Paramus NJ Fraud ConvictionEarlier this year, two Paramus residents who own a medical facility in Clifton NJ pleaded guilty to bribery charges. Now a Roselle chiropractor is the later person to plead guilty to health care fraud as NJ authorities crack down on fraud in the health care industry.

The two Clifton NJ suspects had been accused of paying bribes to doctors who would then direct patients to their MRI facility in Clifton, New Jersey. The suspects allegedly paid almost $1 million in bribes.

The Roselle NJ doctor, a 50-year-old man, was accused of accepting bribes in exchange for sending his patients to particular radiology centers in New Jersey.

The crackdown on health care fraud comes from the NJ Attorney General’s Office Commercial Bribery Task Force, which has been charged with investigating this sort of criminal activity and pursuing leads.

After the recent guilty pleas were announced, a prosecutor with the commercial bribery task force said that the law enforcement agency will continue targeting medical professionals who are “involved in a criminal conspiracy that is spreading like a stain across the state’s healthcare industry.”

For additional information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “N.J. Chiropractor Arrested in Massive Bribery Scheme.”

Bloomingdale New Jersey DWI LawyersPolice recently arrested a Bloomingdale NJ man who was allegedly driving drunk when he crashed his car into another vehicle on a road in Kinnelon, NJ.

The car crash occurred after 11:00 p.m. on Route 23 in Kinnelon, New Jersey. According to law enforcement, the suspect was driving a blue 2014 Subaru Legacy when he struck the back of a silver 2017 Kia Sportage. The collision caused the Kia to crash into a guardrail and overturn, while the suspect’s car left the roadway and hit a telephone pole before overturning several times.

Three people inside the Kia suffered injuries in the auto accident. They were transported to nearby hospitals for medical attention. The driver, a 48-year-old Vernon NJ man, went to Chilton Medical Center and received treatment for back pain. The two passengers in the Kia, a 35-year-old female from Parsippany NJ and a 35-year-old male from Parsippany, went to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson and received treatment for back pain and small cuts to their faces and hands.

The suspect is a 23-year-old Bloomingdale NJ man. He initially went to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center for medical treatment before being arrested.

The suspect faces several criminal charges, including aggravated assault by auto and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The suspect has also been issued a number of traffic citations, including a citation for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

For more information about this case, see the NJ.com article, “Man Charged with Assault by Auto after Alleged DWI Crash in Kinnelon.”

Willowbrook Mall Bomb Hoax ChargesLaw enforcement recently arrested a man accused of causing “widespread panic and fear” by perpetrating a bomb hoax at the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ.

According to authorities, the suspect was actually the same person who first reported the threat.

The scary incident unfolded around 8:00 p.m. at the Willowbrook Mall, a popular mall in Wayne, New Jersey. The suspect reportedly approached a mall security guard in the food court area and said that he came across a Post-It note indicated that six bombs had been placed throughout the mall.

Wayne NJ police officers soon arrived at the scene and immediately evacuated the mall. Police then searched the mall for any trace of a bomb; however, no explosive devices were found inside the mall.

Meanwhile, the suspect reportedly passed out and had to be taken to a medical facility for treatment. He also underwent a psychological evaluation at the hospital.

The suspect is a 56-year-old Wayne NJ man. He faces very serious criminal charges for creating a false public alarm. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3, a person who initiates a report of an impending fire, explosion, bombing, or crime while knowing that the report is false and that it is likely to cause evacuation of a building can be charged with a third degree crime. A conviction on third degree charges of creating a false public alarm can result in a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

If the suspect had been charged with making terroristic threats, he would have faced similar penalties because making terroristic threats is also classified as a third degree criminal offense.

After being arrested and charged, the suspect was being held at Wayne police headquarters in advance of a bail hearing.

For additional information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Willowbrook Mall Bomb Hoaxer Charger, Cops Say.”

Bomb Threat at Willowbrook MallA report of a bomb threat at the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne New Jersey prompted an evacuation as law enforcement looked for explosive devices.

According to Wayne NJ police, a man in the Willowbrook Mall found a security guard and said that he had seen a note threatening a bomb explosion at the mall. The man told the mall security guard that the note was handwritten and indicated the presence of multiple bombs inside the mall.

