NEWARK Archives | STL.News

General

Sylvain Dienhoue Charged in Preparation Of False Tax Return

Newark Tax Preparer, Sylvain Dienhoue Admits Aiding and Assisting in Preparation of False Tax Returns NEWARK, N.J (STL.News) A Pennsylvania man who worked as a tax preparer in Newark admitted today to helping his clients file falsified tax returns that generated larger refunds, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced. Sylvain Dienhoue, 53, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an indictment charging him with three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Dienhoue worked as a tax preparer at Cadi’s Multi Services in Newark. He knowingly and willfully aided and assisted in the preparati...

General

Newark: Janell Robinson Sentenced to Defraud Newark Conservation

Former Newark Police Officer, Janell Robinson Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud Newark Conservation and Development Corporation NEWARK, N.J (STL.News) A former Newark police officer was sentenced today to 108 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation (NWCDC) and giving kickbacks to its former executive director, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced. Janell Robinson, 45, of Newark, was previously convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the NWCDC facilitated by use of mails and wire transmissions, two counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right affecting interstate commerce, following a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Su...

General

Craig Carpenito Announces Award for Kevin M. O’Dowd

U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito Announces Distinguished Alumnus Award for Cooper Health CEO Kevin M. O’Dowd NEWARK, N.J (STL.News) Kevin M. O’Dowd, the co-President/CEO of Cooper University Health Care, received the first ever Distinguished Alumnus Award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey for his exceptional leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. “The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest public health crisis this state has ever encountered,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “In times of crisis, we need great leaders, and Kevin O’Dowd is precisely the kind of leader New Jersey needs right now. I was blessed to work directly with Kevin at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and watch his impressive career. Because he is now standin...

General

Orange: Tyrone Woolaston Sentenced For His Role In Cocaine Smuggling Scheme

Baggage Handler At Newark Liberty International Airport, Tyrone Woolaston Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Role In Cocaine Smuggling Scheme (STL.News) Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TYRONE WOOLASTON was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan to 180 months in prison for his participation in a multi-year scheme to smuggle cocaine into the United States through Newark Liberty International Airport. WOOLASTON was convicted in February 2019, after a two-week jury trial, of conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, and using a firearm in furtherance of cocaine trafficking. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Tyrone Woolaston used his position as a baggage handler at Newark...

General

Florida: Edward B. Kostishion Admits Role in $4.6 Million Health Care Fraud

Florida: Edward B. Kostishion Admits Role in $4.6 Million Health Care Fraud and Kickback Schemes Related to Genetic Testing NEWARK, NJ (STL.News) A Florida man today admitted his role in using his company to defraud the Medicare Program in connection with fraudulent orders for genetic tests, Attorney for the United States Rachael A. Honig announced. Edward B. Kostishion, 60, of Lakeland, Florida, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to a superseding information charging him with two counts of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States in connection with schemes to commit health care fraud and violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Kostishion and five co-defendants were previously charged by indictment in September 2019 in connecti...

General

Board of Medical Examiners Revokes License of Pramila Byahatti

NEWARK, Board of Medical Examiners Permanently Revokes License of Physician Who Traveled Weekly from Rhode Island to Prescribe Large Quantities of Opioid Pain Medications to New Jersey Patients Without a Medical Basis NEWARK (STL.News) Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, the Office of the New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (“NJ CARES”), and the Division of Consumer Affairs (“the Division”) announced today that the State Board of Medical Examiners (“the Board”) permanently revoked the license of an anesthesiologist who allegedly traveled once a week from her Rhode Island home to her office in Somerset County to indiscriminately prescribe large amounts of addictive opioids and other controlled dangerous substances (“CDS”) to patients. Pramila Byahatti, ...

General

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...

General

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...

General

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 ...

General

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...

General

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...

General

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...

General

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 ...

General

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...

General

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...

General

Newark, N.J; Benjamin Rich Charged with Conspiring with Brooklyn Men

Newark, N.J; Benjamin Rich Charged with Conspiring with Brooklyn Men to Defraud New Jersey Banks (STL.News) – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man and two Brooklyn, New York, men were charged today with bank fraud and identity theft, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Benjamin Rich, 40, of Edison, New Jersey, and Frank Ambrosio, 35, and Felix Alamo, 59, both of Brooklyn, are each charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Rich and Alamo are scheduled to appear today by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III. Ambrosio remains at large. According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Rich, Ambrosio, and Alamo, and others, allegedly conspired to defraud banks across New Jersey, and else...

General

Union County Woman Lorena Marquez Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Union County Woman Lorena Marquez Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine (STL.News) – A Union County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute over 900 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Lorena Marquez, 48, of Union Township, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging her with one count of possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence by videoconference today; she sentenced Marquez to 108 months in prison on the drug count and 12 months in prison, to be served consecutively, for violation of supervised release. According to documents filed in t...

General

Tennessee Man Ketan Ghutadaria Charged with Wire Fraud

(STL.News) – A Tennessee man charged with two counts of wire fraud will make his initial appearance before a New Jersey judge today, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito. Ketan Ghutadaria, 50, of Johnson City, Tennessee, is charged by complaint with two counts of wire fraud and is scheduled to appear by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel. Ghutadaria was arrested in Tennessee on Aug. 13, 2020, by inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Richardson Wyrick in Greenville, Tennessee, federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From March 2018 through September 2018, Ghutadaria used a company’s bank account information to pay off his personal financial debts and witho...