Asbury Park Attorney Indicted For Theft Of Over $70K

William Gallagher, 70, of Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury for Theft of second degree Failure to Make Require Disposition and third degree Misapplication of Entrusted Funds, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Gallagher, an attorney since 1968, was the long term Borough Attorney of Lake Como until he was was suspended from practicing law in New Jersey in January of 2015. His indictment follows a 19 month investigation that found he stole from three clients in 2013 and 2014 by transferring the proceeds of civil settlements into his own account and not paying his clients the settlements they were due.  He is charged with stealing $71,615.69.

The investigation was sparked by a complaint from a victim who did not receive $23,037.35 she was owed from a civil settlement related to a premises liability action.

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Beck Endorses O’Scanlon For Senate

Senator Jennifer Beck announced her endorsement of Assembly Declan O’Scanlon for the 13th district senate seat being vacated by Senator Joe Kyrillos.

“Declan was my running-mate when we first ran for the Assembly together in 2005” said Beck. “I had known him for years prior, but I learned during that hard fought campaign what a tireless worker he is and saw first hand his dedication to the residents of New Jersey”

“Declan showed that he is a leader early in his stint in the Assembly, being named Assembly Republican Budget Officer before the end of his second term. He commits himself to knowing all facets of a given policy before he makes a decision. There is no legislator that has been more focused on our looming budget issues or who has proposed more comprehensive solutions” Beck explained. “Assemblyman O’Scanlon stands tall above all other candidates for the State Senate and I look forward to having Declan join me in the upper house of the legislature”.

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Middletown Scammer Gets 14 years

Christopher D. Biello. photo via facebook

Christopher D. Biello, 43, of Coe Place in Middletown was sentenced to 14 years in state prison on Monday after admitting he deceived and impersonated at least 18 clients.  Biello will be eligible for parole in 5 years and must pay restitution of $409,331.04 to the victims of his scheme under the sentence imposed by Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley.

According to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, Biello admitted that he obtained numerous credit cards in his victims’ names, engaged in fraudulent loan attempts using the victims’ identities, and forged documents.

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Keansburg Drug Distribution Ring Busted

Angela Scotti via facebook

Four Keansburg residents were arrested in the borough on Wednesday, December 14 and charged with various narcotic possession and distribution offenses.

The arrests were the result of a month-long investigation by the Keansburg Police Department, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Narcotics Task Force, according to an announcement by the Keansburg PD.

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Are All 3 Seats in LD 13 at play? Handlin and O’Scanlon appear to be headed to a primary

All three seats in the 13th legislative district appear to be up for grabs next year.

If published reports are to believed, Assembly Members Amy Handlin and Declan O’Scanlon are heading for a primary in June for the GOP nomination to succeed Senator Joe Kyrillos in the New Jersey Senate.

If both Handlin and O’Scanlon compete on the June ballot, rather than letting the County Committee members choose a nominee at a convention, both Assembly seats will be vacant.

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US Lawmakers, Chinese Dissidents Ask Trump to Pressure Beijing on Rights

Some U.S. lawmakers are urging President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration to recalibrate U.S.-China relations with a harder line on human rights. “It is increasingly clear that there is direct link between China’s domestic human-rights problems and the security and prosperity of the United States,” Congressman Chris Smith said at a hearing of the Congressional-Executive… Read the rest of this entry »

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, December 9-11, 2016

By Greg Kelly

Courtesy of Teddy Bears by the Shore

Friday, December 9

• “I Do Love the Holidays (Sometimes)” at Center Playhouse (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• CODA’s The Nutcracker at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Winter Solstice: Artisan Crafts Holiday Market (Belmar) – MORE INFO
• “The Search for Christmas” by Lighthouse Productions (Monmouth Beach) – MORE INFO
• Scrooge at Spring Lake Theatre – MORE INFO
• Winter Wonders Exhibition at Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) – MORE INFO

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Crime Stoppers Offers $5K Reward In Sarah Stern Disappearance

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Monmouth County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5 thousand reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of any suspect(s) involved in the disappearance of Sarah Stern, 19, of Neptune City.

Stern left her home on Friday evening December 1.  Hours later her unoccupied vehicle was found on the Route 35 bridge in Belmar.  Her whereabouts is unknown.

“The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is working collaboratively with the Belmar Police Department, and New Jersey State Police Missing Person Unit to investigate this case. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is also providing advise and assistance.  All information is being investigated and we appreciate the efforts of Monmouth County Crime Stoppers to help resolve this case,” Charles Webster, spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said.

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Law Enforcement Agencies Can Buy Arms At Best Available Prices Under O’Scanlon Sponsored Law

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon that allows New Jersey’s Law Enforcement Agencies to purchase firearms directly from manufacturers was signed into law by Governor Chris Christie yesterday.  The legislation clarifies that agencies are not required to have permits or firearms identification cards to purchase guns.

The bill (S2337/A3985) was prompted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ recent misinterpreted a state regulation so that law enforcement agencies are only permitted to purchase firearms for police officers through a licensed dealer.

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Christie’s New Low

Govenor Chris Christie at his Belmar Town Hall on July 31, 2014

Only 18% of New Jersey registered voters approve of Governor Chris Christie’s job performance and 73% disapprove, according to a FDU Public Mind Poll released this morning.  52% of registered Republicans disapprove of Christie’s performance.  33% of Republicans approve.

“A proposed renovation of the statehouse may improve the executive wing, but public attitudes are proving more difficult to change. This is the lowest recorded approval rating for any New Jersey governor in the years since the FDU poll has been measuring voter attitudes,” said Krista Jenkins, professor of political science and director of PublicMind.

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