The Wayne Police Department dispatched officers to the area so that they could speak with the man and investigate the threatening situation. The man then began to lead police officers to the alleged location of the note when he suddenly collapsed due to a possible medical condition.

Authorities then evacuated the mall while members of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad searched the building for explosive devices. The bomb squad never found explosive devices, or the threatening note, during their search.

If the person responsible for the threat is ultimately charged with making terroristic threats, they would be subject to severe penalties. That’s because N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3 stipulates that a person who threatens to commit a crime of violence against anyone with the purpose to terrorize or to cause evacuation of a building can be charged with a third degree criminal offense. A conviction for third degree terroristic threats could result in a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

For additional information, read the NJ.com article, “Bomb Threat Report Clears Willowbrook Mall in Wayne.”

Paterson NJ Aggravated Assault LawyersPaterson New Jersey police are on the lookout for suspects in two recent non-fatal shootings on city streets.

According to law enforcement officials, two different male suspects were responsible for shootings on Paterson streets. Moreover, the shootings occurred within 10 minutes of each other.

The first shooting happened a short time before 11:00 p.m. on Sparrow Street, near Highland Street, in Paterson, New Jersey. A 21-year-old Paterson male was walking on Sparrow Street when a masked suspect quickly moved toward him. The suspect brandished a firearm and threatened to shoot the victim unless he handed over money and other items. The suspect allegedly used the handgun to shoot the victim in the hip and then ran away.

The second shooting occurred just 10 minutes later. A 24-year-old East Orange man was walking in the area of Main Street and Weiss Street when he became involved in a fight with another person. At some point, the other individual used a handgun to shoot the victim.

The good news is that both shooting victims should survive their gunshot-related injuries. The victims were treated for their injuries at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey.

Paterson police is currently investigating the two shooting incidents and looking for clues. If either of the individuals responsible for the shootings is eventually identified and arrested, they would probably be charged with aggravated assault and various weapons offenses.

For additional information, view the NJ.com article, “Authorities Investigate 2 Shootings in Paterson.”

Paterson Sexual Assault Law FirmA Paterson New Jersey cop accused of committing a violent sexual assault nine years ago will be retiring soon– and his pension is reportedly going to remain fully intact.

The Paterson police officer in question, Manuel Avila, was suspended all the way back in 2007 when he was initially accused of forcing a female prisoner in his custody to perform sex acts on him. The sex crime allegedly happened at Paterson police headquarters.

In 2010, Avila was acquitted on the sexual assault charges. However, the city and the police department eventually reached a settlement with Avila’s accuser and agreed to pay her $710,000.

Meanwhile, Avila has remained on paid suspension for nine years. During that time, he has reportedly earned around $900K in salary.

Now it appears that Avila will be collecting an addition $70,000 annually as part of his pension. That’s because Paterson officials decided to drop internal disciplinary charges against the suspended officer and the state subsequently approved his retirement.

According to one estimate, the incident has cost NJ taxpayers more than $2 million, a figure that includes Avila’s salary while on suspension, his back pay, and the civil settlement.

For additional information, read the NJ.com article, “Cop Suspended for Past 9 Years after Sex Claim Reportedly Gets Pension.”

Paterson New Jersey Assault LawyersA Paterson New Jersey police officer has been indicted by a Passaic County grand jury for aggravated assault charges in connection with a shooting incident on a city street.

According to Passaic County NJ prosecutors, the suspect discharged his firearm on a Paterson street, near a 7-Eleven located on Main Street, just after 1:00 a.m. on February 25, 2016.

The suspect is a police officer with the Paterson Police Department. When the incident occurred, the suspect was off duty

The discharged firearm allegedly caused two people to be struck by bullet fragments. The victims included a 35-year-old man from Wanaque NJ and a 37-year-old man from Paterson NJ. They both received medical treatment at a local hospital.

The suspect allegedly failed to tell his bosses about the shooting incident until the next day. Additionally, it took more than a week for the suspect to be arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.

The suspect has been charged with several crimes, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and terroristic threats.

