18 Year Old Long Branch Man Charged With Murder

Dante Strong, top right. photo from Strong’s facebook page

Dante Strong, 18, of Long Branch was charged with the murder of Adrian Anderson, 23, also of Long Branch,  yesterday according to a statement released by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Officers from the Long Branch Police Department were in the area of Central Avenue and Liberty Street in Long Branch around 2:29 a.m. on September 21, 2013, when they heard gunshots.  Officers responding to the sounds of gunfire and were flagged down by several people at 135 Liberty Street, where they found the victim on the front porch, unconscious and bleeding from several gunshot wounds.  The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township, where he was pronounced dead at 5:22 a.m., despite the efforts made to save his life by medical personnel.

A joint investigation was launched by the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.  During the course of the investigation, Strong was linked to an armed robbery the morning prior to the shooting, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Ellis Avenue in Long Branch, less than one block from where the victim was killed.

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ASBURY PARK MAN CHARGED WITH AUGUST MURDER

NJ Department of Corrections photo

Bryan Burford, 21, of Asbury Park was arrested today and charged with the August 16 murder of Tyrell Howard, 20, also of Asbury Park, according to a statement from Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramicconi.

Burford was also charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose.  He is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. Judge Joseph Oxley set Burford’s bail at $1 million with 10% cash option.

Burford was convicted of Aggravated Assault in April of 2011.  He was released from the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility on May 23 of this year, according to the NJ Department of Corrections.

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Legal Clinic For Sandy Survivors on Thursday Afternoon

The Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force and Volunteer Lawyers for Justice will be holding a legal clinic to assist Sandy survivors on Thursday afternoon, September 19, from 2pm -4:30pm at the Bayshore Activity Center, 719 Port Monmouth Ave, Port Monmouth, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office, the Monmouth County Department of Consumer Affairs,  FBI, IRS, New Jersey Division of Taxation, Department of Homeland Security and other agencies will be on hand to provide information and assistance to anyone in need.

Attorneys from the Disaster Legal Response Program launched by Volunteer Lawyers for Justice will also be available to consult with people and provide free legal advice. Those requiring further assistance may be referred to volunteer outside counsel (financial eligibility requirements apply).

The hotline for the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force is (855) SANDY-39. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice may be reached at (855) 301-2525.

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Toms River Contractor Indicted By Monmouth Grand Jury

A Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Toms River man by a Monmouth County Grand Jury.

Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni

Shane (aka Shaine) Wood, 48, the principle of Reliable Roofing and Siding, was charged in the four count indictment with providing a fraudulent insurance certificate and working as an unregistered contractor after state authorities revoked his registration, Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced this afternoon.

Wood is charged with fourth degree counts of Forgery, Uttering a Forged Instrument, Failure to Register with the state Division of Consumer Affairs, and Failure to Provide a Written Contract. Fourth degree offenses carry a maximum 18-month prison term, if convicted.

Wood was arrested in July after an investigation by the Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force revealed he sub-contracted with a general contractor to perform roof repair work on a Monmouth Beach property in late-January 2013 as the principal of Reliable Roofing and Siding.

The general contractor required Wood’s Reliable Roofing and Siding to provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance reflecting Wood’s company was covered for New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Wood transmitted a document purporting Reliable Roofing and Siding was covered by the John Hill Insurance Company, but later learned Wood supplied a fraudulent document according to the insurance company.

The general contractor contacted the Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force prompting the criminal investigation.

Wood was released after posting $10,000 bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.

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Shooting Epidemic In Asbury Park, Community Resignation Setting In

Monmouth County Needs Regional Law Enforcement

There were three shootings in Asbury Park this afternoon, according to a report at NJ.com.

The shooting happened around noon on Mattison Avenue, near Langford Street, Detective Lt. David DeSane said. As of around 2 p.m., DeSane said he did not know the extent of the injuries.

Two people in the area, who asked not to be identified, said they heard four or five shots, but did not know what happened.

AsburyParkSun photo

In the triCityNews last week, publisher Dan Jacobson said there have been four fatal shootings in the city, population 16,132, so far this year.

