New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

An article from nj.com discusses the recent guilty plea of a 60-year-old accountant to embezzling $1 million in cash and stock from Bel Fuse, Inc. The man was a senior accountant for the Jersey City firm which manufactures telecommunications equipment. Based on the article, in pleading guilty on November 19, 2009 to wire fraud charges in federal court in Trenton, the accountant now faces up to 33 months in prison under the conditions of his agreement with prosecutors. However, judges are not limited to such agreements and have wide discretion when imposing the man’s sentence, which is scheduled to be handed down on February 18, 2010.

Apparently, the accountant took 30,000 shares of stock and $500,000 from the retirement, stock-option and profit sharing plans of Bel Fuse, Inc. The certified public accountant was in charge of managing the Bel Fuse, Inc. day-to-day stock options plan, 401(k) plan, and profit-sharing plan. After it was discovered that he was illegally transferring stock to himself and inflating his contributions to the company’s 401(k) and profit-sharing plans, he was fired during a routine audit. During the recent hearing, the man also admitted to illegally transferring 2,000 shares of stock into a brokerage account regulated by his son who was not an employee of Bel Fuse.

Continue reading "Jersey City Accountant Charged with Embezzling $1M" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , White Collar Crime

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Anyone who is arrested for possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana in the State of New Jersey faces being charged with a misdemeanor, may be sent to jail for six months, and could be fined $1,000. These harsh penalties currently loom over two former gang members who are well-known for their anti-violence efforts.

According to an nj.com story, the two individuals charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance under 50 grams have been profiled in the nationally broadcast “Brick City” documentary. Apparently, after citing their vehicle for a non-moving violation, a state trooper smelled marijuana, searched their vehicle, and found marijuana. A third individual in the vehicle was arrested on the same charges as the documentary participants.

Continue reading "Two Anti-Violence Activists Arrested for Marijuana Possession" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Drug Offenses , Marijuana Defense

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Contrary to what many New Jersey residents may believe, a motorist may face charges for driving while impaired (DWI) if he or she is suspected of operating a vehicle while under the influence of legally prescribed drugs or over-the-counter medication. A more obvious point is that a driving while impaired charge in New Jersey also applies when illegal drugs are involved. And depending on the type of illegal substance, a person’s criminal history, age, and if any other illegal drugs are in a driver’s possession, additional charges may be filed against him or her.

Motorists should be aware of the potential side effects of a prescription drug or over-the-counter medication. Some of these reactions may include drowsiness, nausea, excitability, sight-related issues, or impairment of motor functions, all of which may affect a person’s ability to operate a vehicle. Also, an individual may experience these effects if a certain medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription, was mixed with alcohol or illegal drugs.

Continue reading "Understanding Driving Under the Influence of Drugs in New Jersey" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , DUI DWI Drunk Driving , Drug Offenses , Legal Information

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A recent pressofatlanticcity.com report discusses how Atlantic City is safer than most people realize. An Atlantic City Police Chief stated that he does not believe the public perception matches appropriately with the statistics. According to the report, violent crimes increased by 27% in the U.S. from 1978 to 2008, but only jumped 4% in Atlantic City. While thefts dropped 4% across the nation in the same time frame, theft decreased 43% in Atlantic City. All of these decreases were seen even though Atlantic City has an immense influx of visitor and commuters mostly drawn to its casinos and resorts.

So why the falling numbers? Apparently, casinos throughout Atlantic City have enhanced in-house security. Also helping lower crime is the growth of police forces within the area. In addition, there seems to be greater concern regarding comprehensive studies of what crimes happen where and when, whether victims and perpetrators know each other, and whether or not they are residents.

Although the flow in crime-patterns is in Atlantic City’s favor, especially with thefts being the lowest in 2008 (2,927 incidents) since casinos opened, crime did rise in the first 10 years of casino operation. It is promising though that within the last 20 years, crime has fallen. Some other reasons for this decline include an increase in recreational outlets for at-risk children, low-income neighborhoods being destroyed, and casinos working more diligently to recruit job applicants from low-income neighborhoods.

Continue reading "Violent Crime Decreases in Atlantic City, but the Battle Isn't Over" »

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Posted In: Assault , Criminal Defense , Gang Crimes , Legal Information , Murder , Theft/Shoplifting

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According to a Drug Policy Alliance Network announcement, the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Senate Bill 1866. Referred to as a “groundbreaking sentencing bill”, it will provide judges the diplomacy to waive mandatory minimum sentences for a number of nonviolent drug offenders if approved. According to the report, many advocates consider support of the bill to be signs of common-sense and practical improvement that would boost fair and effective sentencing while sparing the taxpayer’s wallet.

