New Jersey News

Security guard stole $200k in cash after being fired from Casino sentenced

Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that a former security guard at the Caesars Casino in Atlantic City was sentenced to prison today for committing an armed robbery at the casino in 2014 after he was fired from his job.

Izyiah Plummer, 22, of Atlantic City, was sentenced to 11 years in state prison, including nine years and four months of parole ineligibility, by Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury Jr. in Atlantic County. Plummer pleaded guilty on Aug. 22, 2016, to all of the charges filed against him in an Aug. 20, 2015 indictment, including first-degree armed robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.

Deputy Attorney General Kerry DiJoseph prosecuted Plummer and handled the sentencing for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau-Casino Prosecutions Unit.

Three other defendants who were indicted with Plummer have pleaded guilty and face prison sentences in connection with the robbery. Aaron Evans, 26, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty on Dec. 12 to second-degree theft and faces a recommended sentence of eight years in state prison. Nathaniel Greenlee, 23, of Bear, Delaware, and Donavon Jackson, 22, of Wilmington, Delaware, each pleaded guilty in June 2016 to second-degree theft. The state will recommend that each of those two men be sentenced to seven years in state prison. Evans, Greenlee and Jackson are scheduled to be sentenced on March 17.

The men were charged in an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau and the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau-Casino Prosecutions Unit. They were charged in connection with an armed robbery of a security guard and a second casino employee who were removing cash from a kiosk inside Caesars Casino on July 21, 2014.

“Plummer planned and executed a violent armed robbery that put lives at risk,” said Attorney General Porrino. “With this sentence, we’re protecting the public by keeping a dangerous criminal behind bars for many years.”

“Plummer thought he could evade capture by wearing a mask and using his inside knowledge of casino security to commit this heist, but the State Police quickly identified Plummer and his accomplices,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Together we built a strong case that now has resulted in lengthy prison sentences.”

“Many people have dreams of getting lucky and walking away from a casino with the big jackpot, but unfortunately Izyiah Plummer chose to rely on robbery and violence to make his dream come true,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Thanks to some great work by the lead State Police detectives and our partners, Plummer won’t be planning heists in the near future.”

The investigation revealed that at about 6:18 a.m. on July 21, 2014, Plummer and Evans arrived at Caesars Casino in a car driven by Greenlee, with Jackson in the passenger seat. Plummer and Evans entered the casino wearing masks and gloves and approached a security guard and another casino employee who were loading full cash boxes onto a trolley from a self-redemption terminal at a kiosk. Plummer pointed a handgun at the two employees. Plummer pointed the gun at the security guard’s head while Evans removed three cash boxes from the trolley. As the two robbers were fleeing the casino, one of them dropped one of the cash boxes and left it behind. Plummer and Evans escaped from the casino with two cash boxes containing approximately $181,200 and entered Greenlee’s vehicle.

Greenlee drove to Plummer’s apartment in the Venice Park section of Atlantic City. There proceeds of the robbery were divided among Plummer, Evans, Greenlee and Jackson. A search warrant was executed at Plummer’s apartment, where a black ski mask, bullets for a .38 special handgun and $43,900 in cash were found. A search warrant also was executed at Evans’ home, where $4,300 in cash was seized. Detectives found a handle from one of the cash boxes in the street in front of Evans’ home.

The lead detectives on the case for the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau were Detective Michael Nelson and Detective Sgt. Charles Vicente. The Atlantic City Police Department, Pleasantville Police Department, Delaware State Police and Pennsylvania State Police provided valuable assistance in the investigation.

Defense Attorney: Andrew Butchko, Esq., Of Counsel at Helmer, Paul, Conley & Kasselman, P.A., Wildwood, N.J.

State Morgue Technician Charged for Stealing Money from Man Killed in Crash

technician at the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Newark has been charged with stealing cash from the body of a man who was killed in a car crash in December in Newark.

Darryl L. Green, 48, of Piscataway, N.J., who was employed as a forensic morgue technician by the Office of the State Medical Examiner, was charged yesterday by complaint-summons with third-degree theft by unlawful taking. Green is being terminated from his state position in connection with the charge. As an autopsy photographer for the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, Green produced photographic records for death investigations.

Green allegedly stole U.S. currency totaling approximately $1,120 from the body of a 28-year-old man who was killed in a single-car crash that occurred before 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, in the 300 block of Sherman Avenue in Newark.

Members of law enforcement and personnel from the Medical Examiner’s Office observed and documented that there was cash in the victim’s pocket at the scene of the accident, where he was pronounced dead and placed in a body bag. However, the cash was missing when the man’s body was removed from the body bag the following day, Dec. 19, for an autopsy. Green allegedly opened the body bag at the morgue at some point in time prior to the autopsy and took the cash from the victim’s clothing.

