Category : Press Release

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On July 12, 2017, a Hudson County Grand Jury handed up a 79-count indictment charging Golden Williamson, age 31, of Jersey City, with being a Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network and two counts of Murder relating to the deaths of Kevin Miles on Stuyvesant Avenue in Jersey City on January 28, 2016, and Byunguen Lee on Bergen Avenue in Jersey City on December 19, 2015.

Williamson is also charged with the attempted murder of several victims in Jersey City as well as multiple victims in Toms River, New Jersey.

A joint investigation conducted by the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor, the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor and multiple municipal police departments revealed an illegal drug enterprise that extended from Jersey City to Monmouth and Ocean counties where Williamson and his associates would arrange for the distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances that included heroin and cocaine.

Also charged in the indictment are Eric Dawson, age 26, of Jersey City; Robert Dawson, age 26, of East Orange; James Staggers, age 28, of Jersey City; Darrell Winfree, age 34, of Jersey City; Adrian Rodino, age 41, of West New York; and Shannon Walter, age 25, of Brick.

Eric Dawson is charged, along with Williamson, with one-count of Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder related to the death of Kevin Miles, as well as weapons related offenses.

Staggers is charged, along with Williamson, with Attempted Murder and several weapons offenses related to a shooting that occurred on November 4, 2015, on Ocean Avenue in Jersey City.

Robert Dawson, Winfree, Rodino and Walter were charged with Conspiracy and Illegal Drug offenses as part of the Narcotics Trafficking Network.

“The leaders of this violent narcotics network engaged in multiple vicious attacks bringing fear and intimidation to witnesses, residents and business owners in Jersey City and other municipalities statewide,” said Prosecutor Suarez. “I am extremely proud of the collaborative effort by the law enforcement professionals who engaged in the lengthy, detailed and methodical investigation which led to this indictment.”

In commenting about the investigation, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato stated, “The connectivity, cooperation and investigative excellence demonstrated by members of both the Hudson and Ocean County Prosecutor Offices has resulted in a very clear picture of the potential danger this defendant and his associates presented to New Jersey citizens. The Ocean County Major Crimes Unit and Special Operations Group were able to complete one of the most significant criminal cases of my tenure thanks to the help and professionalism of Hudson County Prosecutor’s investigators.”

Prosecutor Suarez credited investigators from her Homicide Unit and Gang Task Force, as well  as the Major Crimes Unit of the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Jersey City Police Department, the Toms River Police Department, the Wall Township Police Department and the Tinton Falls Police Department, all who assisted with the investigation.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent  until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).

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The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

On Friday (July 14, 2017), Christopher Dalzell, 61, of Brick Township was sentenced by Judge Patricia B. Roe, J.S.C., to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison on the charge of first degree Attempted Murder (No Early Release Applies).  OCPO Assistant Prosecutor Robert J. Cassidy prosecuted the case.

The sentencing stems from the March 29, 2015 stabbing investigation.  On that Sunday at approximately 9:53 pm, a 911 call was received by the Brick Township Police Department in reference to a stabbing at a Cedar Bridge Avenue Address.  Upon their arrival, they found a female, 50 years of age, within the residence who had been stabbed multiple times in her chest and abdomen.  The victim advised the officers that the individual who stabbed her was known to her and was still in bedroom of the residence.  Responding officers immediately called for EMS and secured the scene.  The victim was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in critical condition to be treated for over six stab wounds to her torso.

A search of the residence located the suspect covered in blood in the bedroom.  He was identified as Christopher Dalzell, then 58, of Brick Township.  The subsequent investigation resulted in Dalzell’s arrest.  He was charged with Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon.  The Honorable Judge Francis Hodgson set bail at the time at $250,000 no 10% and no contact with the victim.

Brick Township Police Detective Tim McCarthy and OCPO Major Crimes Detective John Murphy were the lead investigators in this case.  The scene was processed by Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI Detective John Anderson.

 

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

Yesterday (7/12), Jesse James Sauer, 25, of Beachwood was arrested and charged by the South Toms River Police Department with Aggravated Arson, Hindering and Destruction of Evidence for the July 10, 2017 truck fire in a wooded area of South Toms River.  Additionally, Sauer was charged by the Toms River Police Department with Theft of a Motor Vehicle and multiple counts of Burglary/Theft to residences and vehicles.

The arson charge stems from the 7/10 early morning fire that destroyed a truck in the woods off Oak Street and Briar Way.  The Beachwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of smoke at about 5:45 am that day and extinguished the blaze that destroyed the 2003 Ford F350 truck.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI, Ocean County Fire Marshall, South Toms River, Toms River and Beachwood Police Departments investigated the fire labeled suspicious.  The partnering agencies concluded that the fire originated in the area of the driver’s seat in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.  The cause of the fire was incendiary by a person(s) using an open flame to available combustibles.

The investigation would ultimately lead to Sauers and develop information implicating him in the alleged Toms River Theft of a motor vehicle and multiple home and vehicle burglaries.  Sauer is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

  Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced today the culmination of a three month cooperative multi-jurisdictional investigation, continuing Ocean County Law Enforcement’s relentless pursuit of illegal narcotics being imported into the county.

