WARETOWN-On May 8th, 2018 at approximately 12:00 pm, the Ocean Township Police Department received a report of a suspicious motor vehicle occupied by two males at the end of Bryant Road in the Bay Haven section of Ocean Township. A description of the suspects and their vehicle – a white cargo van were obtained by police dispatch and it was located a short time later by Lt. Scott Murphy in the parking lot of the CVS Pharmacy on U.S. Highway 9 in Waretown, NJ. Lt. Murphy was assisted by Sgt. Michael Ward and Ptl. Philip Calanni.

TRENTON –Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that an Ocean County man was convicted at trial of stealing over $400,000 from investors by depositing their funds into a securities trading company he formed, but then using the funds for his own expenses and personal day trading activity.

Jeffrey D. Griffin, Jr., 43, of Toms River, N.J., was  convicted late yesterday afternoon, May 8, by a Passaic County jury of all counts in a five-count indictment charging him with theft by deception, misapplication of entrusted property, two counts of violation of New Jersey’s Uniform Securities Act, and money laundering, all in the second degree.  The verdict followed a trial before Superior Court Judge Joseph Portelli in Paterson.

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, and the money laundering charge carries an additional anti-money laundering profiteering penalty of up to $250,000.  Sentencing for Griffin is scheduled for June 1.  Griffin is being detained in jail pending sentencing.

Deputy Attorneys General Anthony Torntore and Alyssa Bloom tried Griffin for the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau.  They were assisted at trial by Detective Mark Byrnes, Detective Roxanna Ordonez and Analyst Gabby Pichler; Detective Franco Cignarella and Investigator Melissa Miller of the Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy; Investigator Thomas Dellatorre and Chief of Enforcement Rudolph Bassman of the New Jersey Bureau of Securities; and Deputy Attorney General Sarah Lichter of the Appellate Bureau.  Lt. Cheryl Smith and Deputy Attorneys General Phillip Leahy and Mary McAnally also worked on the case during its earlier stages.  The case was investigated and prosecuted under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Mark Kurzawa, former Bureau Chief Michael Monahan, Deputy Chief of Detectives William Frederick and Deputy Director of the Division of Criminal Justice Christine Hoffman.  The Bureau of Securities took action against Griffin in 2013 and referred the case to the Division of Criminal Justice.

“This verdict was the result of tremendous collaboration between our Bureau of Securities, which investigates allegations of securities fraud, and the Division of Criminal Justice, which prosecutes those who commit securities fraud,” said Attorney General Grewal. “I am incredibly proud of our trial team and all of the investigators, detectives, and prosecutors who made this verdict possible. This conviction is a great example of our Department’s divisions working together to protect both our financial markets and the residents of New Jersey.”

“Griffin lied to clients about how their funds would be invested and led certain victims to falsely believe they were investing through a securities firm where he previously worked as an agent,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Once Griffin gained control of investor funds, he shamelessly stole them by diverting them for his own purposes. He now faces a substantial prison sentence.”

The state presented testimony and evidence at trial that from August 2010 through July 2011, Griffin stole $408,000 from four investors – three men and one woman – whose funds were deposited by Griffin into his newly formed company, Tricep Trading LLC.  Griffin had worked as a stockbroker for another investment firm, but he left that firm and formed Tricep in August 2010.  The three men had been clients of Griffin at the prior firm, and Griffin led two of them to believe that their funds were still being invested through that firm or through a new division of the firm that Griffin was heading.  One had $100,000 of his funds deposited into the Tricep business account without his knowledge.  He received checks totaling $39,000 from Griffin before Tricep ran out of funds, for a net loss of $61,000.  Griffin told the other three victims that he would be investing on their behalf through hedge fund-type investments or day trading. The other two men each invested $25,000 and received no returns.  The woman invested $324,000 and received $27,000 in checks from Griffin, for a net loss of $297,000.

Griffin transferred funds from the Tricep business account into his personal account and used the Tricep account to make numerous ATM withdrawals and retail purchases.  He transferred $25,000 from Tricep to a firm that engaged in real estate flipping, but did not record that as an investment for Tricep.  He used another $120,000 – which he first transferred to his personal account – to open an account with a day trading firm that prohibits members from trading other investors’ money.  By May 2011, Tricep was out of funds.

Attorney General Grewal thanked the Bureau of Securities for its investigation and referral.  In June 2013, the Bureau of Securities revoked Griffin’s registration as an agent of a broker-dealer and permanently barred him from association in any capacity with any broker-dealer or investment adviser conducting business in New Jersey.  It also assessed a $125,000 civil penalty against Griffin and Tricep.

Investors who believe they have been defrauded are urged to contact the Division of Criminal Justice toll free at 866-TIPS-4CJ (866-847-7425) or the Bureau of Securities toll free at 866-I-INVEST (866-446-8378). Callers outside New Jersey can contact the Bureau of Securities at 973-504-3600. Investors are urged to contact the Bureau of Securities before they invest to make sure any securities that are offered to them are properly registered, as required by law.

