Prosecutor: Be on alert for online and phone scams targeting Monmouth County residents

(FREEHOLD) Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni is asking residents to remain on guard for three common phone scams that continue to work their way across the country and within Monmouth County.

“The criminals associated with telephone and online scams are getting more sophisticated and approach consumers with enough legitimate-sounding information to seem credible, even to a savvy consumer. It’s important for the public to be aware of these newest ploys so that they can be on guard to protect their identity and their bank accounts,” Gramiccioni said.

IRS SCAM

It is tax season and one of the most common scams involves a caller posing as an Internal Revenue Service agent claiming that back taxes are owed.  If you are concerned you may owe the IRS back taxes, never provide any information to anyone over the phone.  First, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to ask about your current tax status. The IRS will send you a letter in the mail, if you owe back taxes. They never make cold calls, and certainly never demand cash or threaten immediate police actions.

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Trial begins for former Wall Twp. schools boss charged with official misconduct, theft

The trial in the case against former Wall Township schools superintendent James Habel, who is charged with official misconduct and other offenses, began on Tuesday morning with the prosecution and defense delivering their opening arguments.

FREEHOLD – The trial in the case against former Wall Township schools superintendent James Habel, who is charged with official misconduct, theft and other offenses, began on Tuesday morning with the prosecution and defense delivering their opening arguments. Habel, 58, was indicted in June 2013 on charges of second-degree official misconduct, second-degree theft by deception, two… Read the rest of this entry »

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Law Enforcement needs help identifying body that washed ashore in Highlands a year ago

A white male in his mid-20’s washed ashore at the Gateway Marina in Highlands on December 31, 2013.  A year and 12 days later, the State Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office have yet to identify the body.

Investigators are now circulating a composite sketch of the the young man may have looked like at the time of his death. Facial features, hair length and coloring may vary.

A forensic examination concluded the man is not of American Indian, Japanese, Chinese or Guatemalan nationalities.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police has found no matches for the DNA Profile of the man in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), and there have been no missing persons reported for anyone matching the description of the deceased man.

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Howell man gets 4 years in prison after crash that killed friend

FREEHOLD – Jacob Cannizzaro could not hide his emotions, his grief or his remorse as he stood in front of his family and the family of his friend Mark Chilton on Friday afternoon. On June 14, 2013, Cannizzaro lost control of the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt he was driving on Fort Plains Road in Howell Township. The… Read the rest of this entry »

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Authorities identify Hazlet husband, wife found dead in apparent murder-suicide

 HAZLET – Authorities on Monday identified the couple who were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide at their township home. Christine Dzienisiewski, 37, was killed, while it appeared her husband, 37-year-old Richard Dzienisiewski, died from self-inflicted wounds, said Thomas Huth, director of the major crimes bureau at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. First Assistant Prosecutor Marc…

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Middletown Oxy Ring Busted

Suspended Doctor Caught Selling Forged Scripts for $300-$400

The Middletown Police Department in conjunction with investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the State Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs broke up a prescription drug enterprise Thursday night following a month long investigation, according to a statement by Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Dr. Kenneth Lewandowski

Dr. Kenneth Lewandowski, 51, of Tatum Dr , Middletown, was charged with six counts of third degree Conspiracy, six counts of third degree Forgery and the Unlawful Practice of Medicine, also a third degree crime.  He was held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $140,000 bail as set by Middletown Municipal Judge Richard Thompson.

Lewandowski’s medical license was temporarily suspended last April after he was arrested for DUI three times in the six weeks between February 14 and March 31.  His DUI arrests occurred in Middletown, Lakewood and Wall.  The Lakewood incident included an accident that resulted in injuries.  Lewandowski was charged with Assault by Auto in that case, according to the Order suspending his medical license.

Thomas Menendez, 50, of Geary Drive in Middletown is alleged to be Lewandowski’s partner in the criminal enterprise.  Menendez was charged with six counts of  third degree Conspiracy and six counts of third degree Forgery.  Judge Thompson set Menendez’s bail at $30,000.

Neither Lewandowski or Menendez are currently in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, according to APP’s Data Universe.

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Force ‘necessary’ when cops pepper sprayed Brookdale student in campus arrest, officials say

FREEHOLD – Brookdale Community College police officers who were seen in an online video arresting and pepper-spraying a student at the school’s campus did not violate criminal law or use of force guidelines, according to a letter from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. The letter, sent by the prosecutor’s office Professional Responsibility Unit, was released Tuesday… Read the rest of this entry »

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Howell Man Faces New Pedophile Charges

Gregory Rittman

A Howell man who was arrested two weeks ago for masturbating in front of a juvenile in the public bathroom at a fast food restaurant on Route 35 in Wall Township is facing a dozen new charges after additional victims were identified, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Gregory S. Rittman, 49, of Howell Township, was arrested on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, after authorities received a report from an employee at a McDonald’s that described lewd behavior witnessed by an 8-year-old juvenile, near the sink in the men’s bathroom of the restaurant. Rittman was charged with one count each of second degree Sexual Assault, third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, fourth degree Lewdness and a disorderly persons charge of Harassment. He was released after posting $73,000 bail with no 10-percent option, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Teresa A. Kondrup-Coyle, J.S.C.

News of Rittman’s October arrest, which included his picture, prompted three additional victims to come forward.

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Large Heroin Trafficking Ring Busted

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman

Fourteen members of a major Jersey shore drug trafficking organization (DTO) were arrested this morning by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The DTO is alleged to be a large-scale supplier of heroin and cocaine in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman joined representatives of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the DEA in announcing the arrests at the Prosecutor’s satellite office in Asbury Park.

A total of 22 defendants were charged in two complaints. 7 remain at large and one has been in custody since September on other charges.

Herve Cadet, a/k/a “Gotti,” a/k/a “Bro,” 29, of Neptune and Sayreville, New Jersey; and Eric Smith, a/k/a “EV,” a/k/a “E,” 42, of Manchester, New Jersey are the alleged leaders of the DTO. Smith is the defendant who has been incarcerated since September.

“The criminal complaints describe drug trafficking operations that have been responsible for sizable quantities of illegal narcotics on the streets of Asbury Park, Neptune Township, and the surrounding towns,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “We hope and expect that today’s arrests will make a real difference to the drug trafficking trade in these counties. This is not the last that you will hear from us in this fight.”
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Two Middletown Men Charged With Arson

Sean Powers photo via facebook

Sean Powers, a twenty-two year old Middletown volunteer firefighter has been charged with starting the fire that left him with critical burn injuries.  William Rohweder, 23 of Middletown was also charged with arson of an abandoned barn in a residential area.  The fire at 251 Monmouth Ave was reported to Middletown authorities on Saturday morning at 5:48 AM.  Powers’ address is 260 Monmouth Ave.

According to a statement from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, both young men have been charged with one count of second degree Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Arson, one count of second degree Aggravated Arson and one count of third degree Aggravated Assault.

Because of his status as a volunteer firefighter, Powers has also been charged with Official Misconduct, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of ten years and a minimum period of parole ineligibility of five years, upon conviction.

Powers is in critical but stable condition at The Burn Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.  Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen set Powers bail as R. O. R. (Released On Recognizance) so long as he remains in an in-patient. Upon his release from The Burn Center, his bail will be reviewed.

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