RUMSON, NJ – The Rumson Police Department issued a warning that bull sharks have been spotted in the Navesink River. The sightings come as this week is officially “Shark Week” across America.

“There have been several reports of possible bull shark sightings in the Navesink River in the area of Navesink Avenue in Rumson. NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife has been notified,” the Department Said. “They advised that no sightings have been confirmed as of yet but, as always, there is a possibility that sharks could be in our local waterways.”

Shark Week is a weeklong television programming schedule that runs each August on the Discovery Channel.

Photo by Simona Sergi on Unsplash

TOMS RIVER, NJ – On September 8th, students of the Toms River Regional School District won’t be boarding school buses to go back to school, instead, they will continue their remote online learning program from their own homes.

In July, Superintendent of Schools Dave Healy gave a grim forecast about going back to school saying it would be financially and logistically impossible for students to return to the classroom in September. Healy blamed Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey state guidelines as the reason for his prediction.

This week, Healy told the community that the district will return to remote-learning lesson plans and at a future date, he will announce a plan for children to return to the classroom.

The action comes after Governor Phil Murphy said a return to in-person education will be subject to strict regulations and health safety protocols.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our students and educators, and we must ensure that schools reopen their doors only when it is safe for them to do so,” said Governor Murphy. “Since releasing our guidance on reopening, we have continued to have frequent discussions with stakeholders and educators across the state. Many districts have expressed that meeting critical health and safety criteria by the first day of school is proving to be a challenge. While we continue to believe that there is no substitute for being in the classroom, allowing districts to delay the implementation of in-person instruction will give them the time and flexibility they need to ensure buildings are ready and welcoming when they do open.”

Healy and the school board’s decision to cancel in-school education comes just weeks after the district laid out plans for a return to school in mid-July.

The eventual return to school for students could be a hybrid solution that mixes at-home learning with limited time for students to attend class in their school buildings.

The board was nearly unanimous in blaming Governor Phil Murphy’s administration for ambiguous rules and guidelines and an ever-changing playing field for teachers and administrators to properly plan a return to school under the governor’s guidelines.

Here are the basic guidelines of the Governor’s 175th executive order of the year:

• Districts are required to certify to DOE that they can meet the health and safety protocols outlined in the Order, and further detailed in the “Road Back,” before resuming in-person instruction.  Private school districts will also be required to submit this certification;
• Districts that can meet the health and safety protocols shall open to students for in-person instruction in the fall;
• Even if school buildings are open for in-person instruction on the first day of the 2020-2021 school year, districts must provide a remote learning option for parents or guardians who request it for their children;
• Districts unable to adequately meet health and safety reopening protocols must provide remote instruction to all students. These districts are required to submit documentation to DOE detailing which standard(s) the district is unable to satisfy, the anticipated efforts that will be taken to satisfy the standard(s), and a date by which the school anticipates resuming in-person instruction;
• All schools required to participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program and those that voluntarily opt-in to those programs must offer required meals to all children on remote-learning days.

Many districts are saying the executive order which comes just three weeks before the return of school doesn’t allow school districts sufficient time to implement the new guidelines and certifications.

“The Department of Education has put forward strong guidelines that put a premium on health and safety of students and staff, while allowing in-person instruction to resume. However, we recognize that for some districts, there are legitimate and documentable reasons why some of these core health and safety standards cannot be met on day one,” Murphy said. ” So for these districts today, we are reaffirming our commitment to provide the flexibility for districts to do what is best for their school community. Both public and non-public schools must certify to the Department of Education that they are able to meet the health and safety standards necessary to resume in-person instruction. Districts that cannot meet all the health and safety standards for safe in-person instruction will begin their school year in an all-remote fashion. Public school districts will need to spell out their plans for satisfying these unmet standards, and a date by which they anticipate the ability to resume in-person instruction.”

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

The following is satire based on real events. 