The director of Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey provided the following statement: “Twenty years ago, New Jersey began implementing harsh mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. These laws have been a spectacular failure. They have done nothing to decrease drug activity and have filled New Jersey’s prisons with nonviolent drug offenders at great cost to New Jersey taxpayers.”

In encouraging the committee’s willingness to consider Senate bill 1866, the director and many others hope that the new bill will prevent any further exceptional levels of incarceration and huge amounts of taxpayer money spent; both of which resulted from the Comprehensive Drug Reform Act’s initiation in 1986. Based on additional information provided by the Drug Policy Alliance Network, approximately twenty years ago, only 11% of individuals in prison were serving mandatory minimum sentences. Today, about 69% are serving mandatory sentences. Also, in 1987, only 11% of the New Jersey prison populated was incarcerated for drug offenses. Now, 29% of the prison population is incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses.

Continue reading "New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee Scheduled to Vote on Bill 1866" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Drug Offenses

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There has been much discussion lately regarding retired NBA star Jayson Williams and his postponed hearing. According to a recent report, the Somerville hearing, in which Williams was expected to enter a plea for a 2002 shooting death of a hired driver, was indefinitely delayed.
One source stated that the delay is partly related to travel issues experienced by Williams in getting to New Jersey from South Carolina. It is also being said that he will plead guilty to aggravated assault. If Williams does in fact plead guilty to the assault charge, he will face a minimum 18-month sentence due to a gun being involved in the driver’s death.

The former NBA player was acquitted in 2004 for aggravated manslaughter, but was convicted of covering-up the shooting, which took place at his mansion in New Jersey. In awaiting a second trial for reckless manslaughter, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence, the jury deadlocked on the reckless manslaughter count.

Continue reading "Hearing Delayed for Retired NBA Star Jayson Williams " »

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Posted In: Assault , Criminal Defense , Legal Information , Murder

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A 37-year-old Manchester man has admitted to stealing $880K over a four-year timeframe from a Carteret trucking and warehousing company. According to an nj.com article, the man pleaded guilty in New Brunswick to one count of second-degree theft. The man worked for the company as a computer technician for seven years. In being arrested earlier this year, the man had not yet been indicted. Since he pleaded guilty, the man gave up his right to a grand jury proceeding.

Apparently, the man entered his plea on November 17, 2009 and the Superior Court Judge addressing his case set the man’s sentencing date for February 22, 2010. In negotiating a plea agreement, the accused man faces a sentence of seven years in state prison. He will also have to reimburse FMI Inc. approximately $126,600 to cover its losses because he used a company credit card for personal expenses amounting to $150,880.97. Furthermore, the man is also charged with buying computer equipment worth $729,550.57, re-selling the materials, and keeping the profits for himself.

Although the man in this particular case pleaded guilty to the charges against him, doing so is not applicable in every criminal case. It is advisable for anyone considering entering a plea agreement for a white collar crime to first speak with a skilled New Jersey white collar crime attorney. White collar crimes in New Jersey are very serious offenses that may pertain to the following:

• Extortion


• Credit card fraud


• Money laundering


• Forgery


• Embezzlement


• Perjury


• Internet fraud

Continue reading "Carteret Company $880K Theft Case Unfolds" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , Theft/Shoplifting , White Collar Crime

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There are many gatherings and events to look forward to during the holiday season. However, coming upon a DWI checkpoint is not one of them. According to a Daily Record report, after receiving a DWI Enforcement Grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office implemented DWI checkpoints during Thanksgiving and will do so throughout the holiday season to conduct DWI checkpoints with municipal police departments at different Morris County locations.

The Division of Highway Safety will use this opportunity to educate motorists about the consequences of driving while impaired. When stopped at the DWI checkpoints, drivers will be given pamphlets describing the repercussions of impaired driving in addition to being told by law enforcement that first-time offenders may lose their driving privileges for up to seven months and face fines, insurance surcharges and legal fees amounting to as much as $15,000.

In discussing the reasons for conducting DWI checkpoints, New Jersey’s Division of Highway Safety’s website says the following: “Although every year 1.5 million impaired drivers are arrested, only one arrest is made for every 772 occurrences of driving under the influence of alcohol. Repeat offenders account for a high number of alcohol-related crashes.”

Continue reading "Holiday DWI Checkpoints Scheduled Throughout Morris County" »

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Posted In: Criminal Defense , DUI DWI Drunk Driving

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