News

August 9, 2024

TRENTON – Acting Governor Tahesha Way today declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024 in anticipation of severe storms causing hazardous weather conditions including heavy rain, high winds, and flash flooding due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Executive Order No. 364 declares a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey. The Acting Governor also urges motorists to stay off the road and in the safety of their homes for the duration of the storm.

“I have declared a State of Emergency starting at 6:00 p.m. today, August 9, 2024, due to the severe weather impacts caused by Tropical Storm Debby,” said Acting Governor Tahesha Way. “I urge all residents to stay indoors and off of the roads until the storm passes. If you must drive, slow down and use extra caution.”

The Acting Governor encourages New Jerseyans to visit ready.nj.gov for important weather updates and safety information. Residents should also monitor local forecasts, warnings, and watches.

For those living in Northern New Jersey and the New York Metro area, visit the U.S. National Weather Service New York, N.Y. at http://www.weather.gov/okx/

For those living in Central and Southern New Jersey, visit the U.S. National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly at https://www.weather.gov/phi/

The National Weather Service Philadelphia Mount Holly reported just before 6:00 p.m. — The Tornado Watch has been canceled for our entire area. Gusty winds and some heavy showers remain possible this evening near I-95 and the coast. Otherwise, the storm is winding down for us. Tranquil weather conditions expected this weekend with below normal temperatures.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 364

WHEREAS, beginning on Friday, August 9, 2024, the State of New Jersey will experience potentially significant and severe weather from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby causing hazardous weather conditions including flooding and high winds; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued a rip current statement and high surf advisory in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean counties; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties; and

WHEREAS, significant statewide precipitation is expected with rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches, with potentially higher local amounts; and

WHEREAS, Tropical Storm Debby could bring winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with wind gusts as high as 50 miles per hour along with elevated risk for tornadic activity that could result in power outages that would impede the normal operation of public and private entities; and

WHEREAS, significant rainfall across the State in preceding days has left the ground saturated, resulting in increased risk that excessive additional rainfall may result in flash flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations; and

WHEREAS, these serious weather conditions could make it difficult or impossible for citizens to obtain the necessities of life, as well as essential services such as police, fire, and first

aid; and

WHEREAS, this impending storm constitutes an imminent hazard that threatens and presently endangers the health, safety, and resources of the residents of the State; and

WHEREAS, this situation may become too large in scope to be handled in its entirety by the normal county and municipal operating services in some parts of this State, and this situation may spread to other parts of the State; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and statutes of the State of New Jersey, particularly the provisions of N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33, et seq.,

N.J.S.A. 38A:3-6.1, N.J.S.A. 38A:2-4, and all amendments and supplements thereto, confer upon the Governor of the State of New Jersey certain emergency powers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TAHESHA L. WAY, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State of New Jersey DO DECLARE and PROCLAIM that a State of Emergency exists throughout the State of New Jersey, effective at 6:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024; and I hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

1. I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of State Police, to implement the State Emergency Operations Plan and to direct the activation of county and municipal emergency operations plans, as necessary, and to coordinate the recovery effort from this emergency with all governmental agencies, volunteer organizations, and the private sector.
2. I authorize and empower, in accordance with N.J.S.A. App.

A:9-33, et seq., as supplemented and amended, the State Director of Emergency Management, who is the Superintendent of State Police, through the police agencies under his control, and with consideration of any Administrative Order issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, to determine and control the direction

of the flow of vehicular traffic on any State or interstate highway, municipal or county road, and any access road, including the right to detour, reroute, or divert any or all traffic and to prevent ingress or egress from any area that, in the State Director’s discretion, is deemed necessary for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and to remove parked or abandoned vehicles from such roadways as conditions warrant.

• I authorize and empower the Attorney General, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:4-213, acting through the Superintendent of State Police, and with consideration of any Administrative Order issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, to determine and control the direction of the flow of vehicular traffic on any State or interstate highway, municipal or county road, and any access road, including the right to detour, reroute, or divert any or all traffic, to prevent ingress or egress, and to determine the type of vehicle or vehicles to be operated on such roadways. I further authorize all law enforcement officers to enforce any such order of the Attorney General or Superintendent of State Police within their respective municipalities.
• I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to order the evacuation of all persons, except for those emergency and governmental personnel whose presence the State Director deems necessary, from any area where their continued presence would present a danger to their health, safety, or welfare because of the conditions created by this emergency.
• I authorize and empower the State Director of Emergency Management to utilize all facilities owned, rented, operated, and maintained by the State of New Jersey to house and shelter persons who may need to be evacuated from a residence, dwelling, building, structure, or vehicle during the course of this emergency.