Toms River, NJ – Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill is a maverick, leading the anti-Phil Murphy facemask indoors at work thing because, well, it’s stupid and COVID-19 is probably fake and made up because he’s a dentist and served in the Navy reserves and doesn’t want to get “mask mouth”.  Hill has been publicly defiant in breaking the workplace guidelines set forth by the CDC, NJ Department of Health and even the Ocean County Department of Health.   During his day, nobody had to social distance.  Milk was a quarter and gas was 10 cents per gallon nad people didn’t need no stinkin’ face masks.  We called to try to leave a message on Hill’s answering machine, even sent fax, but maybe we just need to send him a copy of the newspaper that explains why you should wear a mask when indoors to stop the spread of this new-fangled virus thing going around.

Now, Hill sure is in a pickle as those pesky Toms River residents who really should be seen and not heard until the next election have raised quite a fuss over his maskless photographs he’s been uploading in the internet Facebook thing.

“I ain’t dead yet,” said Hill who later told us back in his day things were just different and his generation just let God handle who lived and who died during a pandemic.

“I needed a new heel for my shoe, so, I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days,” Hill said.  “So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ’em.”

Mo has been giving out pieces of paper as rewards for people who showed up to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and maybe a little bit of something else…like rona?

While his new director of public laws, the $2,000,000 man Gregory P. McGuckin is out writing laws to fine Toms River residents $15,000 for violating Murphy’s laws, maskless Mo says “f’ that, masks are for p*ssies.  I was in the Navy and I’m a dentist.”

On August 13th, Hill said congratulations to Angela Ilaria from the Tax Assessor’s Office. Mayor Hill presented a Certificate to Angela for “Outstanding Customer Service” for assisting a resident with his Disabled Veterans Application form. Congratulations Angela, now go get yourself a test and watch out for the murder hornet that looks like it’s flying around town hall.

On July 14th, there was no MO-scial distancing for Mayor Mo or MVC Queen Maria Maruca on Little League opening day.

TOMS RIVER, NJ – In Ocean County government, when it comes to jobs, it’s not what you know, but who you know. Beth McGuckin, the ex-wife of New Jersey Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin has been promoted to a supervisor role on the Ocean County Board of Elections.

Holman, the Ocean County GOP Chairman also serves as chairman of the election board for Republicans.  McGuckin is the Republican supervisor representative on the board.

The appointment happened quietly this past May after Ocean County GOP Chairman Frank B. Holman had returned from his month-long isolation in the mid-west where he has been hiding out from the NJ COVID-19 pandemic on a hunting trip.  Party leaders often complain about Holman’s extended absences.

McGuckin’s appointment came just hours after her ex-husband, Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin struck the motherlode in Toms River. McGuckin last night was allegedly illegally given a $500,000 per year job by his political waterboy, Mayor Maurice Hill.

McGuckin earns $80,000 annually from the board.  McGuckin replaces Marie Peterson, who was pushed out by Holman and retired for medical reasons.  Beth McGuckin was originally hired by the election board as an elections investigation coordinator in 2006.

Greg McGuckin’s law firm pulls in over $2,000,000 in public contracts annually plus lad McGuckin also earns $49,000 annually as a New Jersey Assemblyman, nearly $500,000 annually as Toms River’s Director of Law, $250,000 annually as Jackson Township’s head legal counsel, plus he holds positions in at least 20 other municipalities.

Greg McGuckin is currently facing charges from Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick for allegedly accepting a no-bid six-figure job from the township of Toms River, which could be in violation of the state’s pay to play laws.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP-Gregory P. McGuckin, Esq of the lawfirm Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Koutsouris and Connors as the township general legal counsel has a checkered past, and now, the township attorney is being charged with political corruption charges in a no-bid public contract he accepted in neighboring Toms River.

The appointment of McGuckin by Mayor Michael Reina came in January as the law firm has been busy pushing its political clout across the county in towns such as Toms River, Manchester and Lacey who are also expected to make the highly controversial political appointment to appease the new leadership of the Ocean County Republican Party, led by Chairman Frank B. Holman, III.