The case is being investigated and prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.

Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Because the charge is an indictable offense, it will be presented to a grand jury for potential indictment.

The Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free Corruption Tipline 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to confidentially report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The public also can log on to the Division’s web page at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.

Bamboozled: Employee says A.J. Perri scammed a senior. Here's what happened next.

Consumers are often at the mercy of specialists: contractors, electricians, plumbers and the like. Unless you’re super handy, you rely on them to diagnose and fix problems in your home. Even if you get multiple estimates, how do you know they’re not misrepresenting a situation to make a small job into a bigger, more expensive one?…

Ocean County Drug Deaths Soared by 43% in 2016

Despite best efforts to combat the drug epidemic that plagues Ocean County, drug overdoses soared in 2016 to 205 possible cases by the end of the year.   According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, there were 195 confirmed deaths caused by drug overdoses with 10 additional cases pending autopsy reports.

In 2015, there were 118 deaths linked to drug overdoses, representing a 43% spike in deaths.

Those numbers could have been much higher.   In 2016, the Prosecutor’s Office said the opiate reversing drug Narcan was used in 502 cases countywide by local law enforcement agencies and first responders.

In neighboring Monmouth County, 154 died from drug overdoses in 2016, a spike of 32 over the 2015’s total of 122, a jump of nearly 21%.  There were 415 deployments of Narcan in the county.

 

Jackson, Howell Firefighters Fight the Elements, Truck Fire on 195

On Saturday morning, firefighters from Jackson’s Station 54 and Howell’s Freewood Acres and Southard Fire Department No. 1 braved the elements to put out a truck fire on Interstate 195 near the Howell-Jackson border.  Photo by Freewood Acres Fire Departmetn.

 

How much snow did we get? New Jersey Snowfall Totals

The winter coastal storm that swept across New Jersey on Saturday has turned a large swath of the region into a winter wonderland, while leaving only a trace of snow in the normally snowy northwestern region. As of 6:30 p.m., almost 9 inches of snow has fallen in Estell Manor in Atlantic County, almost 8 inches…

Christian Brothers gets back to winning wins in victory over Hackettstown

RANDOLPH–After losing a tight game to Toms River North on Saturday, Christian Brothers wanted to jump on Hackettstown early when the two faced off in the Hoops to Help Showcase at the County College of Morris on Sunday. That is exactly what CBA did. It took a nine point first quarter lead and never trailed on…

Monmouth man charged with attempted murder of Eatontown cops in court today

by Charles Webster, MCPO

FREEHOLD-An Eatontown man charged with the attempted murder of Eatontown police officers, during an armed robbery last month will have a first appearance in court today, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Aaron Riley, 31 of Wedgewood Circle in Eatontown, is charged with two counts of first degree Attempted Murder, and one count each of first degree Armed Robbery, second degree Certain Persons not to have a Weapon and second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose after Riley fired at Eatontown police officers, one of whom returned fired during an armed robbery in progress on December 20, 2016.

Eatontown police responded to a pair of 911 calls around 6:43 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2016, reporting an armed robbery in progress at the AllTown Pharmacy on Wyckoff Road.  While the officers were responding, Riley was inside the pharmacy demanding prescription narcotics from an employee.  Eatontown police arrived on scene with the suspect inside the pharmacy, but he soon after fled the scene out a rear door without any narcotics.

While Riley was fleeing the scene on foot, he fired at Eatontown police officers, one of whom returned fired.  Riley then ran to a vehicle in the Michael’s Plaza parking lot and was seen fleeing the scene on Route 36 West.  During the investigation, police located the vehicle, a gray four-door 2007 Nissan Altima in the rear parking lot of Stony Hill Apartments with damage consistent with projectile strikes from a gun.

Monmouth County detectives subsequently received information from the New York Police Department that Riley was in their jurisdiction with a gunshot injury to his leg. The investigation continued in New York City, where Riley was eventually taken into custody by New York City police officers and where he currently remains in custody.   Bail was set at $1.45 million with no 10 percent and Riley was also ordered to have no victim contact and not to return to the scene by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman, P.J.Cr.

Riley’s first appearance is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., January 6, 2017, before Judge Bauman.

Vicari named Freeholder Director; Kelly, Haines sworn in

TOMS RIVER-On Wednesday, Joe Vicari became the 2017 Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders Director while Jack Kelly and Virginia Haines were sworn in again after winning their November election.

“I have said it many times, Ocean County is the premiere County,” said Haines who was sworn into her first three-year term on the Board. “We have the best county park system, library system, educational opportunities at Ocean County College and the list goes on and on.

