August 1, 2024
MISSOULA, MONTANA — A New Jersey man who admitted to sexually assaulting a woman passenger seated next to him on a flight from New Jersey to Bozeman, Montana, was sentenced on Wednesday to five years of probation, with six months of home confinement, ordered to register as a sex offender and to pay a total of $5,100 in special assessments, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Piyush Mathew, 31, of Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in March to abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States as charged in an indictment.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Sept. 7, 2023, Mathew and the victim, identified as Jane Doe, were seated next to each other on United Airlines Flight 1300 from New Jersey to Bozeman. Doe was seated in the middle seat, while Mathew was seated in an aisle seat. Prior to departure, Mathew raised the armrest between them, and once the plane was in the air, he assaulted Doe for the duration of the flight. Mathew, pretending to be asleep, touched Doe multiple times on different parts of her body, including her thighs, fingers, arms, stomach, and breasts. Doe had hoped to alert the flight crew of Mathew’s behavior, however, Mathew stood immediately behind her for deboarding, and she felt she was unable to tell the flight crew. Instead, Doe approached another male passenger who was in front of them and pretended to know him as a safeguard from Mathew while leaving the plane. The male passenger reported to law enforcement that Doe looked upset and as if she were about to cry.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Gallatin Airport Authority, and Bozeman Airport Police conducted the investigation.
August 1, 2024
ROBBINSVILLE, NJ (MERCER)–Robbinsville Police reported that on August 1, 2024, the Robbinsville Township Police Department responded to multiple overnight car burglaries in developments on the Hutchinson Road corridor. The vehicles that were entered were unlocked and various items were removed from the vehicles.
We are encouraging residents in this area to check their surveillance systems to ascertain possible suspect(s)., •
As a reminder, please lock your vehicles and remove any items of value from your vehicle to prevent these crimes of opportunity. Robbinsville Police will be increasing patrols in these areas in both marked and unmarked vehicles.
If you observe any suspicious activity, please contact the police department immediately.
This is an active investigation and anyone with pertinent information related to this case is asked to contact the Robbinsville Township Police Criminal Investigations Unit at 609-259-3900. ,
August 1, 2024
WASHINGTON DC — The White House reported that today August 1, 2024, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza.
The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia—including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country. Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over.
I am grateful to our Allies who stood with us throughout tough, complex negotiations to achieve this outcome— including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. This is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer.
President Biden said, “And let me be clear: I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My Administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office. Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing those Americans home.
Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families. We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman stated in a Twitter post that Evan Gershkovich is on his way home! After being held 16 months on false charges of espionage, journalist Evan Gershkovich will be freed. Grateful to everyone at the State Dept for their work to make this day happen.
Governor Phil Murphy stated “I am thrilled to hear that, after over a year of detention, Evan Gershkovich has been freed from Russia. Evan is a New Jersey native and Princeton High School graduate who was wrongfully convicted of espionage by the brutal Putin regime — a pawn in a politically-motivated game. I am praying for his safety and health as he returns home to his family and reacclimates to life back in the U.S. I’d like to thank President Biden and our allies involved in this complex, multilateral negotiation for their work in bringing Evan and other wrongfully detained Americans home.”
P. Kenneth Burns, president of the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists, regarding the release of Wall Street Journal reporter and New Jersey native Evan Gershkovich:
“We are relieved to know that Evan Gershkovich is a free man from an unjust conviction in a rigged court trial. NJ-SPJ also celebrate with our colleagues at the Wall Street Journal, who have done a great job advocating for their reporter while honoring his work at the Journal at the same time.
We also want to reiterate to political leaders abroad, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and here in New Jersey: JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME.”
Today, we remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families:We see you.We are with you.
And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 1, 2024
President Biden on Americans Released From Russia in Prisoner Swap: “Their brutal ordeal is over and they’re free. Moments ago the families and I were able to speak to them on the telephone from the Oval Office. They’re out of Russia.” pic.twitter.com/E1BW0QzUNl
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 1, 2024
Tweets by evangershkovich 
Evan Gershkovich, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal detained in Russia on claims of espionage has been released. Photo from LinkedIn profile.
MidJersey.news file photos of Evan Gershkovich a Princeton High School Graduate played on the soccer team for the high school.
Eric Nicholas Gapco allegedly assaulted and intimidated a flight attendant and aircraft crew members, failed to follow instructions to remain in his seat, propositioned a flight attendant for sex, was repeatedly loud, vaped, bothered other passengers, locked himself in the lavatory, and attempted to open the aircraft exterior doors multiple times while the aircraft was in flight.
August 1, 2024
Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging an alleged unruly passenger onboard an American Airlines flight after engaging in disruptive and life-threatening behavior, including attempting to open the aircraft exterior doors mid-flight.