The contract is estimated to be worth between $250,000 and $350,000 annually.

Charges against New Jersey Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin filed by Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick claims the assemblyman literally wrote himself a job estimated to be worth up to $500,000 per year, according to court documents on file with the Superior Court of New Jersey.

“In December 2009, the Township of Toms River properly adopted pursuant to State law a “Pay-to-Play” Ordinance providing certain limitations and restrictions upon campaign contributions to political party committees.candidates, or elected officials and limitations and/or prohibitions from the Township contracting or engaging with persons or entities making such contributions. That Ordinance is presently codified in the Township Code as Chapter 84, Sections 84-1 to 84-9,” the lawsuit claims, alleging Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill illegally hired McGuckin’s law firm.

The suit also provides evidence that McGuckin donated a total of $4,500 to the political campaigns of Hill, Matt Lotano, Josh Kopp and former Toms River Police Officer Kevin Geoghegan.

“On March 4, 2020, Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin sent a letter to Council President, Maria Maruca, on his company letterhead “Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Koutsouris,& Connors” with an enclosed draft ordinance that would “re-establish the township Department of Law” and further establish the position of “Director of the Department of Law”. A true and correct copy of this letter as found on file in the Township of Toms River,” Rodrick states in his charges against McGuckin.  “On March 18 2020, Kim Wallace – Administrative Assistant to Gregory P. McGuckin and Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill engaged in an email exchange to correct spelling errors in the ordinance document drafted by Gregory McGuckin.”

Rodrick claims that McGuckin’s firm, before being hired wrote the ordinance that changed the law that allowed him to attain another public service contract for which he and his firm hold at least 21 countywide.

“The documents attached to the lawsuits clearly demonstrate that Gregory P. McGuckin wrote the ordinance establishing the “Director of Law” position. A contracted post McGuckin would come to fill,” Rodrick said.

Rodrick, in his ethics charge filed with the State of New Jersey claims Hill, McGuckin and the township council colluded to give McGuckin the job going as far back as March 4th, 2020, three months after Hill assumed office.

Township attorney Ken Fitzsimmons acknowledged at the May 12th meeting of the township council that McGuckin was awarded a no-bid contract that violated the town’s pay to play law, however, Fitzsimmons walked back his declaration stating that because McGuckin held other contracts with the town, the town was able to give him another contract to circumvent the pay to play law because he submitted an RFP to the town for the position of township zoning and planning board attorney, two jobs McGuckin held prior to writing himself in as Director of Public Law.

McGuckin who serves as New Jersey Assemblyman in the state’s 10th legislative district is a former municipal councilman in Toms River.  In 2007, he ran for Mayor of Toms River, but suspended his campaign after it was made known that he was delinquent in paying his federal taxes and a $120,000 lein was placed on his home by the IRS.

Jackson Township’s previous attorney George Gilmore, of the lawfirm Gilmore and Monahan resigned earlier this year after being indicted and convicted in federal court on tax charges, according to the Asbury Park Press.

McGuckin eventually abandoned his campaign to be mayor in 2007.   He currently serves as township planning board attorney.  Mayor Michael Reina will announce his choice for McGuckin’s replacement on the township planning board.

“While I deeply appreciate the words of support and encouragement that I have received throughout Toms River, the fact is I have made a mistake with my personal finances,” McGuckin said in a press release at the time, announcing the termination of his political campaign.

The firm is also facing possible campaign ethics violations in Hamilton Township where the firm serves as the planning board attorney.  According to sources in Hamilton, the firm will not be retained in 2020 because the township suspects the firm had violated New Jersey Election Campaign Pay to Play limits that would make it ineligible to receive a contract for work in that town. A letter issued by Jerry Dasti to the New Jersey Election Commission explains how the firm may have attempted to skirt New Jersey pay to play laws by exceeding the pay to play max contribution limit.

