Police Arrest Avenel Teens For Playground Arson

WOODBRIDGE – Mayor John E. McCormac today announced that an 18 year-old adult and a 17 year-old juvenile from Avenel have been arrested by the Woodbridge Police Department and charged with intentionally setting fire to playground equipment at the 5th District Park and Playground located in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township.  The April 13 fire caused more than $25,000 in damage to playground equipment and park facilities. 

 “I am gratified that the Woodbridge Police Department was able to make arrests within hours of the fire.  These arrests send a strong message to anyone who thinks that setting a fire and destroying thousands of dollars of playground equipment is simply vandalism.  We will seek the stiffest penalties possible, including restitution and community service,” said McCormac. “I would like to thank neighborhood residents – and the media – for their assistance and cooperation in helping the Woodbridge Police Department conduct a thorough and effective investigation.”

Two Avenel teens were arrested yesterday for allegedly setting the fire that destroyed $25,000 worth of playground equipment Monday night.

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Police Suspect Arson Caused Playground Fire

WOODBRIDGE –The Woodbridge Township Police Department is actively investigating a suspected arson fire that destroyed more than $25,000 in newly installed playground equipment at the 5th District Park & Playground located in the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township. 

Police are investigating the fire that destroyed $25,000 worth of playground equipment Monday night.

  According to Police Chief William Trenery, the suspected arson fire was reported to the Woodbridge Township Police Department 9-1-1 Dispatch Operations Center and the Avenel Fire Department at 9:56 p.m. on Monday, April 13.  The initial report was made by a neighborhood resident who spotted the fire.  The Avenel Fire Department responded to the scene within minutes of the report.  Upon arrival, Avenel Fire officials reported the playground equipment was fully engulfed in flames.  The fire was under control by 10:15 p.m.

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Newark Man Sentenced To Prison As Leader Of Auto Theft Ring

 TRENTON—An Essex County man has been sentenced to state prison for leading an auto theft ring that targeted luxury cars, Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced last week. 

Saladine Grant, 34, of Newark, was ordered by Superior Court Judge Joseph P. Donohue in Union County to serve nine years in state prison, with three years of parole ineligibility.  He was ordered to pay $3,000 in auto theft fines, and his driver’s license was suspended for 10 years. 

The sentence is based on Grant’s Jan. 20 guilty plea to a charge of leading an auto theft trafficking network.  He also pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving stolen property, and one count of theft by unlawful taking.  The charges were contained in an indictment returned on Aug. 13, 2008. 

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Good Samaritan Detains Alleged Mugger

 LINDEN – At least three teens mugged a man on East Curtis Street last week, but a good Samaritan helped police capture one of them, authorities said.

The victim, a 31-year-old man, was walking on the street’s 500 block shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday, April 3. He told police that he was attacked from behind. His attackers knocked him to the ground, hit him several times in the head and took the cell phone from his pants pocket, authorities said.

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Court Rules Defendant’s Lawyer Not Entitled To Evidence

Neil Cohen

STATE – Former Assemblyman Neil Cohen’s lawyer is not entitled to review the child pornography images his client allegedly printed from his legislative computer, a state appeals court ruled last week.

The Attorney General’s office appealed an earlier decision by Superior Court Judge Gerald J. Council that required prosecutors to hand over “two digital copies of child pornography,” according to court documents.

Both the Attorney General’s office and Cohen’s lawyer, Mark Tuohey, may discuss the issue in court on June 1.

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Another Vas Collaborator Guilty

Plea shows taint infects school system

PERTH AMBOY—Ana Pestrana, a part-time assistant recreation supervisor who is employed full-time by the city’s school district, became the second municipal employee to plead guilty to charges of using city funds to purchase items for former Mayor Joseph Vas.

Pestrana admitted in court on Monday that she used city funds to buy sneakers, beach wear and other clothing for Vas, submitting credit card receipts for those items to the Perth Amboy Housing Development Corporation between Aug. 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006.

Pestrana agreed to give up the school job as part of her plea bargain. Superior Court Judge Frederick De Vesa agreed to let her finish the year as a special education teacher at the Shull Middle School, noting that she has agreed to testify against Vas and other defendants.

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Scandal Shocks Perth Amboy

Vas Collaborators

One Admits Guilt…

PERTH AMBOY — Jeffrey D. Gumbs, who was a top city administrator under former Mayor Joseph Vas, pleaded guilty Monday to theft, tampering with public records and the misapplication of the city’s property between April 2004 and November 2005.

Gumbs, who was the city’s director of human resources and supervisor of recreation for many years, pleaded guilty to stealing about $2,500 from taxpayers in the New Brunswick courtroom of Judge Frederick DeVesa.