In this latest operation, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, Southern Enforcement Unit joined forces with the Barnegat Township Police Department and the Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Units to conduct an investigation into the distribution of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and firearms in the southern Ocean County area.

The investigation by the partnering agencies identified the following three Ocean County individuals and their residences allegedly being utilized to store and distribute quantities of CDS and firearms:

• Jason Groome, 43, of 3 Capstan Street, Barnegat, NJ

• Anthony Brandt, 53, of 8 Longboat Avenue, Barnegat NJ

• Daniel Wunder, 61, of 660 North Green Street, Little Egg Harbor, NJ.

Detectives also identified a 2008 Chrysler 200 and a 2010 Dodge Ram pick-up truck as being utilized by Jason Groome to store and distribute quantities of CDS and firearms.  The investigative findings would ultimately lead to detectives obtaining no knock search warrants for all three of the aforementioned residences and vehicles.

On Monday July 10, 2017 at approximately 4:40 pm, Prosecutor’s Detectives along with members of the Barnegat Township Police and the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed a motor vehicle stop on the 2010 Dodge Ram which was being operated by Jason Groome.  The motor vehicle stop took place within the Gunning River Mall located on West Bay Avenue in Barnegat and resulted in the arrest of Groome on various drug and weapon charges.  The seizure of approximately 2 ounces of Cocaine and a defaced 9mm handgun were from Groome as a part of the stop and overall investigation.

Simultaneously with the arrest of Groome, members of the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group, the Barnegat Police Drug Enforcement Unit, the Stafford Police Drug Enforcement Unit along with members of the Little Egg Harbor Police Narcotics Unit, the Ocean County Sherriff’s Department K-9 Unit and the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team executed the no-knock search warrants on the three listed residences.  The investigation and execution of the listed search warrants resulted in police seizing Cocaine less than ½ ounce, Marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a Mossberg 12 Gauge pump style shotgun from the Longboat Avenue residence and approximately four hundred (400) Oxycodone pills and a .22 caliber rifle seized from the N. Green Street residence.

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Captain Jack Sramaty, who serves as the Chairman of the New Jersey County Commanders Association and is the Commander of the Prosecutor’s Special Operations Group commended the efforts of all the law enforcement agencies that participated in this investigation stating, “This investigation is a prime example of what can be achieved by law enforcement when local and county police agencies join forces to combat the distribution of narcotics and firearms in Ocean County.”

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  Below find defendant photos, arrest and criminal charges information:

Jason Groome (Photo courtesy the Ocean County Jail) – charged with Possession of Heroin, Possession of Heroin with the Intent to Distribute, Distribution of Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine over one half ounce with the Intent to Distribute, Distribution of Cocaine over One Half Ounce, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm (9mm Handgun), and Possession of a Firearm (9mm Handgun) during a CDS Offense. Mr. Groome was subsequently housed in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anthony Brandt (Photo courtesy NJMVC) – charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Suboxone and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Mr. Brandt was released on a summons pending a future court date.

Daniel Wunder (Photo courtesy NJMVC) – charged with Possession of CDS (Oxycodone), Possession of CDS (Oxycodone) with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of MDMA (Ecstasy).  Mr. Wunder was released on a summons pending a future court date.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

This morning (7/6), the Ocean County Prosecutor’s High Tech Crime Unit (HTCU), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Toms River Police Department arrested Mark Camlin, 60, on Citta Street in Toms River.  Camlin was charged with one (1) count of 2nd Degree Distribution of Child Pornography and one (1) count of 3rd Degree Possession of Child Pornography by OCPO detectives.  Toms River Police charged Camlin with one (1) count of 3rd degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and one (1) count of 4th Degree Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The investigation was initiated by members of the OCPO High Tech Crime Unit, who over several months allegedly received images of child pornography from the defendant’s residence on Citta Street.  Today the partnering agencies executed a search warrant at the residence.  As a result of the search warrant, a forensic preview of the computers in the residence found several hundred images and videos of prepubescent children engaged in illicit sexual acts.  Detectives also found a marijuana grow of several plants, and paraphernalia within the residence.

Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman and Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Armstrong approved charges.  Camlin presently remains at Toms River PD completing processing before being turned over to the Ocean County Jail.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Mark Camlin

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and State Comptroller Philip James Degnan announced today additional individuals charged within Lakewood, New Jersey by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for defrauding Medicaid and government assistance programs.  The investigations initiated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Red Bank Office and the  New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller – Medicaid Fraud Division, were expanded to include the US Social Security Administration, New Jersey Department of the Treasury – Office of Criminal Investigation, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office – Economic Crimes Unit.