Vicari noted there is a number of priorities for 2017 that will be addressed include providing the best programs possible for the county’s growing senior population, lobbying for important transportation projects and improvements and promoting more business development and tourism for Ocean County.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board to provide quality services and programs to our residents, in keeping the County affordable and to make certain Ocean County continues to be the great place it is to live, work, visit, raise a family and retire,” Vicari said.

Gerry Little was named Deputy Director of the 5 member board.

 

NJ Transit bus catches fire on Route 23

PEQUANNOCK — Officials say no one was injured when a New Jersey Transit bus blew out a rear tire and then caught fire while traveling along state Route 23. New Jersey Department of Transportation officials say friction from the flat tire caused the bus to catch fire along a stretch of the roadway in Pequannock Township…

Rare Whale Beached at Island Beach State Park

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP — A rare whale washed up dead along a section of the northern Ocean County barrier island, marine mammal rescue officials said Wednesday. Staff from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine were called out last week to retrieve the Blainesville’s beaked whale that washed up on Island Beach State Park, said Bob Schoelkopf,…

Kmart shutting down 4 New Jersey locations

Four Kmart stores in New Jersey will close as part of larger downsizing across the country, the big box retailer’s parent company announced Wednesday. Kmart stores in Clementon, East Brunswick, Pleasantville and Rio Grande are set to shut down, according to Sears Holdings. Liquidation sales were planned as early as Friday. The locations are among 150…

Macy's to shut down three New Jersey stores; Cut jobs

Macy’s said Wednesday it would close more than 60 stores and slash thousands of jobs this spring — including at three locations in New Jersey — as the chain faces slowing sales. Stores in Moorestown, at the Voorhees Town Center and Preakness Shopping Center in Wayne are set to close, the company announced. The three locations…

Jersey Wife Killer Found Hiding in Woods Near Black Horse Pike

Folsom Borough, Atlantic County – Troopers from the Buena Vista Barracks arrested Jeremiah Monell earlier today after a two-week manhunt. Monell had previously been charged with Murder and other related offenses in the December 18, 2016 homicide of his estranged wife, Tara O’Shea-Watson.

At approximately 2:45 p.m., a witness contacted the New Jersey State Police Buena Vista Barracks after recognizing Monell in Folsom Borough.

Troopers arrived on scene shortly thereafter and discovered Monell hiding in a wooded area off US Highway 322. He was placed under arrest and taken into custody without incident.

Monell was transported to an area hospital for a medical evaluation. He will be lodged in jail thereafter.

A $1,000 reward was offered for Monell, but it was not said whether or not the witness will receive the reward.

Video: Man Stoned to Death; Dumped in Trash Can at Jersey Shore

An Atlantic City man has been charged with the murder of a man whose body was discovered this morning in Atlantic City, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

Atlantic City Police responded on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 8:43 a.m., to the 1200 block of Adriatic Avenue, Atlantic City, for a report that a dead man’s body had been discovered in a trashcan. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene.

The victim, identified as Ricky L. Ward, 52, of the 400 block of Delta Avenue, Atlantic City, was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene. Investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department led to the location and detention at approximately 5:15 p.m. of Thomas Green, 64, of the 1300 block of Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, who was subsequently charged with Murder, for purposely and knowingly causing the death of the victim “by hitting him in the head multiple times with stones,” and with Possession of a Weapon For an Unlawful Purpose (stones), and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (stones). Green was processed for the arrest and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on 1,000,000 full cash bail set by Superior Court Judge John C. Porto.

A conviction for murder carries a potential sentence of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison for a period of 30 years to life.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Atlantic City Police Department continue the investigation.

Breaking/AC was on scene and posted the above video to YouTube. For more on Breaking/AC, visit their website.

Family of Missing New Jersey Teen: We're at a loss

NEPTUNE — It’s been four weeks since the disappearance of a Neptune City teen after her car was found unoccupied on a Belmar bridge on Dec. 2. Sarah Stern, 19, left her family’s home in Neptune City at 11:45 p.m. driving her grandmother’s 1994 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royal, according to her father Michael Stern. The car was…

Jackson K-9 Valor Charity Helps Fire Department After Thief Stole Christmas Tree Funds

by Phil Stilton

SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS-This weekend, a thief walked off with $1,000 of Christmas Tree sales raised through a tree sale fundraiser by the Independent Fire Company.  Today, there has been an outpouring of support all along the Jersey Shore for the firefighters.

“We have been the victim of a real life grinch,” the fire company said Saturday morning when they found out their cash register had been stolen.

This morning, Sue DesMarais and Jennifer Gallagher visited the Independent Fire Company and donated $500 to them from money the charity raised last month at a Jackson Township fundraiser held at Cornerstone Kitchen and Tap.

DesMarais is a former police officer and has been the victim of two home fires said she read the story and felt compelled to make the donation.