The firm is also jockeying for political appointments in Toms River, Lacey and Manchester where much political negotiating has been going on to secure the appointments which could bring as much as $1,000,000 annually in public funds to the firm.   The firm currently receives $1.58 million in public funds through political appointments made possible in part by over $36,000 in political campaign contributions to political candidates in towns where the firm holds political patronage contracts.

Read More: McGuckin Pays off His Tax Leins.

In 2018, the latest year on file with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, the firm earned $58,000 from Jackson Township.  The firm donated $2,200 in political contributions in 2018 to the Jackson Township Republican Party’s campaign of Mayor Michael Reina, Councilman Alex Sauickie and Councilman Andy Kern.

During his battle with the IRS, McGuckin sold his home to his business partner Jerry Dasti. After settling with the IRS on a payment plan, McGuckin eventually bought his home back from his partner for much less than he sold it a couple years earlier.

McGuckin also serves as Toms River Mayor-Elect Maurice Hill’s transition team leader and is expected to be awarded a lucrative contract from Mayor Hill on Thursday.  The firm also holds a possible 3-2 vote in Lacey Township despite complaints of a possible conflict of interest between the firm and Lacey Township Mayor Steve Kennis.  In Lacey McGuckin’s firm submitted a bid proposal for $150 per hour.  Competing firm Rothstein, Mandell, Strohm, Halm and Cipriani submitted a proposal that was below that of the Dasti, McGuckin firm.

McGuckin accused in another scandal in Toms River.

Toms River Councilman Dan Rodrick called for an investigation into a possible corruption scandal involving 10th Legislative District Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin.  McGuckin, has become a power broker in Ocean County politics since the departure of former GOP Chairman George Gilmore.  According to his 2019 financial disclosure, McGuckin and his firm now holds 45 public municipal job appointments and his law firm recently picked up new contracts in Jackson, Manchester and Lacey – increasing his firm’s annual income to over an estimated $2 MILLION in just the past few months.

According to Rodrick, McGuckin may have been using tactics considered extortion under the law to gain control of the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority.  The MUA is an independent sewer authority whose board of commissioners are appointed by the Toms River council, but hiring decisions and contract negotiations are handled by the executive director.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Assemblyman McGuckin took one of the Toms River MUA Commoner’s out to breakfast on February 5^th to speak to him about the commissioner’s health benefits package, and to ask him not to appoint a new Executive Director until he got word from the Assemblyman.

“The Assemblyman is not the township attorney and does not hold local office, so he has no legal authority to discuss who the MUA should hire, and given that the Assemblyman also discussed the commissioner’s health benefits package at that same meeting, I can’t help but wonder if the Assemblyman was pressuring – or even threatening the commissioners to gain control of the MUA” Rodrick said.

Former Republican Club President Robert DiBiase has served as the executive director of the MUA since 2018, but is widely expected to be retiring soon.  Prior to that, the post was held by the former Republican Mayor of Brick, Stephen C. Acropolis.  It doesn’t appear that DiBiase will cave into the will of the Hill-McGuckin political threats any time soon, which is why they both want DiBiase out of the picture, so McGuckin’s firm can be hired by their handpicked successor to replace DiBiase.

“I want to know why Assemblyman McGuckin is so interested in who is being hired to direct the MUA?  Could it be because the MUA is a contract rich authority with millions in work every year?” Rodrick asked.

The Toms River MUA doles out millions in public contracts and legal work.  It also has a huge workforce, employing numerous members of Ocean County’s political elite and their families.  With such a large payroll and millions in public contracts, having influence over its executive director would increase McGuckin’s power base, and so would holding hostage the MUA’s Commoner’s Health Benefits.  The health benefits business is a big business for the McGuckin-Hill syndicate, which enriches former GOP Chairman Joseph Buckalew’s firm, Connor Strong, Buckelew and Norcross.   Yes, Norcross, the South Jersey Democrat power broker whose firm is already under its own political corruption investigation by the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey and Governor Phil Murphy.