 OCPO detectives/prosecutors, along with its collaborating agencies served complaint summons for 3^rd Degree Theft by Deception on the following individuals:

• Eliezer, 33, and Elkie, 31, Sorotzkin of Isabella Drive for allegedly wrongfully collected approximately $74,960 in Medicaid benefits between January 2011 and December 2013.
• Samuel, 45, and Esther, 44, Serhofer of Whispering Pines Lane for allegedly wrongfully collecting approximately $72,685 in Medicaid benefits between January 2009 and December 2013.
• Yisroel, 37, and Rachel, 34, Merkin of Hermosa Drive for allegedly wrongfully collecting approximately $70,557.51 in Medicaid, SNAP, and HEAP benefits between January 2011 and December 2014.
• Jerome Menchel, 33, and Mottel Friedman, 30, of Pressburg Lane for allegedly wrongfully collecting $63,839 in Medicaid and SNAP benefits between January 2011 and July 2014.
• Tzvi, 35, and Estee, 34, Braun of Ridge Avenue for allegedly wrongfully collecting $62,746.74 in Medicaid, HEAP, and CICRF benefits between January 2009 and December 2013.
• Moshe, 30, and Nechama, 27, Hirschmann of Emmanuel Drive for allegedly wrongfully collecting $53,418.39 in Medicaid and SNAP benefits between January 2011 and December 2015.

The nature of the criminal events investigated and basic charges allege that the defendants misrepresented their income, declaring amounts that were low enough to receive the program’s benefits, when in fact their income was too high to qualify.  The investigations revealed that the defendants received income from numerous sources that they failed to disclose on required program applications.  As a result, they received benefits that they were not entitled to under these programs for themselves or family members.  The Ocean County Prosecutors Office is prosecuting the above arrested individuals at the state level.

The investigation by all the participating agencies is continuing.  OCPO and our prosecuting partners may add additional relevant charges (ie. Tax charges) as each case proceeds through the legal process.  Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sergeant Mark Malinowski of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929-2027.  The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are only allegations and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

Toms River, NJ – With the start of the busy summer travel season, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced a special DWI/Traffic checkpoint detail this coming weekend along Route 35 in Point Pleasant Beach.  The program’s design creates a force multiplier by regionalizing and supplementing local DWI enforcement.  In making his announcement, Prosecutor Coronato reminded drivers that an extra measure of caution and not operating under the influence could prevent tragedy.

Prosecutor Coronato stated, “The tremendous added volume of summer shore vehicle and pedestrian traffic calls for increased vigilance by law enforcement, and that will be the focus over this coming weekend.  We ask that drivers do their part by driving responsibly and making smart choices behind the wheel every day of the year.”

Inattentive and aggressive drivers are always targets of law enforcements’ regular patrols, the purpose of this effort is to detect, educate, deter, arrest, and vigorously prosecute impaired drivers, while also making Ocean County roads safer for the added pedestrian traffic.  The program targets those under the influence of alcohol, but in response to Ocean County’s drug crisis also utilizes an addition of two Drug Recognition Experts at each check point to detect those under the influence of narcotics.  The county also oversees a countywide call out system for DRE’s to respond and assist agencies in conducting evaluations of subjects suspected to be operating a motor vehicle under the influence of narcotics.

The yearly Ocean County fatal totals show some drivers are not getting the message.  Last year Ocean County had 45 fatalities on our roadways.  To date there have already been 26 roadway fatalities in our county.

The checkpoint program, which is funded in part by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, will be conducted by local police agencies in conjunction with Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit focusing on both intoxicated and drug impaired drivers.  The program is operated/coordinated by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Vehicular Homicide Unit under the direction of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Weatherstone.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

ON JULY 2, 2017 AT 10:52 PM, A PEDESTRIAN WAS STRUCK AND SERIOUSLY INJURED AT THE CORNER OF CEDAR BRIDGE AVE. AND HURLEY AVE (RT.528), IN LAKEWOOD, NJ. THE ACTOR VEHICLE FLED THE SCENE HEADING EAST BOUND ON CEDAR BRIDGE AVE. (RT.528)

SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE DOWNLOAD HERE WAS OBTAINED WITH THE HELP OF THE OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S HIGH TECH CRIME UNIT FROM A NEAR BY GAS STATION REVEALING THE ACTOR TO BE A POSSIBLE BLACK MALE DRIVING A BLUE IN COLOR 2002-2006 FORD EXPLORER (MATCHING THE ABOVE-CAPTIONED PHOTOGRAPH).  NO DEBRIS WAS LEFT ON THE SCENE AS THE PEDESTRIAN WAS RUN OVER.  ANY INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT DETECTIVE MIKE PROTO OF THE OCEAN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE AT 732-232-7240 OR OFFICER DAVE SILBERSTEIN OF THE LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPT. AT 732-363-0200 X5387

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.  Please send all press inquiries to Al Della Fave 732-288-7616 (OFFICE) 732-814-7347 (CELL) and [email protected].

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the arrest yesterday (6/29) of Francis E. Scullion, 58, of Somerdale, NJ, for the charge of third (3^rd) degree Theft.

The arrest stems from the 2-5-15 indictment of Scullion.  The indictment alleges Scullion was contracted to make renovations to a Bayville home within Berkeley Township after Superstorm Sandy.  He allegedly took in excess of $15,000 from the homeowner from June 2012 to July 2012 and never completed the contracted work.  The indictment alleges he instead used the monies for his daily living expenses.

The case was investigated by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Det. James Conroy.  Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Martin Anton will be handling the prosecution for the state.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

FRANCIS EDWARD SCULLION

Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.  For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.