BERKELEY-Detective Bureau received numerous complaints regarding open air drug distribution throughout the Manitou Park Section of the Township. Several Concerned Citizens reported car and foot traffic in the area throughout the day and night often times at or near public parks.

As a result of the information received, Berkeley Township Detectives initiated covert surveillance operations within the neighborhood and surrounding areas. Detectives were able to view in person, drug deals throughout the area. Further, these transactions were observed to be occurring in the vicinity of the public Park on 3rd Ave as well as in the area of the public Baseball Fields on 5th Ave. These areas are frequented by neighborhood children and youth sports leagues.

The fast moving investigation resulted in the identification of several persons believed to be distributors of heroin as well as several vehicles to include a white Lexus that was used in the distribution of Heroin.

As a result of the investigation an arrest warrant was issued for a Levine Leonard 28 , of Belmont Street in South Toms River. The charges were for Possession of Heroin, Possession of Heroin with the intent to distribute and distributing Heroin within 500 Ft of a public park.

The arrest occurred when Leonard was observed driving the white Lexus on Rt. 9 near the Garden State Parkway entrance ramp in South Toms River. A Felony stop which consisted of several marked vehicles was conducted for the safety of the public and the officers. The stop temporarily halted traffic entering the Parkway. Leonard was taken into custody without incident.

Leonard was taken to Berkeley police H.Q. where he was processed and transported to the Ocean County Jail in accordance with the Bail Reform Act. The Lexus was impounded pending forfeiture proceedings. More arrests are likely as the investigation continues.
The Berkeley Township Police Department wants to highlight that this arrest was the direct result of citizens and the police working together. This kind of cooperation is essential in the pursuit of a safer neighborhood. The information provided by residents allowed detectives to move quickly and make this important quality of life arrest. The Berkeley Township Police cannot stress enough that although a strong police presence is important in deterring crime in your neighborhood, that presence alone will not always be enough to prevent issues, such as drug dealing. Residents must become proactive in reporting suspicious activity or suspected crimes. This can be done by calling the Berkeley Township Police at 732-341-1132 x611. Tips can be anonymous.

This investigation was spearheaded by the Berkeley Township Detective Bureau which included, Detective Lieutenant Peter La Rocca, Detective Sergeant Joseph Robertazzi, Detective Joseph Santoro, Detective Michael Riccardelli, Detective William Somers and Detective Michael O’Connor. The Berkeley Township Patrol Division, The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Warrant and K-9 unit as well as the South Toms River Police Department also assisted in this successful arrest.

by Al DellaFave, OCPO

POINT PLEASANT-Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced today the guilty plea of Jelani Webster, 19, of Trenton, in connection with the drowning death of Anijyah Price, 23, of Newark, NJ, at the Beach Amethyst Motel in Point Pleasant Beach in July of 2017.  Webster entered a guilty plea to an accusation charged Manslaughter, a second degree crime, which carries a maximum period of incarceration of up to ten years, subject to the “No Early Release Act”.

The case was presented to the Ocean County Grand Jury on October 25, 2017.  The Grand Jury returned an indictment for Murder.  The defense filed a motion to dismiss the indictment.  The Court granted the motion to dismiss the indictment April 3, 2018.

This plea agreement resulted from negotiations which took place as the State was preparing the case for presentation to another grand jury.

The investigation revealed that Ms. Price, Ms. Webster and Kyle Thompson had traveled to Point Pleasant Beach on July 10, 2017.  Each of them consumed alcohol throughout the night. They rented a room at the Beach Amethyst motel.  At approximately 5:20 a.m., a 911 call was made by a motel guest reporting that someone was in the pool and not breathing.   The guests were awakened by a knock on their motel door.  The husband of the 911 caller jumped in the pool and pulled Ms. Price out.

Kyle Thompson stated that he did not observe how Ms. Price ended up in the deep end of the pool as he was walking back to their room when he heard a splash. Upon realizing Ms. Price was in danger, Kyle Thompson, who stated he is unable to swim, directed Ms. Webster to knock on doors to get help.  He climbed down one ladder and tried to reach in as he was still holding onto the ladder himself but was unable to reach Ms. Price.

Investigation uncovered video surveillance showing that Defendant pushed Ms. Price into the deep end of the pool.  During the course of the investigation, it was learned that defendant was aware that Ms. Price could not swim.

The investigation was conducted by the following: Det. John Murphy and Det. Lindsay Woodfield from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office; Sgt. Clint Daniel, Det. Derek O’Neill and Det. Meany from the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, and Det. Michael Senger from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Unit.

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Terry Ann Linardakis represented the State.  The defendant was represented by Terrance L. Turnbach, Esquire.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable James N. Blaney, J.S.C., on June 29, 2018.