According to court documents, Eric Nicholas Gapco, 26, of Delanco, New Jersey, a passenger onboard American Airlines flight #2101, assaulted and intimidated a flight attendant and aircraft crew members on July 18, 2024. As a result of Gapco’s alleged unruly behavior, the flight, which originated from Seattle, Washington, and was en route to Dallas, Texas, was diverted to Salt Lake City International Airport. As alleged in the complaint and detention memo, Gapco failed to follow instructions to remain in his seat, propositioned a flight attendant for sex, was repeatedly loud, vaped, bothered other passengers, locked himself in the lavatory, and attempted to open the aircraft exterior doors multiple times while the aircraft was in flight. As a result, Gapco was restrained by flight crew members and other passengers with flexible restraints to his feet and hands during the flight. Upon landing he was arrested by law enforcement at Salt Lake City International Airport.
Gapco is charged with interference with a flight crew, and attempted damage to an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. His initial appearance on the indictment is August 1, 2024, at 1:15 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and Salt Lake City Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
August 1, 2024
TRENTON, N.J. – A Trenton man today admitted assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jabree Johnson, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court on July 31, 2024, to an indictment charging him with one count each of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, robbery with a dangerous weapon of an individual with custody of federal property, and using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence, in which the firearm was discharged.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On March 22, 2021, federal law enforcement officers were investigating firearms trafficking and other illegal activities in and around Trenton and Hamilton, New Jersey. A federal law enforcement agent, working in an undercover capacity, arranged to purchase multiple firearms from an individual later identified as Johnson.
After arriving at an agreed-upon location for the firearms transaction, Johnson entered the undercover federal agent’s vehicle, and handed the agent a black, semi-automatic firearm. The undercover federal agent inspected the firearm and then returned it to Johnson and requested to see the other firearms that Johnson had agreed to sell. Instead, Johnson pointed the loaded firearm directly at the undercover federal agent and demanded money from the agent. The undercover federal agent provided Johnson with an amount of U.S. currency that the agent had on him to purchase the guns. Johnson then ordered the undercover federal agent out of the vehicle at gunpoint. The agent exited the vehicle as ordered and immediately drew a service-issued firearm and fired at Johnson, striking Johnson in the shoulder. Johnson also fired his handgun multiple times at the undercover federal agent. Johnson fled the area with the money. Johnson was later identified at a local hospital as the individual who had assaulted and robbed the undercover federal agent at gunpoint and placed under arrest.
The charge of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of robbery of federal property with a dangerous weapon carries a maximum potential penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which was discharged, carries a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum of life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, Trenton Satellite Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve E. Wilson; officers of the Hamilton Township Police Division, under the direction of Police Chief Kenneth DeBoskey; troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, and detectives and prosecutors of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo Onofri, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.
24-298
Defense counsel: Mark Catanzaro Esq., Mount Holly, New Jersey
Johnson.IndictmentDownload 
Jabree Johnson, 29, of Cleveland Avenue, Trenton, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court on July 31, 2024, to an indictment charging him with one count each of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, robbery with a dangerous weapon of an individual with custody of federal property, and using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence, in which the firearm was discharged.
Filen photos and video by: Brian McCarthy and Tyler Eckel
August 1, 2024
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department announced today that Giovanni Gaines-Little, 24, of Camden, was sentenced on July 29, 2024, in connection with a fatal hit and run that occurred on February 25, 2023.
On February 25, 2023, at approximately 9:58 P.M., authorities responded to the intersection of Route 130 and Route 32 in South Brunswick Township following the report of a motor vehicle crash. Upon their arrival, authorities located Kerri Lynn Shea, 43, of East Windsor, unconscious and entrapped in her motor vehicle. The driver of the other involved motor vehicle fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement. Ultimately, Ms. Shea died from injuries sustained in the collision.
An investigation led by Officer Bryan Sites of the South Brunswick Police Department and Detective Matthew Colonna of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Giovanni Gaines-Little, 24, of Camden, was the driver of the Mitsubishi Lancer that collided with Ms. Shea’s vehicle. Gaines-Little drove the Mitsubishi Lancer through a red light at a high rate of speed, collided with Ms. Shea’s car, and then fled the scene on foot leaving his passenger behind. At the time of the incident, Gaines-Little was unlicensed. Gaines-Little was arrested on January 29, 2024, and subsequently charged.
On April 12, 2024, Gaines-Little pled guilty to second-degree Vehicular Homicide and second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death. Gaines-Little was sentenced on July 29, 2024, by the Honorable Thomas J. Buck, J.S.C., to 5 years subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA) which means he will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence, for the crime of second-degree Vehicular Homicide, running consecutive to a 6-year sentence for the crime of second-degree Knowingly Leaving the Scene of Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Death for a total of 11 years in New Jersey State Prison. Upon release, Gaines-Little will be subject to parole supervision for 3 years.
Police Seek Suspect In Fatal Hit And Run In South Brunswick