Under the plea bargain, the state will recommend that Gumbs be sentenced on June 26 to probation, he must pay restitution to the city and he will be permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.

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School Board Member Charged as Vas Collaborator

Raymond J. Geneske

PERTH AMBOY — Raymond J. Geneske, 73, a member of the Board of Education was charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree official misconduct and third-degree money laundering in connection with his role who as chairman of the 2006 congressional campaign of former Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas.

Charged along with Geneske was Melvin Ramos, 53, a former mayoral aide who served as treasurer of Vas’ campaign. The two Vas associates will be ordered to appear in Superior Court in Middlesex County to answer the charges, according to Attorney General Anne Milgram.

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Attorney General Announces Three New Mortgage Fraud Complaints

TRENTON – Continuing the state’s attack on mortgage fraud, Attorney General Anne Milgram announced yesterday the filing of three new fraud lawsuits charging a total of 14 individual and corporate defendants.

“The lawsuits we announce (on Thursday) involve three separate complaints, but they share a common thread of greed, human callousness and disregard for the law,” said Milgram. “In one way or another, each of the defendants in these complaints is charged with making money by selling false hope to trusting people during uncertain economic times.”

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State Assemblyman Indicted

Joseph Vas (file photo)

TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that New Jersey Assemblyman and former Perth Amboy mayor Joseph Vas was indicted Wednesday on charges he conspired with city employees to steal approximately $5,000 in funds of the City of Perth Amboy to pay for personal purchases and expenses.

Vas, 54, was also indicted with his personal driver, Anthony S. Jones, 48, of Perth Amboy, in connection with an alleged scheme in which Vas rigged a public lottery so that Jones won the opportunity to buy an affordable two-family home through the Perth Amboy Home Program.

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D-Camden) removed Vas from his post as Assembly Deputy Majority Leader and his committee positions Thursday while calling on the Perth Amboy Democrat to resign.

“Any time an elected official is accused of using their office for personal gain, it stains the reputations of all of us who have chosen to dedicate ourselves to public service,” Roberts said. “Assemblyman Vas should do what is best for his constituents and the Assembly and resign from office.”

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Girl Escapes Abduction Attempt

PERTH AMBOY – A 9-year-old girl escaped an attempted abduction Saturday morning at St. Mary’s School on Mechanic Street, authorities said.

The girl’s mother told police that she dropped off her daughter at the school gymnasium and watched the girl go into the building, police said.

The girl walked down the hallway to her CCD class when she was stopped by a man who told her the classes were cancelled, police said. The man then grabbed the girl and took her across the street to the church, police said.

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Vella Convicted Of Bribing Housing Official

ELIZABETH—A close political associate of Mayor J. Christian Bollwage was convicted of bribing a housing official last week in federal court.

Ray Vella, 33, of Elizabeth, owner of Pavel Construction, was found guilty of trading cash payments for more than $650,000 in contracts.

The verdict brings to a close a bid-rigging and kickback scandal that crippled a program meant to renovate dilapidated houses in Linden. Vella is the fifth and final suspect found guilty in a scheme that abused a federally-funded program to provide new roofs, siding and other home improvements to low-income and elderly residents to reward favored contractors.

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Two Charged In Perth Amboy Murder

PERTH AMBOY – Two men were charged last week in the fatal stabbing of a 22-year-old man near the Perth Amboy waterfront in June.

Fulgencio G. Monasterio of Carteret and Bernaldo Martinez of Perth Amboy were charged with the June 22 murder of Jesus Ramirez, who was stabbed behind a warehouse on High Street. Both men had been in custody since June on charges that they lied to investigators.

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Former Assemblyman Indicted On Child Pornography Charges

TRENTON – Former New Jersey Assemblyman Neil M. Cohen was indicted Wednesday on official misconduct and child pornography charges for allegedly using computer equipment in the 20th Legislative District office to view child pornography and print copies of child pornography that he left around the office, Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced.

The Division of Criminal Justice obtained a state grand jury indictment charging Cohen, 57, of Paramus, with the second-degree crimes of official misconduct, reproduction of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography, as well as the fourth-degree crime of possession of child pornography.

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Jail Guards Indicted For Assaulting Prisoner

ELIZABETH – Two Union County jail officers who allegedly assaulted a prisoner are now under indictment.

Officer Alvin White, 34, is accused of punching Edwin Reyes and breaking the inmate’s jaw on July 15. Sgt. Eric Williams, 41, allegedly slapped Reyes and failed to notify his supervisors about the altercation, authorities said.

The officers, who have been suspended without pay, both face official misconduct charges. White also faces a charge of aggravated assault.

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