The Lucas Farm Deal Explained

By Steve McEnery, Manalapan

Steve McEnery

We have been hearing about the Lucas Farm deal for about 4 years now, especially around election time. I wonder why that is? With this letter, I will try and explain what has transpired.

First, let me explain why I believe I know how this unfolded. I was friendly with Mr. Lucas, when the Farm became available. He thought about buying it; placing the property into the States Farmland Preservation Program. One of the first actions he took was to question the State’s Ethics Board to see if it was ok.  They wrote back (he read me their response) that there was nothing illegal or unethical about what he was doing, However, it might be better, politically, if he waited until he was out of office. He chose not to.

He acted then, because the property was zoned for residential use, and homes could be built on the property, adding to the congestion on Route 522A, not far from his home and farm.

This property was also viewed by the County as a prize because of its size and location since 2008. (“Target Farm List update” Sept 17, 2008).

Another Myth was that Andrew voted for this property. The Township vote took place on May 11^th, 2011. The vote was Green, Maskowitz, Holland yes, Roth no and Lucas recused himself (from the Manalapan Township meeting notes). Jack McNaboe and Susan Cohen did not vote on the Farmland acquisition, they were not elected at this time.

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Larry Luttrell Lunges At Lillian Burry

Democratic Freeholder Candidate Lawrence Luttrell at Four Seasons debate in Manalapan. photo by Rhoda Chodosh

In a move reminiscent of Congressman Rick Lazio’s aggression towards First Lady Hillary Clinton in the 2000 U.S. Senate debate in New York,  Lawrence Luttrell, a Democratic candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder jumped from his seat and lunged towards Freeholder Director Lillian Burry Wednesday night at a candidates debate at the Four Seasons Club House in Manalapan.

Deputy Freeholder Director Gary Rich and Giuseppe “Joe” Grillo, Luttrell’s running mate, braced themselves to protect Burry as it appeared that Luttrell would leap over them to get to Burry.  Rich and Grillo were seated between Burry and Luttrell.  Luttrell pulled back before going airborne and turned to the debate moderator and shouted, “This is not what I came here for.  If this is going to be a kangaroo court where we don’t follow the rules, I’m leaving right now.”  Luttrell was living up to the name of the paper organization he created with his wife and mother-in-law to sue Monmouth County last year; R.A.G.E.

What apparently set Luttrell off was Burry asking him, “Is your name Pinocchio?”

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Lucas Found Guilty

Andrew Lucas

Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas has been convicted of all the charges against him by a federal jury in Trenton, according to a report in The Asbury Park Press.

The jury deliberated for three hours after a two week trial before U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson.

Lucas, 37, is scheduled to be sentenced to federal prison on January 20, 2015.  He remains released on $500,000 bail, subject to home confinement and electronic monitoring, according to Matthew Reilly, Deputy Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  Lucas could face over 60 years in prison for his wire fraud, making an illegal monetary transaction, loan application fraud, making false statements to the Internal Revenue Service, aggravated identity theft, obstruction of a grand jury investigation and falsification of records in a federal investigation convictions.

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Lucas takes the stand

Andrew Lucas, center, then the Republican mayor of Manalapan, with then Freeholder John D’Amico and Amy Mallet, both Democrats, in September of 2010, seven months after Lucas purchased Burke Farm.

Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas took the stand in his federal trial on fraud charges yesterday, according to a report in the Asbury Park Press.

Lucas acknowledged that he had made “egregious errors” in his loan application for financing to purchase Burke Farm, a 97 acre parcel of which he later sold the development rights to the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program for $1.16 million.  The funding for the farmland preservation deal came from the taxpayers of Manalapan, Monmouth County and the State of New Jersey.

During his full day of testimony, Lucas explained that he made his errors in haste to get the loan funded before the lender, Central Jersey Bank, was acquired by Kearny Federal Saving Bank, not part of a complicated criminal scheme to defraud the lender who did not lose any money on the transaction.

Lucas explained that the discrepancies in his income tax returns for 2007 and 2008 he submitted to the bank were the result of adjustments made to the returns after an IRS audit which was completed two days after he was approved for the loan and to glitches in his tax preparation software.  He said he did not disclose the changes in his tax returns to the bank, as required, because he “did not read the fine print.”

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Manalapan bridge is closed for repair work

Detours will be in place

MANALAPAN, NJ  – The bridge on Pine Brook Road between State Highway 9 and Arrowood Road is closed for repair work.