” I read that the someone stole $1000.00 dollars from the Independent Fire Company in Spring Lakes Christmas Tree Fundraiser. So Jennifer Gallagher and I went down there with a $500.00 donation from K-9 Valor Task Force.”

She said she was interviewed by Channel 7 News, New York and spoke about her own ordeal where firefighters rescued her pets from her burning home in Jackson.

“I’m sorry this happened, I like to pay things forward,” she said.

“Any donations can be either mailed to Independent Fire Co #1 at 700 6th Ave, spring lake heights NJ 07762. Or can be directly dropped off at our station,” the department said to those who have offered support on their Facebook page.

N.J. cop was subject of internal investigation before fatal crash, police say

DEAL — In light of a toxicology report that shows one of their captains was impaired by drugs and alcohol when he fatally crashed his car in January, Deal police said Friday they are investigating the circumstances leading up to the death of the off-duty officer, who was the subject of an internal affairs investigation. The…

Middletown Porch Poacher Caught and Released

The Middletown Police department announced that they have arrested the women who was caught on video stealing a package from the porch of a Statesir Place home last week. Lauren Miller, 51, of West Front Street in the Township was arrested this morning by Detectives Daniel Sullivan and Keith Hirschbein. Miller was charged with three counts…

Storm leaves more than 1K without power, delays school in Monmouth, Ocean counties

The storm that brought rain and strong gusts of wind to New Jersey overnight caused nearly 2,000 customers in Monmouth and Ocean counties to wake up without power on Thursday morning. As of 6 a.m. Jersey Central Power & Light was reporting that 1,256 of its customers in Monmouth County were without power, with Long Branch…

Cape May Company Cited by DEP for Illegal Dumping on Deal Beach

DEAL — A federal sub-contractor violated New Jersey’s anti-dumping laws when it disposed of excavated material on the beach in Deal, state officials said on Tuesday. Agate Construction Co. of Ocean View dumped an undetermined amount of fill onto the Roosevelt Avenue beach in Deal last week when the loads actually were supposed to be taken…

Peace Poster Winners

The Goetz National Jr. Art Honor Society (NJAHS) recently participated

New storm-protecting berm lasts just one storm

HOLGATE — It took only a couple days of storms to wash away week’s worth of work to build a protective berm on Long Beach Island where successive storms have taken their toll on many beaches this winter, officials said on Wednesday. In what literally has been a situation of shoveling sand against the tide, Long…

Will N.J. escape the powerful storm expected to form in Atlantic?

Parts of northern New Jersey got brushed with a brief round of snow showers early Thursday, enough to whiten some roads during the morning commute. The snow should all be gone by noon, as temperatures warm up to the mid-30s and the sun makes an appearance, forecasters say. After that, New Jersey is in for a…

Yeshiva sues Shore town after denial of boarding school application

OCEAN TWP. — A group representing a proposed Jewish boarding school is suing the township and its Zoning Board of Adjustment after its application for a 96-student Yeshiva was denied late last year. The 79-page complaint filed on Friday in U.S. District Court alleges that the Zoning Board’s denial of the Yeshiva, whose students, ages 18…

Woman Strikes Multiple Vehicles After Hijacking Car at Valet in Atlantic City

On January 1, 2016 at 3:05am, uniformed Officers responded to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino valet area in reference to a vehicle striking multiple parked vehicles.

Officers arrived to find that Tropicana security officers had already detained the driver, Joanna Kostas, a 39 year old Mays Landing, NJ resident.  Kostas entered an unoccupied vehicle that was waiting in a valet lane to be parked.  The keys were in the ignition and while attempting to leave valet, Kostas struck four parked, unoccupied vehicles.  She was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Division, for non-life threatening injuries.

After an investigation conducted by Officer Joseph Bereheiko from the Accident Investigations Section, Kostas was charged with two traffic offenses, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.  Kostas was additionally criminally charged with unlawful taking of means of conveyance.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Accident Investigations Section at 609-347-5744.  Information can be text to TIP411 (847411).  Begin the text with ACPD.  All texts are anonymous.  Information can also be called into Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234.

Watch the full video on the Shore News Network Facebook page.

Jersey Shore Police Captain Killed in Car Crash

OCEAN TOWNSHIP — An off-duty Deal police captain was killed Saturday morning when he lost control of his car and crashed into a utility pole in Ocean Township, authorities said. Capt. Earl B. Alexander 4 th died from his injuries in the single-car crash at Route 71 near Perrine Avenue at 12:38 a.m., said Ocean Township…

2 Ocean County teens 'extremely critical' after Route 1 crash

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Two Ocean County youths are hospitalized with “extremely critical” injuries suffered in a New Year’s Day car crash on Route 1. One other person is in critical but stable condition, and five others were hospitalized in the crash that left two cars in a mangled wreck in the early hours of 2016. Captain…