In their award winning series, Gripped by violence, published last October, four days before Superstorm Sandy, the Asbury Park Press said there had been an average of one shooting per week in Asbury Park through October 25, 2012 and that the city was second only to Camden in terms of violent crimes in New Jersey.  That’s right, Asbury Park is more dangerous than Newark, Trenton and Jersey City, where there were also three shootings today.

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Woman stabbed in Colts Neck

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Colts Neck Police Department are investigating the stabbing of a 41-year old woman in her Bray Street. home.

The incident occurred around 12:30 am on Sunday morning.

The suspect is reportedly a skinny white male with dirty blond hair in his early twenties who was wearing a yellow shirt and backpack.  He is reported to have been hitchhiking on Route 34 between Clover Hill Road and Bray Street when he followed the woman to her home and stabbed her multiple times. He fled with her car.

The woman’s car was later found in the Strathmore Shopping Center in Aberdeen.

The victim, who has not been identified, survived the attack and is being treated in a local hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to call Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or the Colts Neck Police Department at 732-780-7323.

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OPERATION “SHORE BET” DISMANTLES $1 MILLION PER WEEK GAMBLING OPERATION

(FREEHOLD) An extensive investigation into a $1 million-a-week organized gambling enterprise operating in the Monmouth County region culminated Monday with the arrest of 22 individuals, the seizure of a dozen vehicles, more than $500,000 in cash, and the freezing of financial accounts used to facilitate the criminal activity, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE DEFENDENTS

The 18-month joint investigation conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Asbury Park, Deal, Freehold Township, Howell, Marlboro, Ocean, Red Bank and Wall Police Departments culminated Monday with the execution of search and arrest warrants with the assistance of the officers from the Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Toms River, and West Long Branch Police Departments.

The investigation revealed a well organized gambling enterprise extending throughout Monmouth County and into Somerset, Essex, and Hudson Counties and the State of New York.  Members of the enterprise laundered the proceeds of their criminal activity through various methods to avoid reporting requirements and to mask the true ownership and source of the ill gotten gains.  Additionally, it was discovered members of the organization also engaged in the sale and distribution of marijuana and prescription drugs.

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Bayshore Tea Party Group Denies Involvement in 4am Robocall. Considers Call A “Reprehensable Act”

Steven Lonegan and Bayshore Tea Party Group Founders Barbara Gonzalez and Bob Gordan, 2010. facebook photo.

Bob Gordon, co-founder of the Bayshore Tea Party Group said that the organization had nothing to do with the 4am robocall that woke up LD 13 voters on June 4th and that the group considers the action “reprehensible.”

Gordon said that MMM should know better than to suggest that BTPG was involved in the robocall.  He said we should have reached to the group.  MMM contacted fellow co-founder of the group, Barbara Gonzalez on June 4th and got no response. Gordan said Gonzalez does not respond to our inquiries because the group does not consider this website credible.

Gordon said that he asked both Leigh-Ann Bellew and her campaign manager Dwayne Horner if they had anything to do with the call. Both Bellew and Horner denied involvement. He said he would ask them again today, following MMM’s report that the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the call.

Gordon said he would cooperate with the Prosecutor’s investigation and that he placed a call to them this morning, prior to calling MMM.

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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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Sources: Monmouth County Prosecutor Raids ‘A-Team’ Campaign Office in Asbury Park

UPDATE: Asbury Park Sun is reporting that the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant on the campaign office of ‘The A Team” this afternoon.  The report said that the investigators appeared to be looking for ballots.  Read the APS report here.

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facebook photo

MoreMonmouthMusings has confirmed that the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the “A-Team” ticket of Council candidates in upcoming Asbury Park municipal election.  That investigation included a visit to the campaign’s Main Street office today.

No arrests have been made.

The ‘A-Team’ consists of five candidates running together for the five council seats, the entire governing body, being contested in the May 14 election.  The candidates are former Councilman James Keady,  former board of education member Redmond Palmer, Duanne Small, Nora Hyland and Daniel Harris.  There are a total of 22 candidates running for the five seats.

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