• I authorize and empower the executive head of any agency or instrumentality of the State government with authority to promulgate rules to waive, suspend, or modify any existing rule, where the enforcement of which would be detrimental to the public welfare during this emergency, notwithstanding the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act or any law to the contrary for the duration of this Executive Order, subject to my prior approval and in consultation with the State Director of Emergency Management. Any such waiver, modification, or suspension shall be promulgated in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-45.
• I authorize and empower the Adjutant General, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 38A:2-4 and N.J.S.A. 38A:3-6.1, to order to active duty such members of the New Jersey National Guard who, in the Adjutant General’s judgment, are necessary to provide aid to those localities where there is a threat or danger to the public health, safety, and welfare and to authorize the employment of any supporting vehicles, equipment, communications, or supplies as may be necessary to support the members so ordered.
• In accordance with the N.J.S.A. App. A:9-34 and N.J.S.A. App. A:9-51, I reserve the right to utilize and employ all available resources of the State government and of each and every political subdivision of the State, whether of persons, properties, or instrumentalities, and to commandeer and utilize any personal services and any privately-owned property necessary to protect against this emergency.
• In accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40, no municipality, county, or any other agency or political subdivision of this State shall enact or enforce any order, rule, regulation, ordinance, or resolution which will or might in any way conflict with any of the provisions of this Order, or which will in any way interfere with or impede the achievement of the purposes of this Order.

1. It shall be the duty of every person or entity in this State or doing business in this State, and of the members of the governing body and every official, employee, or agent of every political subdivision in this State, and of each member of all other governmental bodies, agencies, and authorities in this State of any nature whatsoever, to cooperate fully with the State Director of Emergency Management in all matters concerning this State of Emergency.
2. In accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-34, N.J.S.A. App.

A:9-40.6, and N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156.4, no municipality or public or semipublic agency shall send public works, fire, police, emergency medical, or other personnel or equipment into any non-contiguous disaster-stricken municipality within this State, nor to any disaster-stricken municipality outside this State, unless and until such aid has been directed by the county emergency management coordinator or their deputies in consultation with the State Director of Emergency Management.

1. This Order shall take effect at 6:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024, and shall remain in effect until such time as it is determined by the Governor that an emergency no longer exists.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 9th day of August,

Two Thousand and Twenty-Four, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Forty-Ninth.

[seal]

/s/ Tahesha L. Way Acting Governor

Attest:

/s/ Parimal Garg

Chief Counsel to the Governor

The Tornado Watch has been canceled for our entire area. Gusty winds and some heavy showers remain possible this evening near I-95 & the coast. Otherwise, the storm is winding down for us. Tranquil weather expected this weekend with below normal temps. #PAwx #NJwx #DEwx #MDwx

— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) August 9, 2024

November 16, 2021

PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on November 16, 2021, Richard Knight, 40, of New Egypt, pled guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(i), and Possession of Child Pornography in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(ii), before the Honorable Michael T. Collins, J.S.C. At the time of his sentencing on January 14, 2022, the State will be recommending a sentence of five years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) with a two year period of parole ineligibility as to the Distribution of Child Pornography charge, as well as five years NJSP as to the Possession of Child Pornography charge. The sentences are to run concurrently. Knight will also be subject to the terms of Meghan’s Law, along with Parole Supervision for Life.

This investigation, which began in December 2020, was the result of numerous referrals from the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Task Force detected that a user of the program Google Meets was uploading images of child pornography to the internet. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit identified a residence in New Egypt as the source of the uploaded images of child pornography. On June 9, 2021, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, United States Homeland Security Investigations, and Plumsted Township Police Department, executed a court-authorized search warrant on Knight’s residence in New Egypt. As a result, Detectives seized two cell phones from the residence. Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit revealed that Knight’s cell phone contained more than 1,000 images but less than 100,000 images of child pornography. The investigation also revealed that Knight distributed child pornography using Google Meets and other social media platforms.

Knight was subsequently arrested at his place of employment in Browns Mills on June 9, 2021; he has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry who is handling the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Plumsted Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and United States Homeland Security Investigations, for their collective and collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Knight’s arrest, guilty pleas, and soon his state prison sentence.

• Richard Knight, 40, of New Egypt,

November 6, 2021

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — The Coast Guard medically evacuated a man after he was found unconscious aboard a fishing vessel approximately 90 miles east of Barnegat Township, New Jersey, Thursday, November 4, 2021. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay Command Center received a relayed notification from watchstanders at the Coast Guard 1st District Command Center regarding a crewmember who was found unconscious and in need of immediate medical attention while aboard the fishing vessel Lady Anna. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey was launched to the scene. Once on scene, the aircrew was able to successfully hoist the crewmember and transfer him to AtlantiCare Trauma Center in Atlantic City for further medical care. “Medical evacuations are always complex evolutions and can be especially challenging at night,” said Lt. Humberto Hernandez, one of the Dolphin pilots from Air Station Atlantic City. “Our crews remain ever ready and due to the quick actions from the command center and air station personnel, we were able to quickly get this gentleman to the hospital where he could receive immediate medical treatment.”

• USCG FILE PHOTO: An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter flight crew prepares to take off for a flight, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, from Air Station Atlantic City, N.J. The air station’s crewmembers support a variety of missions, including search and rescue, port security, law enforcement and environmental protection. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David Micallef)

USCG FILE PHOTO

June 1, 2024

ALLENTOWN-UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNHSIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–The New Jersey Fallen Firefighters Memorial and Fire Equipment Museum held the 2024 annual Memorial Service this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. This is a special tribute to Our Fallen Firefighters. “Those brave and courageous heroes who un-selflessly dedicated their lives, fighting to protect the lives and property of people, some of them they knew and many of them they would never meet. Their memory lives in our hearts and with the families left behind.”