In a recent Asbury Park Press interview, Assemblyman McGuckin did not deny his meeting or discussion with an MUA commissioner, but instead tried to turn it around on Councilman Rodrick, accusing him of leaking secrete information.  Was outing potential corruption and extortion a leak, or is Councilman Rodrick a whistleblower?  That’s something the residents of Toms River are going to have to decide.   As McGuckin eluded in the Asbury Park Press story, Rodrick isn’t playing according to McGuckin’s Game of Thrones, which now makes him public enemy number one with the political elites of Toms River and Ocean County, and possibly even a target on his head, because we’re talking about tens of millions of dollars on the line in this legalized public mafia, headed by Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin.

Also last week, former Toms River Schools Superintendent Michael Ritacco was released from prison for his public bribery and corruption scandal.  That scandal also involved a politically connected public health benefits company and a Toms River Mayor who was trying to push his weight around town hall.   Both ended up in federal prison.  The bribery scheme here is clear.   McGuckin puts pressure on the MUA commissioners to hire his guy to replace DiBiase.  In return, McGuckin will allow the board to continue taking a Cadillac public health benefits package that costs ratepayers $40,000 per year and the commissioners give McGuckin another six-figure public contract.   If that’s not cut and dry enough for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, FBI or Attorney General, then what is?

At the last township council meeting in April, Rodrick said he is going to file ethics charges against McGuckin and Hill with the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs regarding the incident with McGuckin and the Toms River MUA.

A law in Trenton is being pushed through that would fine New Jersey residents up to $15,000 for violating Governor Phil Murphy’s executive orders and it’s not the Democrats who are pushing to increase the penalties, it’s your local Republican officials here at the Jersey Shore that are calling for it.

It was sponsored by Toms River Township Republican Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin and his partner in crime, John Catalano.  Also signing on were Assemblymen Eric Houghtaling, Joan Downey, Sean Kean, Sam Thompson and Diane Gove.

Infractions that have transpired in Ocean County would be severely penalized and while the bill’s creators are seemingly trying to legislate violations in Lakewood Township, those fines would also be applied to the woman who was charged for taking pictures in Seaside Park or the guy playing guitar in a lifeguard stand at the beach.

Currently, violations of Murphy’s Law constitutes a disorderly persons offense carrying a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

The Republicans at the Jersey Shore are now lining up behind Governor Phil Murphy and his unconstitutional series of laws that turn everyday citizens into criminals, as he released thousands of actual criminals into the streets of New Jersey.

In essence, many petty crimes will have less stiff penalties than a dad taking his little girl to the park to play catch on a warm spring day.

This is the new normal of New Jersey.

This bill would establish a monetary penalty, of not less than $5,000 and not more than $15,000, for any person who willfully or knowingly violates any provision of the “Emergency Health Powers Act,” P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), or any order issued pursuant to the act, that relates to a social mitigation strategy barring all indoor or outdoor social gatherings or, if still permitted, hosts or participates in any indoor or outdoor social gathering with a number of people that exceeds the number permitted to gather, which provision or order is intended to prevent the transmission or spread of an infectious disease, biological agent, toxic chemical from a chemical weapon, radioactive material from a nuclear or radiological device, or overlap agent or toxin, during a public health emergency declared by the Governor under the act.  The penalty would be sued for and collected by the Commissioner of Health, along with all costs associated with the commissioner’s enforcement action, in a summary proceeding before the Superior Court or municipal court with territorial jurisdiction over the action pursuant to the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

TOMS RIVER, NJ – The New Jersey Corruption and Government Crime Bureau is now investigating claims that a Toms River Township public land sale may have violated the law according to government sources.  The investigation was launched after Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick announced on Tuesday that he was providing his evidence that the land sale to an anonymous post office box was riddled with red flags and inconsistencies in township legal documents and filings.

When asked about the investigation today, Peter Aseltine, spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General today said simply, “We do not have any comment.”

