N.J; Daniel McHugh Admits Role in Heroin Distribution Conspiracy

22Sep

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Trenton, N.J; Daniel McHugh Admits Role in Heroin Distribution Conspiracy

(STL.News) – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man today admitted that he conspired to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin as part of a conspiracy responsible for distributing significant quantities of heroin and cocaine in the Bayshore area of Monmouth and Middlesex counties, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Daniel McHugh, 50, of Sayreville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti via videoconference to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. McHugh also admitted to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine. Today’s guilty plea follows...

Camden, N.J; Christopher Kyle Johnston and two other Executives of Louisiana Compounding Pharmacy Charged

17Sep

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Camden, N.J; Christopher Kyle Johnston and two other Executives of Louisiana Compounding Pharmacy Charged

Camden, N.J; Christopher Kyle Johnston and two other Executives of Louisiana Compounding Pharmacy Charged with Defrauding State Health Benefits Programs and Identity Theft | USAO-NJ (STL.News) – Three former executives of a Louisiana compounding pharmacy are charged in a 24-count indictment with using the pharmacy to defraud New Jersey and military health benefits programs, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today. Christopher Kyle Johnston, 41, of Mandeville, Louisiana; Trent Brockmeier, 58, of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and Christopher Casseri, 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and a second conspiracy to commit identity theft by using individuals’ personal identifying information without their consent. Casseri was ...

Newark, N.J; Jeffrey Bennett and three others Charged in Scheme to Steal Mail

17Sep

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Newark, N.J; Jeffrey Bennett and three others Charged in Scheme to Steal Mail

Newark, N.J; Jeffrey Bennett and three others Charged in Scheme to Steal Mail and Commit Bank Fraud | USAO-NJ (STL.News) – Four people were arrested today for their roles in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, including soliciting U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees to steal check books and credit cards from the mail, depositing fraudulent checks, including pandemic relief checks, and using credit cards without authorization, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Jeffrey Bennett, 26, of Irvington, New Jersey; Tashon Ragan, 21, of Hillside, New Jersey; Jahaad Flip, 21, and Janel Blackman, 41, both of Newark, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Ragan and Flip are also charged with one count of passing fictitious obligations, namely counterfei...

Camden, N.J; Cristina Godinez Admits Role in Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin | USAO-NJ

14Sep

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Camden, N.J; Cristina Godinez Admits Role in Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin | USAO-NJ

(STL.News) – A Texas woman today admitted her role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Cristina Godinez, 36, of San Antonio, Texas, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Alba Lilia Diaz, 43, of Chicago, Illinois, a co-defendant, pleaded guilty July 28, 2020, to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On July 22, 2019, Diaz travelled to New Jersey to conduct a heroin sale. She provided a sa...

New Jersey; OSHA Safety and Health Officer Alvaro Idrovo and His Brother Charged

10Sep

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New Jersey; OSHA Safety and Health Officer Alvaro Idrovo and His Brother Charged

New Jersey; OSHA Safety and Health Officer and His Brother Charged with Conspiring to Extort Contractor | USAO-NJ (STL.News) – Two Essex County, New Jersey, men – a compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) with the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and his brother – are scheduled to appear today on charges that they conspired to extort $6,000 in cash from a general contractor, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Alvaro Idrovo, 44, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, and Paul Idrovo, a/k/a “Jose Diaz,” 46, of Nutley, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with knowingly and intentionally conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, specifically to commit an act of extortion under color of Alvaro Idrovo’s office or employment with OSHA...

Camden, N.J; Physician Keith Ritson and Sales Representative Charged in $2.5 Million Health Care Fraud

10Sep

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Camden, N.J; Physician Keith Ritson and Sales Representative Charged in $2.5 Million Health Care Fraud

Camden, N.J; Physician Keith Ritson and Sales Representative Charged in $2.5 Million Health Care Fraud and with Unlawful Disclosure of Patient Information | USAO-NJ (STL.News) – A federal grand jury has returned a 16-count indictment charging a physician and pharmaceutical sales representative with defrauding New Jersey state health benefits programs and other insurers out of more than $2.5 million by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, as well as unlawfully obtaining and disclosing individually identifiable patient health information protected by HIPAA, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Keith Ritson, 40, of Bayville, New Jersey, and Frank Alario, M.D., 63, of Delray Beach, Florida, are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire f...

Trenton, N.J; Akintunde Adeyemi Sentenced to 61 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud Conspiracy

9Sep

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Trenton, N.J; Akintunde Adeyemi Sentenced to 61 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud Conspiracy

Trenton, N.J; Akintunde Adeyemi Sentenced to 61 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Aggravated Identity Theft (STL.News) – A Duluth City, Georgia, man was sentenced today to 61 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to hijack the credit card accounts of multiple victims in order to fraudulently purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars in gift cards and high-end products, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Akintunde Adeyemi, 35, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence by videoconference today. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From July ...