Those who have died in the Line-of-Duty in New Jersey in 2023:

Bayville Vol. Fire Company #1 – Brian Letrent

Deptford Fire Department – FF Batt. Chief Jeff Pfeiffer

Hillsborough Fire Company #3 – Fire Chief Thoman Marvits

Kinnelon Vol. Fire Company – FF/Lt. Justin Bower

Newark FD — FF Augusto Acabou

Newark FD – FF Wayne Brooks, Jr.

Sussex Fire Department – FF Anthony Duivenvoorde

West Milford Fire Department – Fire Chief Edward Steines

NJ Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Held

5th Annual NJ Fire Museum Open House & Firefighters Memorial Services

NJ Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Held

July 14, 2023

  FREEHOLD – A Monmouth County Grand Jury has returned a 37-count indictment against a man charged with being responsible for a fatal overdose that took place in 2021, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago and Belmar Police Department Chief Tina Scott announced in a joint statement on Friday.

Robert M. Clayton, 39, was indicted on one count of second-degree Manslaughter, along with two counts of second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute, twelve counts of second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute while on or within 500 feet of a Public Park, twelve counts of third-degree Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance, and ten counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.

On January 2, 2021 at 1:21 p.m., Belmar Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of Third and River Avenues for a caller reporting an overdose in progress in the front seat of his car.  The car was located on Fifth Avenue with the passenger-side door ajar and a male subject crawling out of the vehicle face-first.  Upon contact with the Belmar Police officers, the individual crawling out of the car yelled, “Narcan him!”

One of the responding Belmar officers immediately retrieved his first-aid equipment and administered two doses of Narcan to an adult male, later identified as Jonathan Amato, who was seated in the front passenger seat in a reclined position, unconscious and not breathing.  Amato was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival at the hospital.

An investigation involving members of the Belmar Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Amato overdosed and died as a result of controlled dangerous substances that he ingested at the residence of Robert Clayton.

A subsequent search of Clayton’s home by the Belmar Police Department recovered the following narcotics: 919 Xanax pills, 101 Carisoprodel pills, 26 wax folds of heroin, 2 bags of powder heroin, 3 bags of MDMA (“Ecstasy”), 97 doses of LSD, 1 bag of Crystal Meth, 2 bags of Ketamine, 111 Methadone pills, 51 Adderall pills, 62 Tramadol pills, 2 vials of liquid Xanax, 11 Oxycodone pills and numerous other small amounts of pills, in addition to used hypodermic needles, vacuum-sealed packaging bags, hundreds of unused wax folds, 4 scales with CDS residue, 2 whipped-cream-dispensers, and 200 whippet canisters. In addition, 34 thumb memory drives were recovered, along with a computer and seven cellular phones.

This case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Director of Investigations/Assistant Prosecutor Hoda Soliman.

Robert Clayton is being represented by Sarah H. Surgent, Esq. with an office location in Woodbridge.

A conviction for Manslaughter carries a period of up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (N.E.R.A.), meaning that he would have to serve 85% of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.  The additional second-degree charges also carry up to 10 years in prison; the third-degree charges carry up to 5 years in prison.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

January 28, 2024

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Police say that on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 12:04 p.m. Trenton Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a deceased male and female in a garage in the 900 block of Chambers Street. Officers arrived on scene and met with the caller who reported that he knows both the male and female as homeless from the area. He related that he had not seen the garage door open where they were staying for the last few days and decided to check on them. When he went into the garage, he discovered the pair deceased. An investigation into the circumstances was conducted and no foul play was believed to have occurred. The Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office was contacted and took both individuals for autopsies to determine a cause of death. The identities of both the male and female are being withheld pending notification of family members. This is an active investigation.

File photo

May 21, 2024

TRENTON, NJ (Mercer) – Firefighters rescued one person from a burning rowhouse during a two-alarm blaze early this morning (Tuesday, May 21, 2024).

The person, believed to be a squatter who was discovered on the first floor inside the supposedly vacant structure, reportedly suffered smoke inhalation and, after being removed from the burning building by firefighters, was rushed by Trenton EMS ambulance to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

It was shortly after 1:15 a.m. when Engines 10, 6 and 7, Ladder 4 and Rescue 1 were dispatched after the city’s 911 communications center received a call reporting that smoke could be seen coming from the rear of the vacant three-story rowhouse at 20 Seward Avenue, off Lincoln Avenue.

Battalion Chief Kevin Rice and first-due companies arrived to find heavy fire showing out the front second-floor windows of the structure, with flames impinging on overhead power lines at the front of the building. The “All Hands” signal for a working fire was transmitted, which resulted in the balance of the first alarm assignment – Engine 1, Ladder 2 and Special Services 1 – being sent to the scene.

Firefighters forced entry to the boarded-up structure at 20 Seward Avenue. Once inside, they started to combat the blaze and conduct a primary search for possible victims. They simultaneously evacuated residents from the occupied structure on the left side (22 Seward) and forced entry and started to search the vacant structure on the right side (18 Seward).