The Office of Public Integrity & Accountability, under the leadership of longtime federal prosecutor Thomas J. Eicher, handles all public integrity matters within the Attorney General’s Office and includes a team of experienced prosecutors and detectives from the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police. OPIA reports directly to the Attorney General to ensure the independence of sensitive investigations.

“We must root out the corruption and misconduct that undermine faith in our public institutions. Our country and our state face significant challenges, and we won’t be able to meet them if people do not trust that those in authority are working single-mindedly for the public good. We must create a culture of accountability where powerful individuals and institutions know that they must act with integrity or else face the consequences,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said.

On Tuesday, Rodrick announced he had turned over his findings to the public corruption branch of the bureau.

OPIA investigates and prosecutes criminal abuses of the public trust and handles other sensitive matters that implicate the public’s confidence in both government and the criminal justice system, including government corruption and fraud.

The land sale was put on the council agenda by Council President Maria Maruca, an employee of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.  Rodrick also implicated Toms River Councilman Matt Lotano who admitted during Tuesday’s meeting that he had an existing business relationship with the auction house that brokered the deal.

At question is the legality of the sale and the finagling of government documents to hide the individual purchaser of the property, Chaim Sabel from government documents, instead, using an LLC, 1810 Hinds Road LLC, which was formed days after the auction was complete as the purchaser of the property.

MAYS LANDING- The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Atlantic City Police Department is investigating the fatal shooting of a man on Wednesday morning, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.

Atlantic City Police received a 911 call, at 11:45 a.m., today, reporting a shooting. Officers responded to the Madison Hotel, 125 S Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd and located a male victim on the 11th floor with an apparent gunshot wound.

This cooperative investigation is continuing by the ACPO Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.

TOMS RIVER, NJ – If you’re not angry yet about the administration of Mo Hill and the direction he’s taking Toms River and the poor judgment he and his team are making in local government, you should be.  This week, a plan by the council to sell off 1.2 acres of public land at auction well under the assessed value to a connected Lakewood political figure was thwarted.  As the scene unfolded and facts were presented, here’s what we found.

https://www.facebook.com/OceanCountyNewsSquad/videos/297637968122450/

LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Lakewood Police Department is actively investigating a shooting that took place in the Pine Acres section of town last evening. At approximately 7:35 pm, the Lakewood Police Department received a call from a man who was reportedly just shot. Upon arrival, Officer Matthew McAvoy located 30-year-old Shaqueese White, of Jackson, in the bathroom of a Marshall street home. White had at least three gunshot wounds to his legs. He was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment and is currently in critical but stable condition.

The investigation is currently active, with the assistance of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. Details surrounding the event are not clear at this time. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

HADDONFIELD, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man under investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office for child [censored]ography-related offenses was arrested today for allegedly paying $20,000 in Bitcoin to have the child victim murdered, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

John Michael Musbach, 31, of Haddonfield, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of murder-for-hire. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In the summer of 2015 Musbach began communicating via an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) website with his victim, who was 13 years old at the time. At some point, Musbach began using those IRC conversations to request and receive sexually explicit videos and photographs of the minor victim and to send to the victim sexually explicit videos and photographs of himself.

In September 2015 the victim’s parents discovered the nature of Musbach’s communications with the victim and notified local law enforcement officers in the State of New York, where the victim resided. Officers began investigating Musbach’s conduct and called Musbach to notify him that he was under investigation for his online sexual contact with the victim and that he was to stay away from the victim. Upon identifying Musbach as a resident of Atlantic County, New Jersey, New York law enforcement officers reached out to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office (ACPO), which continued the investigation.

On March 31, 2016, officers from the ACPO arrested Musbach on child [censored]ography charges and executed a search warrant at his residence, then in Galloway, New Jersey. Law enforcement officers seized Musbach’s cellular telephone and also his business laptop provided to him by his then-employer, a cloud hosting company. Musbach admitted to having sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to the victim and having requested and received sexually explicit images and videos from the victim, all while knowing that the victim was 13-years old.