“The heavy rain last week created a scour condition beneath the bridge over Pine Brook,” said County Engineer Joseph Ettore. “In the interest of public safety and to complete the bridge repair as quickly as possible, a detour for motor vehicle traffic has been put in place.”

It is expected that the County bridge (MN-40) will be closed for up to three weeks, weather permitting.

While the section of Pine Brook Road bridge between Arrowood Road to State Hwy. 9 is closed, traffic should use Pease Road. Northbound traffic on Pease Road should travel to Union Hill Road to access Hwy. 9; southbound traffic on Pease Road should travel to Gordon’s Corner Road to access Hwy. 9.

“County crews are posting the detour and will be mobilizing to begin the repair work,” Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone said. “The County understands the inconvenience that this closure will have on the motoring public in the area. Our first concern is for the safety of the travelling public and the County will work to get the bridge and road reopened as soon as possible.”

In total, the county maintains of approximately 1,000 lane miles of roads, 980 bridges and culverts and 250 traffic signals and beacons.

If an adjustment to the work schedule is necessary, updates will be posted to the County’s website at www.visitmonmouth.com.

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Manalapan man found stuck in United Water pipe indicted for criminal trespass

Manalapan man found stuck in United Water pipe indicted for criminal trespass (via NJ.com)

FREEHOLD – The 27-year-old Manalapan man who was found stuck in a 20-inch pipe at a United Water facility in January has been indicted for criminal trespass. On Tuesday, a Monmouth County Grand Jury indicted Asaf Mohammad, 27, of Emily Road in Manalapan…

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Report: N.J. school bus driver assists with arrest of child’s accused stalker

Report: N.J. school bus driver assists with arrest of child’s accused stalker (via NJ.com)

ENGLISHTOWN – An 18-year-old Manalapan resident was reportedly charged with stalking and harassing a young girl while she was on her way home from her school bus stop. On April 1, a scared and upset 13-year-old girl called 9-1-1 to report that a man…

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Monday, April 1-Sneak Preview of PBS Civil War Series which highlights New Jersey Regiments

The New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association will co-host with
Great Divide Pictures and theMonmouth County Library, a Sneak Preview screening of the upcoming PBS mini-series Civil War: The Untold Story, tonight at 6:30 PM at the Monmouth County Library Main Branch,
125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan.

The Untold Story covers the often overlooked battles of the western
theater of the Civil War.  Subjects covered include the control of the Mississippi River, the Battle of Shiloh, General  Grant’s siege of Vicksburg,
the Battle of Chickamauga, and the occupation of Atlanta, General Sherman’s March to the Sea and the eventual surrender of the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina. New Jersey units, including the 13th, 33rd
and 35th New Jersey Infantry Regiments and the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry, were actively engaged in the fighting in the west in 1864 and 1865. Chris Wheeler, the film’s producer, will be on-hand to add
commentary, conduct a question, and answer session after the
presentation. This event is free to the public.
For further information, see Great Divide’s web site

Information Brought to you by
Lynn Humphrey, Administrator/Owner
BizEturtle:Events in Monmouth
contact me at [email protected] or 732-759-0485

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Sunday, March 30–Music on a Sunday Afternoon

Today, you have three marvelous choices to enjoy
some refreshing music on this on and off rainy afternoon.

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Lucas Posts Two Properties To Cover His Bail

Andrew Lucas, center, then the Republican mayor of Manalapan, with then Freeholder John D’Amico and Amy Mallet, both Democrats, in September of 2010, seven months after Lucas purchased Burke Farm.

Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas put up liens on two properties this afternoon to cover the $500,000 bond which was a condition of his release from federal custody. Lucas was arrested Friday on 11 federal charges last week, including wire fraud, identity theft and providing false information to the IRS and FBI.  U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Arpert gave Lucas the weekend to come up with $500,000 in assets to secure is release.

The properties are Lucas’s home at 24 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan and 351 Asbury Road in Howell.  The Howell property is own by Timothy Murphy, according to APP.com’s Data Universe.

In addition to the $500,000 bail, Lucas is subject to home confinement and electronic monitoring. He surrendered his weapons and firearms ID card.  He is prohibited from leaving the state of New Jersey.

A copy of the federal order setting the conditions of Lucas’s release can be viewed here.

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