The search of 20 Seward Avenue resulted in firefighters locating the victim amid the smoke on the first floor and passing that person to Trenton EMS.

A second alarm, which brought Engine 8 to the scene, was transmitted for additional manpower to suppress the fire. Multiple hoselines were put in service. Firefighting operations were briefly complicated by the burning overhead power lines, which threw off showers of sparks before PSE&G personnel arrived and shut off the power.

Capital Health paramedics and a Ewing EMS ambulance were also on scene. The cause of the blaze is under investigation by authorities.

July 9, 2022

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Around 8:22 p.m. the Hamilton Township Fire Department and RWJ EMS were dispatched to South Broad Street in the area of Harcourt Drive and Fetter Avenue for a motor vehicle crash with rollover and people trapped inside their vehicle. Firefighters arrived and extricated the trapped victims and transferred them to waiting EMS personnel. The injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Hamilton Township Police and New Jersey State Police were on scene for traffic control and the accident investigation. No further details are available at this time.

July 1, 2024

WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–West Windsor Police reported that yesterday, Sunday June 30, 2024 at 10:41 a.m., the Communications Center received a call from a resident that smoke was emanating from the roof area of their neighbor’s residence on Cranbury Road.  

West Windsor Police Department, the West Windsor Division of Fire & Emergency Services, Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company, West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company, Plainsboro Fire Company, Princeton Fire Company, Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, Lawrence Rescue, East Windsor Tower, and Hamilton Fire Department all responded to the scene to battle the blaze.  

Fire Police closed Cranbury Road between Millstone Road and Sunnydale Way (approximately 2 1/2 hours) .  The West Windsor Police Department Drone Unit continued to assist by looking for hot spots to assist the firefighters.  The fire was deemed under control after approximately two hours and fully extinguished (including hot spots) after approximately four hours.  

Sgt. W. Jones and Det. Crawford had arrived on scene to continue the joint investigation with West Windsor Fire Marshal Jamison.  Preliminary findings were that the fire started in the basement area of the residence, while the cause was Undetermined/Non-Suspicious pending further investigation. 

The residence, which was unoccupied at the time of the incident, sustained extensive damage.  The resident made alternate shelter arrangements.  No injuires were reported to any of the First Responders.  Chief Garofalo would like to thank all of the responding agencies for quickly working together during especially challenging hot/humid conditions while bringing this incident to a safe outcome.  

February 21, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)—Today a row of derelict properties on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which includes the infamous JoJo’s Steakhouse were torn down as part of Trenton’s Urban Blight Reduction Program. The former business was run by Joseph Giorgianni, a/k/a “Jo Jo,” who was convicted and sentenced for his role in a bribery scheme involving former Mayor Tony Mack, among other charges. According to federal prosecutors, the steakhouse was one of the locations where the defendants planned the corrupt activity. 

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons JOSEPH A GIORGIANNI was released on: 08/13/2020

According to the Associated Press in a December 15, 1985 article, “Joseph A. ″Jo-Jo″ Giorgianni was also convicted, along with Clarence ″Larry″ Sindora, of carnally abusing and debauching the morals of a 14-year-old girl after supplying her with liquor in the back room of Giorgianni’s Trenton restaurant in 1978. Both were sentenced to 15 years.”

The Gazette reported in September 6, 1982 article that talked about the public outcry of the release of the 565-pound sex offender Joseph “Jo Jo” Giorgianni who abused a 14-year-old girl. According to the article the 15-year prison sentence was reduced simply because the convicted sex offender was fat. The NJ Superior Court released Giorgianni because his defense attorney found doctors that would say the obese convict could die in prison. According to the article Giorgianni is said to have chronic asthma and hypertension. Later Giorgianni would be seen at a prize fight and witnesses reported they saw Giorgianni gambling and smoking in Atlantic City, NJ.

Above photos by: Brian McCarthy OnScene News City of Trenton Photos File photos by: Brian McCarthy OnScene News

Prior press releases from the US Attorney’s Office and FBI below:

Two Mercer County Men Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring with Former Trenton Mayor to Extort Bribes

Sentences Also Consider Separate Extortion, Narcotics Distribution and Weapons Charges