It is possible that the suspect will have to answer these charges at trial in Passaic County Superior Court now that a grand jury has indicted him.

A conviction on all of the criminal charges could lead to a sentence of 16 years in New Jersey State Prison.

To learn more about this case, view the NJ.com article, “North Jersey Cop Indicted in Off-Duty Shooting.”

Clifton NJ Armed Robbery SuspectA Wayne NJ teen suffered serious injuries when he was shot during an armed robbery on a Clifton NJ street.

According to law enforcement, the shooting occurred in the area of Lake Avenue and Van Winkle Avenue in Clifton, New Jersey. The victim, an 18-year-old from Wayne NJ, arranged to meet the suspect in Clifton so that they could complete a cell phone sale. The victim and the suspect reportedly first met over the Internet and worked out a deal for a cell phone.

However, as soon as the victim pulled up to the arranged meeting place in his motor vehicle, the suspect allegedly got into the car and pointed a gun at the victim. A struggle ensued, with the suspect allegedly fired at least one gunshot at the victim and striking him in the leg.

Clifton police got a report of gunshots fired and sent police officers to the area. When law enforcement arrived at the scene of the shooting, they found the victim.

Emergency medical responders took the victim to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was treated for gunshot wounds. The victim was later released from the hospital.

Meanwhile, police investigated that armed robbery and assault and eventually located the suspect, an 18-year-old Passaic residence, at a house in Passaic, NJ. The suspect was placed under arrest at the Passaic residence. While arresting the suspect, police allegedly found a 9 mm Taurus handgun being carried by the suspect.

The suspect has been charged with numerous crimes, including armed robbery, aggravated assault, illegal possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and illegal possession of hollow point ammunition.

After being arrested and processed, the suspect was remanded to the Passaic County Jail. He was being held at the correctional facility in lieu of $500,000 bail.

For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Cellphone Sale between Teens Who Met Online Ends in Shooting.”

Bank Robbery Charges in Paterson NJLaw enforcement recently apprehended a bank robbery suspect in Paterson, NJ.

The theft incident occurred shortly after 9:00 a.m. on September 22, 2016. The suspect reportedly committed the robbery at a Wells Fargo Bank on Route 27 in Toms River, New Jersey.

The suspect allegedly entered the bank, walked toward a bank teller, and instructed the bank worker to give him an undisclosed amount of money.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and US Marshals investigated the bank robbery, which including talking to witnesses and looking at video surveillance footage.

Police later received an anonymous tip that led them to a house in Paterson NJ, where the suspect was allegedly hiding in a bathroom.

The suspect is a 30-year-old man from Toms River, NJ. He now faces criminal charges for one count of robbery.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted of robbery, he would likely be headed to prison for quite some time. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, robbery is considered a second degree felony and carries a potential punishment of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

After being arrested and charged, the suspect was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, NJ. He was being held at the jail on a bail amount of $75,000.

For additional information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Wells Fargo Bank Robbery Suspect Caught in Paterson, Cops Say.”

Paterson Aggravated Assault LawyersA Paterson New Jersey man was injured in the hand after someone shot him as he rode his bike along a city street.

The shooting occurred around 10:15 p.m. in the area of Beech Street and Essex Street in Paterson, NJ. According to authorities, the victim was riding a bicycle on Beech Street when he moved toward the intersection. As the victim passed through the intersection, someone fired a handgun at him.

Gunshots were detected by the Paterson ShotSpotter system, with the Paterson Police Department subsequently receiving an alert. When Paterson police officers got to the scene, the victim was already gone. It turned out that the victim had taken himself to St. Joseph’s Medical Center, where doctors treated him for a gunshot wound to his hand. Hospital employees also contacted the Paterson Police Department to let authorities know about the victim.

The victim is a 26-year-old Paterson NJ man. After being treated for his wounds, he was released from the medical facility.

Paterson police are actively investigating the shooting incident. However, investigators have yet to identify a culprit. Assuming police can eventually determine the identity of the shooter, that individual would probably be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Anyone who has information about the shooting should contact the Paterson Police Ceasefire Unit at 973-321-1342.

For further information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Paterson Man Shot While Riding Bicycle, Police Say.”