Lakewood fbi operation enters third day, here's what we know so far

Lakewood FBI Operation Enters Third Day, Here’s What We Know So Far

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1 min read
April 25, 2020

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Friday was the third day of an ongoing FBI investigation in Lakewood Township related to medical equipment, but officials are still not even confirming the existence of the action.

It started Wednesday when over one dozen agents showed up at Lakewood Industrial Park warehouse.

WEDNESDAY

Agents showed up at a warehouse at approximately 4:30 pm located at 1980 Swarthmore Avenue.  The warehouse of Deco-Tile was where the agents were entering and exiting, later some were seen bringing out boxes of medical supplies.  No visible arrests were made.  We contact the FBI Newark office who declined to comment about the case.  When asked to confirm an earlier report on the Lakewood Scoop to see if the investigation was a case of mistaken identity, the agency seemed surprised by the question but refused to answer, suggesting it was not.

FBI press spokesperson Patty Hartman, of the Newark field office, declined to offer details of the investigation.

THURSDAY

On Thursday, the FBI returned to Lakewood, this time at an industrial park building located at 155 Oberlin in the morning hours.  It was at this operation that it was learned that the FBI was looking into large quantities of protective medical masks.   Agents loaded at least four box trucks full of medical masks.

At Governor Murphy’s daily COVID-19 press conference, Governor Phil Murphy acknowledged the FBI investigation in Lakewood.

“Because it looks like a law enforcement matter, we won’t have much to say,” Governor Phil Murphy said regarding the two days of FBI and Department of Justice raids against Lakewood businesses. “U.S. Attorney and FBI are both involved and I’m sure our Attorney General will also be involved.”

FRIDAY

FBI agents were once again spotted in Lakewood, this time at a residential home in the vicinity of New Hampshire Avenue and Oak Street to investigate a report of a residential homeowner with a large supply of medical equipment and masks in a garage.

To date, no visible arrests have been made and it appears the investigation is ongoing.   Neither the Lakewood Police, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, New Jersey Attorney General, or the FBI have publicly commented on the events transpiring in the township as of yet.

In related news…

As one chapter in the FBI’s history opens, another has apparently come to a close as former disgraced Toms River Regional Schools superintendent Michael Ritacco has been released from prison, nearly two years ahead of schedule.

http://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2020/04/24/former-toms-river-school-chief-michael-ritacco-released-from-prison/

 

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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