September 26, 2014

TRENTON, N.J. – Two Mercer County, New Jersey, men were sentenced today for conspiring with the former Mayor of Trenton and others to extort bribes and kickbacks in connection with a Trenton parking garage project, and for unrelated drug charges, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.Joseph Giorgianni, a/k/a “Jo Jo,” 65, of Ewing Township, New Jersey, and Charles Hall III, 51, of Trenton, were sentenced to 78 and 48 months in prison, respectively. U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp imposed the sentences today in Newark federal court.Giorgianni previously pleaded guilty before Judge Shipp to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiring with former Trenton Mayor Tony F. Mack, 48, Ralphiel Mack, 41, (Tony Mack’s brother) both of Trenton, Hall and others to obstruct interstate commerce by extorting individuals under color of official right in connection with the development of an automated parking garage. Giorgianni also pleaded guilty to one count of extorting individuals under color of official right in connection with the administration of a power washing contract, as well as charges contained in a separate indictment, including one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. Hall previously pleaded guilty before Judge Shipp to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to obstruct interstate commerce by extorting individuals under color of official right. Hall also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:Tony Mack, Ralphiel Mack, Hall, and Giorgianni conspired to accept approximately $119,000 in cash and other valuables – actually accepting $54,000 and planning to accept the rest – from two cooperating witnesses. In exchange for the payments, Tony Mack assisted them in their efforts to acquire a city-owned lot on East State Street to develop an automated parking garage. The scheme included a plan for the city of Trenton to sell the lot for far less than one of the cooperating witnesses was willing to pay – diverting $100,000 of the suggested purchase amount as a bribe and kickback payment to Giorgianni and Tony Mack. The mayor authorized and directed a Trenton official responsible for disposition of city-owned land to offer the East State Street lot to one of the witnesses for $100,000, significantly less than the amount originally proposed, so the rest could be taken as a bribe.The defendants went to great lengths to conceal their corrupt activity and keep Tony Mack “safe” from law enforcement. For example, Giorgianni and Ralphiel Mack acted as intermediaries, or “buffers,” who accepted cash payments for Tony Mack’s benefit. To conceal the corrupt arrangement, the defendants avoided discussing matters related to the scheme over the telephone. When those matters were discussed, they used code words and aliases, including “Uncle Remus,” which both Giorgianni and Hall regularly used to communicate to Tony Mack that a corrupt payment had been received. The defendants also concealed their activities by holding meetings concerning the corrupt activity away from Trenton City Hall, including a restaurant maintained by Giorgianni known as JoJo’s Steakhouse.In addition to the parking garage bribe and extortion payments, Giorgianni and Hall admitted their involvement in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with Mary Manfredo, 67, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and others from May 2011 to July 2012. Hall said he obtained, in coordination with Giorgianni, 13 prescriptions for oxycodone-based pain medication from a doctor in Nutley, New Jersey, which included a total of 1,560 pills. JoJo’s Steakhouse served as a front where oxycodone pills and drug proceeds were received and distributed.Also, on July 18, 2012, Giorgianni, a convicted felon, was found in possession of four guns, including three pistols and a pump-action shotgun.Tony F. Mack and Raphiel Mack, both convicted following a five-week trial in February 2014, were sentenced to serve 58 months in prison and 30 months in prison, respectively.In addition to the prison terms, Judge Shipp sentenced Giorgianni and Hall each to serve three years of supervised release.Manfredo pleaded guilty to conspiring with Giorgianni, Hall and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. Manfredo awaits sentencing.U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation.The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric W. Moran and Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Trenton and Camden, respectively.14-345                                                                

Defense counsel: Jerome A. Ballarotto Esq., Trenton

TRENTON, N.J. – A federal grand jury in Trenton today returned an eight-count Indictment charging Trenton Mayor Tony F. Mack, his brother, Ralphiel Mack, and Mayor Mack’s close associate, Joseph A. “JoJo” Giorgianni, with extortion, bribery and mail and wire fraud U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

The defendants were indicted in connection with a scheme to accept $119,000 in bribes in exchange for Mayor Mack’s official actions and influence in assisting cooperating witnesses in the development of an automated parking garage on City-owned land.

Tony F. Mack, 46, of Trenton, N.J., Giorgianni, 63, of Ewing, N.J. and Ralphiel Mack, 40, also of Trenton, originally were charged by Complaint on Sept. 10, 2012, with one count of conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion under color of official right related to the $119,000 extortion scheme. The Indictment returned today adds the following charges:

• One count of attempted obstruction of commerce by extortion under the color of official right against Tony F. Mack, Giorgianni and Ralphiel Mack (Count 2);

• One count of accepting and agreeing to accept bribes against Tony F. Mack and Ralphiel Mack (Count 3);

• One count of giving and agreeing to give bribes against Giorgianni (Count 4);

• Three counts alleging that the defendants devised a scheme to defraud the City of Trenton and its citizens of money and property and of defendant Tony F. Mack’s honest services (Counts 5 to 7);

• One extortion count charging Giorgianni with participating in an additional scheme of arranging to steer a power washing contract to a city vendor in exchange for a kickback to a Trenton employee (Count 8).

According to the Indictment and other documents filed in this case:

Mayor Mack, Giorgianni and Ralphiel Mack conspired to accept approximately $119,000 in cash and other valuables, of which $54,000 was accepted and another $65,000 that the defendants planned to accept, from two cooperating witnesses (“CW-1” and “CW-2”). In exchange for the payments, Mayor Mack agreed to, and did, assist CW-1 and CW-2 in their efforts to acquire a City-owned lot (the “East State Street Lot”) to develop an automated parking garage (the “Parking Garage Project”). The scheme included a plan to divert $100,000 of the purchase amount that CW-2 had indicated a willingness to pay to the City of Trenton for lot as a bribe and kickback payment to Giorgianni and Mayor Mack. The mayor authorized and directed a Trenton official responsible for disposition of City-owned land to offer the East State Street Lot to CW-2 for $100,000, significantly less than the amount originally proposed by CW-2.

