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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Andrew Lucas Arrested

Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas was arrested this morning by federal authorities, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Lucas has been indicted on 11 counts including wire fraud, loan application fraud, illegal monetary transaction, false statements to the IRS,  aggravated identity theft, obstruction of a grand jury investigation and falsification of records in a federal investigation.

The charges are for alleged actions in connection with Lucas’s purchase of Burke Farm. No charges were made in connection of the sale of the development rights to the farm to the government’s Open Space Program, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

Lucas is being represented by Mario F. Gallucci of Helbock, Nappa and Gulluci, a Staten Island, NY law firm.

The U. S. Attorney’s statement says:

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Judge Lawson: Freeholder Lillian Burry had no conflict of interest regarding Lucas farm vote

Judge Lawrence M. Lawson

Monmouth County Assignment Judge Lawrence M. Lawson has ruled that “no rational fact-finder could find a conflict of interest” in Freeholder Lillian Burry’s March 2013 vote to fund the purchase of the development rights to former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas’s Burke Farm.

In an opinion dated January 8, Lawson said that Burry did not have a conflict of interest, “real or apparent,” “potential” or “actual” in the controversial farmland preservation purchase that has been a political football in Monmouth County and Manalapan since 2010.

In a Summary Judgment, Lawson dismissed the suit with prejudice, brought by Holmdel attorney Lawrence Luttrell, a Democratic freeholder candidate at the time that he, his wife and mother-in-law formed R.A.G.E (Residents Against Government Exploitation), a non-profit corporation, for the sole purpose of bringing suit against Monmouth County over Burry’s vote on the Lucas farm deal.

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Naked Man Pulled From Manalapan Pipe

Asaf Mohammad, 26, of Manalapan was rescued from inside a 24 inch pipe at the United Water facility within the township today. He was naked, according to a report on Manalapan Patch

A United Water employee heard faint cries for help this morning at 7:05.  With the help other employes the screams were located within the pipe and first responders were called.

Patch reports that Mohammad was pulled from the pipe at around 11 am and taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick via medical helicopter.

The Asbury Park Press reports that Mohammad was arrested and charged with fourth degree trespassing.

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McEnery: Ryan Green is a “petulant pipsqueak”

Municipal Chairman likens Township Committeeman to fugitive Edward Snowden

Invoking the recently deceased radio personality, Bob Grant, Manalapan Republican Chairman Steve McEnery referred to Township Committeeman Ryan Green as a “petulant pipsqueak”  and likened Green to Edward Snowden at last night’s reorganization meeting.

Here are McEnery’s remarks are prepared for delivery:

A famous radio personality died recently; he was a former resident of Manalapan and worked in radio for 50 years or so.  His name was Bob Grant many of you may remember him. He was a strong conservative voice, but also provided a little amusement along with his views on all things.

He had a few memorable lines that he used regularly.  “Get off my radio” was one that comes to mind. Another was when he addressed someone as a “petulant pipsqueak”.

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Ryan Green makes Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad A Political Football

Ryan Green. Photo via RyanDGreen.com

The Manalapan Township Committee unanimously approved an agreement with the Englistown-Manalapan First Aid Squad on December 11, 2013 that will permit the previously all volunteer squad that provides first aid and ambulance service for free to Manalapan residents to form an non-profit entity to would hire paid EMTs to supplement the declining ranks of volunteers and bill residents who use the services the amount that their health insurance companies would otherwise pay to private first aid and ambulance companies.

Township Committeeman Ryan Green joined his fellow Republican committee members in voting for the agreement with EMFSA, but then went public with a letter to the editor to the NewsTranscript  in which he criticized Mayor Susan Cohen and Deputy Mayor Jordan Maskowitz for failing to seek input from the public on what Green calls “a major change.”

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Andrew Lucas Resigns From Manalapan Township Committee

Andrew Lucas resigned his position on the Manalapan Committee today.  His term was due to expire at the end of this year.  He was not seeking reelection.

His two line resignation letter simply said he was resigning effective immediately and appreciated the opportunity to serve.

Mayor Susan Cohen and Committeeman Ryan Green both said they had no idea why Lucas resigned.  Lucas has not returned a call for comment.

Once a rising star in the Monmouth GOP, Lucas was a nominee for Freeholder in 2006, losing to Barbara McMarrow of Freehold Township, then a Democrat. McMarrow has since become a Republican and is a member of the Freehold Township Committee.

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Prosecutor Seeks Help In Manalapan Car Fire Investigation

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni is asking the public to assist detectives in the investigation of a Manalapan car fire.

Manalapan police and fire departments responded to multiple ‘911’ calls at 4:11 a.m. on Monday, May 12, reporting a car fire at 8 Elisa Court. The fire was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported. The fire is currently under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Charles Alaimo from the Manalapan Township Police Department at 732-446-4300 or Detective John Leibfried from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-620-4022.

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Manalapan Music Teacher Charged With Spanking A Student For Sexual Gratification

(FREEHOLD) A Manalapan music teacher is charged with sexual assault after investigators learned he was spanking a music student for his own sexual gratification over the past few months, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Frank W. Diliberto, Jr., 60, of Winthrop Drive in Manalapan, a guitar teacher at Musician’s Workshop on Route 9, was arrested Thursday evening and charged with Sexual Assault of a child under 13 and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both second degree offenses.

Diliberto is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $200,000 bail with no 10 percent option as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman, P.J.C. Dilberto was also ordered to have no contact with his victim and he cannot return to the scene of the alleged crime.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Detectives Dominick Donatelli, Jr. or Kevin Schmidt of the Manalapan Township Police Department at 732-446-4300 or Detective Patrick O’Connell of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 ext. 2941.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

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Rubbed the wrong way in Matawan

A two week investigation by the Matawan Police Department resulted in a prostution arrest on Friday afternoon, according the Matawan-Aberdeen Patch.

A Brooklyn woman is facing prostitution charges after she allegedly offered services to an undercover police officer at Hot Stone Massage Therapy in Matawan.

Inga Zubenko, 45, was arrested at about 4 p.m. Friday and charged with prostitution and operating within the borough without a masseuse license, according the Lt. Ben Smith.

The owner of the parlor, Lioudmila Tynanskikh of Manalapan, was issued a summons for operating a parlor in the borough without a license. The license for the parlor at 70 Main Street had expired and was never renewed, Smith explained.

10 members of Matawan’s 20 person police department participated in the investigation. No wonder it took two weeks.

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