Report: MPD is top user of force

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — After investigating for 16 months, filing 506 Open Public Records Act requests, collecting 72,607 use-of force reports, and spending more than $30,000 for its investigation and data compilation, NJ Advance Media released “The Force Report,” a comprehensive database and analysis of how often municipal police departments in New Jersey […]

WOPD places middle of the pack in ‘Force Report’

WEST ORANGE, NJ — After investigating for 16 months, filing 506 Open Public Records Act requests, collecting 72,607 use-of force reports, and spending more than $30,000 for its investigation and data compilation, NJ Advance Media released “The Force Report,” a comprehensive database and analysis of how often municipal police departments in New Jersey used force […]

2 Iranian men indicted for deploying ransomware to extort hospitals and municipalities

NEWARK, NJ — An indictment returned by a federal grand jury was unsealed Nov. 28 in Newark, charging Faramarz Shahi Savandi, 34, and Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri, 27, both of Iran, in a 34-month-long international computer hacking and extortion scheme involving the deployment of sophisticated ransomware, announced U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito for the district of […]

U.S. Attorney’s Office, law enforcement partners seize 352 guns in FY18

NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on Nov. 2 that the District of New Jersey seized 352 firearms as part of criminal prosecutions in fiscal year 2018. The District of New Jersey worked jointly with its law enforcement partners, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; […]

Gang member sentenced to 30 years for murder and attempted murder

NEWARK, NJ — A high-ranking member of the New Jersey Grape Street Crips was sentenced Oct. 23 to 30 years in federal prison for his role in orchestrating a murder, participating in a separate attempted murder, and conspiring to distribute copious amounts of crack cocaine, all as part of a racketeering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Craig […]

17 defendants charged in takedown of Newark’s ‘Famous Boyz’ street gang

NEWARK, NJ — Criminal charges against 17 members, associates and drug suppliers of a Newark street gang that allegedly distributed heroin and crack cocaine and possessed and used firearms in furtherance of the gang’s drug-trafficking activities were announced Oct. 11 by U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito. The charges are the result of a long-running wiretap investigation […]

Local actor takes educational role in opioid discussion

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Two local actors, Emma Wagner of Maplewood and Joseph Piserchio of West Orange, will tour New Jersey as part of George Street Playhouse’s Educational Touring Theatre’s new production “Anytown,” a new musical about the opioid crisis and its impact on teens and families. The show premiered Sept. 25 at the George […]

Essex County Sheriff’s employee charged with attempted extortion

NEWARK, NJ — An employee of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office was charged with soliciting payments from a man posing as a land developer for information regarding properties under foreclosure, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced in a Sept. 19 press release. Abdush Shahid Ahmad, 51, of Newark, was charged by complaint with attempted extortion under […]

West Orange consultant sentenced for 4 years in prison for fraud

NEWARK, NJ — A political consultant from West Orange was sentenced Sept. 18 to four years in prison for her role in a fraud scheme related to contracts with the Newark Watershed Development Corp. and kickbacks to officials there, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. Dianthe Martinez-Brooks, 48, of West Orange, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. […]

Essex County remembers 9/11

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Seventeen years after the terror attacks at the World Trade Center, Essex County residents gathered at Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange on Tuesday, Sept. 11, to commemorate the nearly 3,000 lives lost in 2001. With a foggy view of the New York City skyline, residents and elected officials read the […]