The defendants went to great lengths to conceal their corrupt activity and keep Mayor Mack “safe” from law enforcement. For example, Giorgianni and Ralphiel Mack acted as intermediaries, or “buffers,” who accepted cash payments for Mayor Mack’s benefit. Mayor Mack also used another City of Trenton employee involved in the scheme (“CC-1”) to contact other Trenton officials to facilitate the Parking Garage Project and to inform the mayor when Giorgianni had received corrupt cash payments.

To conceal the corrupt arrangement, the defendants avoided discussing matters related to the scheme over the telephone. When those matters were discussed, they used code words and aliases. One such code word was “Uncle Remus,” which both Giorgianni and CC-1 regularly used to communicate to Mayor Mack that a corrupt payment had been received. For example, on Oct. 29, 2011, Giorgianni telephoned CC-1 and informed CC-1 that Giorgianni had to “see” Mayor Mack and that “I got Uncle Remus for him,” meaning a corrupt cash payment that Giorgianni had received from CW-1 two days earlier. Giorgianni directed CC-1 to bring Mayor Mack to a meeting location controlled by Giorgianni (“Giorgianni’s Clubhouse”), stating “we gotta talk” because “I got something that might be good for him” and that “they’ve already come with Uncle Remus,” meaning a corrupt cash payment. On June 13, 2012, Giorgianni telephoned Mayor Mack and informed him that “Uncle Remus,” meaning a corrupt cash payment, “was there.” Mayor Mack replied, “I’ll call you, J. Okay?” In text messages to Mayor Mack related to the scheme, Giorgianni would refer to himself only as “Mr. Baker.”

The defendants also concealed their activities by holding meetings concerning the corrupt activity away from Trenton City Hall, including at Giorgianni’s residence, an eatery maintained by Giorgianni known as JoJo’s Steakhouse, Giorgianni’s Clubhouse and Atlantic City restaurants. At one Atlantic City meeting among Mayor Mack, Giorgianni, CC-1 and CW-2, Mayor Mack instructed Giorgianni to ensure that no photographs were taken in order to conceal the corrupt arrangement.

In addition to the Parking Garage Project-related bribe and extortion payments, Count 8 of the Indictment charges Giorgianni with conspiring with CC-1 to extort a payment from an individual interested in doing business with the City of Trenton. Giorgianni caused the individual to inflate an invoice for power washing services rendered to the City of Trenton by at least approximately $1,500. Using his authority as a City of Trenton employee, CC-1 assisted in obtaining the contract and, once the job was complete, shepherded the invoice through the approval process, causing the City of Trenton to issue the individual a $4,911.30 check. Giorgianni instructed the individual to remit $1,300 of that money to a JoJo’s Steakhouse employee, which Giorgianni later received. Giorgianni, in turn, provided approximately $500 to CC-1 in Atlantic City for CC-1’s efforts in securing the contract and expediting payment.

The extortion conspiracy and attempted extortion charges in Counts One, Two and Eight are each punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The bribery charges in Counts Three and Four are each punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The mail and wire fraud charges in Counts Five through Seven are each punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. All of the counts also carry a potential fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense. The Indictment also seeks forfeiture of the $54,000 in bribes actually received by the defendants related to the Parking Garage Project, and the $1,300 kickback received by Giorgianni related to the power washing contract.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the investigation leading to the charge.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric W. Moran and Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Trenton and Camden, respectively.

The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

12-422

Defense counsel:Tony Mack: Mark G. Davis Esq., Hamilton, N.J.Giorgianni: Jerome A. Ballarotto Esq., Trenton

Ralphiel Mack: John W. Hartmann, Princeton Junction, N.J.

Mack, Tony Et Al., Indictment

Eight Others Also Arrested in Separate, Trenton-based Oxycodone Distribution Conspiracy

TRENTON, N.J. – Trenton Mayor Tony F. Mack, the mayor’s brother, Ralphiel Mack, and his close associate, Joseph A. “JoJo” Giorgianni, were arrested by federal agents this morning and charged by criminal Complaint in connection with a scheme to extort payments of more than $100,000 from others who were purportedly developing a public parking garage, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

The Complaint charges that over the past two years Mack, 46, and his associates negotiated with two individuals who were cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI and agreed to expedite approvals and sell city-owned property at a fraction of its value. Giorgianni also was charged in a separate Complaint along with eight other defendants with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone pills in the Trenton area.

The following defendants also were charged in the drug conspiracy Complaint:

All 11 defendants are scheduled to make their initial court appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert in Trenton federal court.

“Time and again, we have seen public officials in New Jersey who are all too willing to sell their power and betray the public’s trust,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “Here, the Complaint charges that Mayor Mack and his coconspirators were willing to let city property go for a fraction of its worth. And he allegedly chose as his middleman a convicted felon who was simultaneously heading a conspiracy to traffic in prescription medication. Neither selling one’s oath of office or illegally selling prescription medication is acceptable on the streets of Trenton or anywhere else in New Jersey.”

“The citizens of New Jersey’s state capital deserve far better than politicians and cronies who aspire to the Boss Tweed-style, Tammany Hall politics of patronage, graft, and corruption,” said Michael Ward, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Newark Division. “Public service is not an open invitation to enrich one’s self via illegal means. At no time should elected officials have need for middlemen, ‘buffers,’ and coded conversations.”