On Oct. 11, 2017, Musbach pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child (the victim) by sexual contact and was sentenced on Feb. 9, 2018, by a New Jersey Superior Court Judge to a two-year suspended sentence with parole supervision for life.

In 2019, a cooperating informant began providing information to agents from Homeland Security Investigations in St. Paul, Minnesota, and provided messages between Musbach and a murder-for-hire website, which operated on the dark net, and which purported to offer contract killings or other acts of violence in return for payment in cryptocurrency.

Those messages revealed that in May 2016, Musbach arranged for a murder-for-hire from the website. He asked if a 14-year-old was too young to target, and upon hearing that the age was not a problem, paid approximately 40 bitcoin (approximately $20,000) for the hit. Musbach repeatedly messaged the website’s administrator following up on the hit and asking when it would occur. When pressed for an additional $5,000 to secure the hit, Musbach eventually sought to cancel and asked for a refund of his $20,000. The website’s administrator then revealed that the website was a scam and threatened to reveal Musbach’s information to law enforcement.

Agents were able to confirm Musbach’s identity through several means, including linking him to the same screen name he used to communicate with the murder-for-hire website and also by tracing the flow of monies from Musbach’s bank account to the purchase of bitcoin used to pay for the hit.
The charge of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, twice the gross profits to Musbach or twice the gross losses to the victim of his offense.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina, and in St. Paul, Minnesota, under the direction of Tracy Cormier, with the investigation. He also thanked the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office for its assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Vondra Carrig in Camden.

The charge and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Toms River Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team concluded three separate investigations last week resulting in the arrests of three individuals and the seizure of quantities of heroin, cocaine, two handguns and cash. Two of the three individuals arrested remain incarcerated in the Ocean County Jail.

On August 3rd, members of the Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team concluded a month long investigation into heroin distribution in Toms River and Manchester Township. Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop of a Ford F-350 pickup truck being operated by William Needham, 34 of Manchester, and executed a search warrant on the vehicle. The subsequent search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 850 wax folds of heroin (17 bricks) and $1,876.00 in U.S. currency. Mr. Needham was arrested and charged with possession of heroin and 2nd degree possession with the intent to distribute heroin. Additionally his Ford F-350 was seized pending forfeiture. Manchester Township Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Narcotics Strike Force assisted with the arrest. Mr. Needham was sent to jail pending a detainment hearing.

On August 4th, the Special Enforcement Team conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 37 near Route 166. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Daniel Dornbierer, 42 of Forked River, and the seizure of one bundle (10 wax folds) of heroin and a Polymer 80 9mm handgun with hollow point bullets. This handgun was void of serial numbers and was untraceable. Mr. Dornbierer was charged with possession of heroin and several weapons offenses. The Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit assisted with this investigation. Mr. Dornbierer was sent to Ocean County Jail pending a detainment hearing.   According to the Ocean County Jail Inmate Search, Dornbierer has already been released from jail after his pretrial bail reform hearing.

On August 7th, the Special Enforcement Team concluded another month long investigation regarding heroin distribution within the Township. Following a motor vehicle stop of a vehicle being operated by Ricky Galloway, 60 of Lakewood, he was found to be in possession of approximately 250 wax folds of heroin and a small quantity of cocaine. Additionally Mr. Galloway was found to be in possession of quantity of cash and a Smith and Wesson 40 caliber handgun. A search was then conducted of Mr. Galloway’s residence resulting in the seizure of 650 wax folds of heroin and a larger amount of cash. Mr. Galloway was arrested and the total seizure was 18 bricks (900 wax folds) of heroin, 5 grams of cocaine, $7,608.00 in cash and the handgun. Mr. Galloway was charged with several narcotics and weapons related offenses including 2nd degree possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and possession of a handgun during a narcotics offense. Mr. Galloway was sent to Ocean County Jail pending a detainment hearing.