The investigation, which lasted nearly two years, included the execution of search warrants, court-ordered wiretaps and consensually recorded conversations. The extortion conspiracy count with which the defendants are charged is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Extortion Conspiracy

According to the Complaint filed against Tony F. Mack, Joseph A. Giorgianni, 63, of Ewing, and Ralphiel Mack, 39, of Trenton:

As mayor, Mack influenced actions taken on behalf of the City of Trenton, including matters concerning the disposition of city-owned property. Giorgianni, a convicted felon and the proprietor of a Trenton sandwich shop called JoJo’s Steakhouse, is Mayor Mack’s associate. Ralphiel Mack is Mayor Mack’s brother and was employed by the Trenton Board of Education as Trenton Central High School’s head football coach.

The Macks, Giorgianni and others conspired to corrupt certain functions of Trenton city government in favor of a purported developer who was seeking to build a parking garage on a city-owned lot on East State Street. In reality, the developer was cooperating with federal authorities. During the course of the negotiations, which lasted almost two years, the defendants agreed to accept more than $119,000 in bribes, of which $54,000 had been paid at the time of their arrests.

To attempt to evade law enforcement detection, the defendants employed intermediaries, used code words, and attempted to limit their discussions of the scheme over the telephone.Beginning in September 2010, Giorgianni had several recorded meetings with an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement (CW-1), during which Giorgianni agreed to serve as an intermediary, or “buffer,” for cash payments to Mayor Mack in exchange for the mayor’s support of a parking garage project. During these meetings, Giorgianni described his intent to promote and facilitate a corrupt system of government in Trenton. During a Sept. 14, 2010, meeting, Giorgianni stated that he conducted business in the City of Trenton the way “Boss Tweed” ran “Tammany Hall,” and provided examples of how kickbacks should be received in exchange for city contracts.Between Oct. 27, 2011, and June 28, 2012, the conspirators accepted seven cash payments from CW-1 and another individual cooperating with law enforcement (CW-2):

In exchange for those payments, it was agreed that Mayor Mack and another, uncharged public official (CC-1) would take official action favorable to CW-l’s and CW-2’s interests concerning the parking garage project. Following certain of these payments, Giorgianni would signal to the mayor that he had received cash by using the code words “Uncle Remus.”

• On Oct. 27, 2011, Giorgianni accepted a $3,000 corrupt cash payment from CW-1. Moments later, Giorgianni sent a text message to Mayor Mack stating, “Uncle remins (sic) landed uncles remnis (sic) call me.”

• On Jan. 25, 2012, Giorgianni, CC-1, CW-1 and CW-2 discussed the proposed corrupt transaction and future payments to Mayor Mack and Giorgianni. During a telephone call the next day, Giorgianni told the mayor that “Uncle Remus might be stopping by.” During a Feb. 1, 2012, telephone call, Giorgianni reiterated that “Uncle Remus is gonna stop and visit us, so I wanted to tell you about it.” Mayor Mack replied, “All right. I’m gonna stop by there to see you.”

• On April 25, 2012, Giorgianni accepted a $3,000 cash payment from CW-1. During an April 30, 2012 telephone call, Giorgianni informed Mayor Mack that “Ralphiel said he was going to stop up. Uncle Remus, ya know, stopped by.”

• On June 8, 2012, Giorgianni accepted a $25,000 cash payment from CW-2. The next day, while inside JoJo’s Steakhouse with Giorgianni, CC-1 called the mayor and informed him that “Uncle Remus came to town today.” The mayor stated: “Yeah?” and laughed. Later in the call, CC-1 repeated, “M–, Mr. Remus came around.” The mayor stated that he would “be around, I’ll be around today.”

• On June 28, 2012, CC-1 (who began cooperating with federal law enforcement on June 21, 2012) met with Giorgianni and delivered to him a $10,000 corrupt cash payment. The meeting between Giorgianni and CC-1 concluded at approximately 6:17 p.m. At approximately 6:19 p.m., Giorgianni sent Mayor Mack a text message stating, “Uncle remis (sic) is in town mr bakers.” (In text messages to the mayor, Giorgianni previously referred to himself as “Mr. Baker.”)

In connection with the $10,000 received on June 28, 2012, both Mayor Mack and Giorgianni expressed significant concern to CC-1 that they might be the subjects of a law enforcement investigation because CC-1 had received that money directly from CW-2 and because CW-2 did use not Giorgianni as a “buffer” to pass through the money on that occasion. In a June 28, 2012, recorded meeting during which Giorgianni accepted the $10,000 from CC-1, Giorgianni chastised CC-1 for taking this money directly from CW-2 and not going through Giorgianni, reminding CC-1 that the “ground rules … put down by Tony” were that “[n]obody in the administration touches nothing.” Giorgianni told CC-1 that it was important to use “buffers” to take corrupt money. “As long as you got buffers, you’re safe. Look Tony [Mack] knows they ain’t never gonna break me. Tony seen me do something real serious one day. He knows I’m not giving nobody up. I don’t give a ****. Jail, that’s my business. I don’t give a ****. So Tony’s safe.” Then referring to employing Ralphiel Mack as an intermediary to pass money for the benefit of the mayor, Giorgianni told CC-1: “I even keep Tony safe where I’ll give money to Ralphiel.”

Ralphiel Mack is charged with participating in the conspiracy by serving as an intermediary to receive certain corrupt cash payments from Giorgianni on Mayor Mack’s behalf. A July 18, 2012, search of Ralphiel Mack’s house revealed $2,500 in United States currency bearing the same serial numbers as the bills delivered to Giorgianni as part of the June 28, 2012, corrupt cash payment.In exchange for the money, the agreement contemplated that the mayor would use his influence to get the necessary approvals for the project. As the conspiracy developed, the mayor and Giorgianni proposed that the city sell the land for the parking garage to the developer for a reduced price in exchange for a larger bribe.

Initially, on May 15, 2012, a City of Trenton official (Trenton Official-1) emailed CW-2 a letter stating that the total assessed value for the East State Street lot was $278,000 and that the land value was $271,600. CW-1 and CW-2 later discussed with Giorgianni that CW-2 and the project investors would be willing to purchase the East State Street lot for $200,000, and would be willing to pay a bribe to the mayor in exchange for the price reduction. Giorgianni, in turn, proposed that the City of Trenton set the sale price for the East State Street lot at $100,000 and that the $100,000 difference be split among Mayor Mack, Giorgianni and CC-1. Giorgianni requested a draft offer letter reflecting the $100,000 purchase price for the East State Street lot, which CW-2 provided to Giorgianni on May 23, 2012.

Moments after a May 29, 2012, meeting with Mayor Mack, Giorgianni called CC-1 and stated, “I got the okay from you know who, right? Tell [Trenton Official-1] to get that letter out, today.” CC-1 then met with Trenton Official-1, whose responsibilities included negotiating the sale of city-owned property, and requested Trenton Official-1 to issue the $100,000 offer letter. Trenton Official-1, in turn, called Mayor Mack, who, instead of discussing the matter over the telephone, directed Trenton Official-1 to meet him in person. Trenton Official-1 then met with the mayor, who approved the letter offering the East State Street lot to CW-2 and the investors for $100,000, and the offer letter was issued that day.

The Drug Distribution Conspiracy

Giorgianni, along with eight other defendants, also appeared in court today facing oxycodone distribution charges. (Neither Mayor Mack or Ralphiel Mack were charged with the narcotics conspiracy.)

According to the Complaint:Oxycodone, the active ingredient in brand name pills such as Oxycontin, Roxicodone and Percocet, is a Schedule II controlled substance – meaning that it has a high potential for abuse.

Giorgianni organized and oversaw a Trenton-based oxycodone distribution conspiracy responsible for the distribution of thousands of oxycodone pills. Giorgianni arranged for the sale of pain pills prescribed to him and facilitated the distribution of oxycodone prescribed to some of the other defendants and others in this case. JoJo’s Steakhouse, a sandwich shop that Giorgianni owned and that Mary Manfredo operated, served as a front for this drug distribution organization and a clearing house, where prescription pain pills were stored, provided to drug dealers for distribution, and where narcotics proceeds were returned. The investigation uncovered evidence that Giorgianni and the other coconspirators used a doctor and pharmacy in Mercer County and another doctor in Essex County to obtain and fill these prescriptions, which were in large part obtained through fraud.

Numerous conversations were intercepted on the wiretaps among Giorgianni, other defendants named in the complaint, and CC-1, prior to the time CC-1 began cooperating with authorities on June 21, 2012. Based on the recorded conversations and information subsequently learned from CC-1, Anthony Dimatteo, Ralph Dimatteo Sr. and Giuseppe “Joseph” Scordato, distributed prescription pain medication fraudulently obtained on behalf of the operation. In one recorded conversation, Scordato described to Giorgianni his efforts to cause an individual, who according to Scordato had just undergone open heart surgery, to become addicted to oxycodone by providing this individual with a free pill as a sample. Giorgianni, in many intercepted telephone calls, used coded language such as “steaks” to refer to the prescription pain pills.

CC-1 was supplied prescription pain medication from Eugene Brown, an Atlantic City resident, a portion of which Mark Bethea would distribute and a portion of which was delivered to Jojo’s Steakhouse for distribution. Carol Kounitz and Stephanie Lima also fraudulently obtained prescription pain medication and provided this medication to CC-1 to be distributed.

Giorgianni, who has a prior felony conviction, also is charged with unlawfully possessing four firearms which, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, were recovered from his residence during the execution of a search warrant. Eugene Brown, who also has a prior felony conviction, is charged with unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm, found in his residence during the execution of a search warrant.

The drug conspiracy count with which the defendants are charged is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The felon in possession of firearms counts, with which Giorgianni and Brown are each charged, is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward with the investigation leading to today’s arrests.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric W. Moran and Matthew J. Skahill of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Trenton and Camden, respectively.

The charges and allegations contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

12-325

Mack, Tony, Et Al.,Corruption Complaint
Giorgianni, Joseph, Et Al., Narcotics Complaint