In total the Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team seized over 35 bricks (or 1760 wax folds) of heroin, over 5 grams of cocaine, a 9mm handgun with hollow point bullets, a 40 caliber handgun, and approximately $9500.00 in cash. We appreciate the partnerships with all agencies involved in these, and other investigations. We’d like to thank all of the dedicated officers who are committed to keeping our community safe.

TRENTON, NJ –  Trans women are women, pass it on.

Those words posted by Governor Phil Murphy on Twitter this week caused an internet firestorm and debate among his constituents regarding the topic of transgender women in New Jersey.  Murphy’s post may have hurt the cause for transgender women more than help it as the discussion got heated very quickly.

“Humans with a Y chromosome are male. Science, pass it on,” responded one Twitter user in opposition to the Governor’s statement.

“Must [have] skipped that class on genetics?” another responded.

While most of the responses were in synch with the governor’s statement, the debate raged on.

“So many responses talking about science & biology & chromosomes & genitals. I get it. I’m a science-minded guy,” another posted. “I don’t understand what it is to be trans. BUT I don’t need to understand. Just need to accept people for who they are & who they say they are. What’s wrong with that?”

Perhaps Murphy was just trolling the right and wanted to get a rise. Maybe he wanted to strengthen his transgender base for 2021.  Nobody knows, but the comment brought out both the ugliness of society and good in society.

In reality, though, more New Jerseyeans are now worried about health, finances, and the future.  Few woke up in the morning ready to debate gender studies on Twitter.  Many of the comments reverted back towards Murphy’s government policies, the pandemic,

Trans women are women, pass it on. https://t.co/kWkjOyGOIH

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) August 11, 2020

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy’s administration on Wednesday touted law enforcement actions against residents and business owners for not wearing face masks.  Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police boasted about actions against residents and business owners across the state.

In Beach Haven, law enforcement officials charged the owner for several individuals not wearing face masks at the Seashell Resort and Beach Club.   A patron at the Flip Flops Bar in North Wildwood was also cited for not wearing a face mask.

“With regard to Executive Order compliance over the past few days, Beach Haven Police Department responded to the Seashell Resort and Beach Club for a report of violations and they did observe several individuals not socially distance, not wearing a mask and did cite the owner. In Gloucester Township, Gloucester Township Police Department responded to a massive pool party that had been advertised on social media,” Callahan said. “They found approximately 270 partygoers there not socially distancing or wearing masks. Not only the owner was cited as was the party organizer. In Elizabeth, Elizabeth Police Department responded to lookers that reportedly had 300 to 400 people inside many without masks. The manager was cited. And in North Wildwood, a patron at Flip Flops Bar was cited. He was warned several times to put a mask on and did not and was subsequently cited.”

LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP, NJ – One person was shot several times and was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Lakewood. Authorities have not released any details on this shooting.  At least one unknown assailant entered the home and shot the person in the home multiple times. Their condition is not known at this time.  The suspect allegedly broke into the home and fled the scene after the shooting.

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – Since taking power of the GOP in 2009, millionaire pay to play accountant Frank Holman has seen the Republican party in Ocean County fall apart from infighting, political scandals, pay to play and patronage job controversies.   This month, Bayville Councilwoman Judith Noonan announced she has seen enough and is resigning from her position in Berkeley Township.

Berkeley Township Republicans are coming off a strong November 2019 election where Mayor Carmen Amato and his slate dominated the Democrats by a nearly 3 to 1 vote margin. She made the announcement at the final town council meeting this July.

“Unfortunately, I am resigning due to many unsatisfying factors which have caused me to become increasingly disappointed with unprincipled political decisions over the past several months,” Noonan said. ” The reason I became a Councilwoman was to serve my constituents and to make the lives of the people of Berkeley Township better. I can no longer be a part of the hiring practices, excessive spending, and the unethical political behavior. This unprofessional conduct I can no longer tolerate.”

The resigning councilwoman said she doesn’t see eye to eye on many issues with her Republican colleagues in government.

Noonan was praised by her fellow council members and members of the public for her years of service to the community of Berkeley Township.