Midland Park NJ, A 2-alarm Tuesday afternoon, 12/18, fire heavily damaged a building housing a first floor beauty salon in the 200 block of Godwin Avenue, Midland Park. Midland Park Fire Department was assisted by Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department, Waldwick Fire Department, and Wyckoff Fire Department at the scene. No injuries were reported in the blaze. Mildand Park Police and Midland Park EMS also responded. Wyckoff Police assisted with traffic control
Ramsey NJ, Six (6) victims of a Monday morning, 12/17, crash on Route 17 northbound near Spring Avenue in Ramsey were transported to area hospitals by ambulances. Ramsey Police, Ramsey Rescue, and Ramsey EMS responded to the incident along with mutual aid ambulances from Upper Saddle River and The Valley Health System. Two (2) wrecked vehicles were removed from the scene by flatbed tow trucks. One (1) travel lane of Route 17 northbound and the exit ramp to Spring Street from Route 17 northbound were closed while emergency crews worked. All injuries were reported to have been non life threatening in nature.
Fort Lee NJ, An insurance broker with an office in Fort Lee, New Jersey, today admitted defrauding Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Lawrence Ackerman, 54, a resident of Old Tappan, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court to a superseding information charging him with one count of health care fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Ackerman was the chief operating officer of Atlantic Business Associates (ABA) and Atlantic Medical Associates (AMA), two “shell” companies through which he marketed health insurance nationally to people who were not his employees and therefore ineligible for health coverage. During the month of January 2011, he delivered $481,500 in health care benefits to ineligible participants.
The count of health care fraud to which Ackerman pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Ackerman was originally charged in a two-count indictment with conspiracy to defraud Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of $5.6 million and the welfare fund of Local 2326 of $1 million in fraudulent health care claims. Under terms of the plea agreement, Ackerman will be responsible for making full restitution to Horizon and to the union’s benefit plan for their losses. Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2019.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Mikulka; agents of the Office of Employee Benefit Security Act (EBSA), under the direction of Regional Director Darren Cohen; and agents of the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), under the supervision of Regional Director Andriana Vamvakas.
The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the Narcotics/OCDETF unit in Newark.
Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office puts out a phone scam alert: The IRS? The FBI? My bank representative? A law enforcement officer? Really?
It isn’t new. But it isn’t old either. Phone scams have been around for a while. They do change as these criminals get sneakier and bolder. But.
One thing doesn’t change…Fraudsters can be very convincing sometimes, so keeping your guard up is crucial. Being suspicious of phone calls from strangers is key. And one thing is for sure…the IRS, the FBI, and BCPONJ will never call you on the phone to ask you to repay a debt, fine or warrant using Bitcoin, gift cards, bank wire, or Western Union.
Be wary of calls from strangers. Verify information told to you over the phone. Contact your local police if ever in doubt. Don’t send money blindly to a voice over the phone.
photo screenshot courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook Page
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Twp. of Washington NJ, Representatives from OSHA are currently investigating a Tuesday morning, 12/11 workplace accident in Washington Township involving Carbon Monoxide exposure that sent two (2) landscapers to The Valley Hospital in critical condition. Washington Township Police and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification are also on the Pond Drive, Washington Township scene.
South Hackensack NJ, acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of NICHOLAS CARUSO (DOB: 02/07/1969; married; employed as a medical office manager) of 29 Maple Avenue, South Hackensack, NJ on charges of Theft by Deception and Computer Related Theft. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.
In October 2018, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit received a complaint that Nicholas CARUSO was suspected of using his Bergen County based employer’s Amazon and bank accounts to make purchases for himself and to pay his own personal bills.
An investigation by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit revealed that between July 2015 and September 2018, Nicholas CARUSO, an office manager at a Bergen County based medical practice, had gained access to his employer’s business checking account and had used online banking and bill pay services to pay his own personal expenses. Those expenses included credit card and vehicle finance charges. CARUSO also established an Amazon account in his employer’s name, which was attached to the business checking account for payment purposes. The total theft by CARUSO was in excess of $150,000.
As a result of the investigation, Nicholas CARUSO was arrested on December 6, 2018 in Hackensack, NJ and charged with one count of Theft By Deception, with the amount involved being greater than $75,000, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4, a 2nd degree crime; and, one count of Computer Related Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-25c, with the amount involved being greater than $5,000, a 2nd degree crime. CARUSO is scheduled for a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. 2
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Far Lawn NJ, A two (2) alarm residential structure fire in the 900 block of Bellair Avenue, Fair Lawn was quickly extinguished late Friday afternoon, 12/07. All Fair Lawn fire companies responded to the scene as did Fair Lawn Heavy Rescue, Fair Lawn EMS, Fair Lawn Police, and a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital.
photo courtesy of Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
HO-HO-KUS, N.J.,The season is bright with joy! Santa Claus will be riding the fire truck with the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department Sunday, December 23rd, 2018.
Residents on all borough streets will have the special opportunity to greet Santa Claus, take photos, and receive a candy cane from Santa, himself! This long standing tradition, known as “Operation Santa Sunday” will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”
A MESSAGE FROM NICHOLAS J. NORCIA, SUPERINTENDENT OF FAIR LAWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
December 4, 2018
Dear Fair Lawn Parents/Guardians:
In an effort to remain as transparent as possible, I would like to provide you with an update following the threat made against Thomas Jefferson Middle School yesterday, December 3, 2018.
As an educator, administrator, and most importantly a parent, I understand it can be frustrating not having all the details of the incident. At times, however we need to follow the recommendations of the local authorities, while not compromising the investigation by the police and administration. As always, our students and staff’s safety is our number one priority.
As detailed in my letter home last night, there was an increased police presence at all of Fair Lawn Public Schools today, especially at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Mr. Weaver and Mr. Grubman greeted every student and parent who dropped off their child this morning, followed by a meeting with the faculty. In addition, Mr. Weaver also met with all students during their lunch periods to reinforce for them that their physical and emotional safety is his top priority.
Although we were more vigilant than ever today, in light of the threat made against TJMS, the students and staff had a regular day and all activities commenced like any other day at TJMS.
This is an ongoing investigation and the Fair Lawn Police Department is following up on some leads of the person responsible. Also, until further notice, we will continue to have an increased police presence at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. When I have additional information, I will update you in a timely manner.
I want to thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
Sincerely,
Nicholas J. Norcia
Ridgewood NJ, In 2018, the Consumer Sentinel Network has seen a striking increase in the median dollar amount that people 70 and over are saying they lost to fraud. Digging into the data, we found some common stories with an unusual twist: people 70 and older report mailing huge amounts of cash to people who pretended to be their grandchildren.
People 70 and over rarely report to the FTC that they paid a scammer with cash. But for one particular type of fraud – family and friend imposters – fully 25% of people 70 and over who reported to the FTC how they paid money told us they sent cash.
We call these family and friend imposter scams, but you may know them as the “grandparent scam” and with good reason. People 70 and over report that the scammer posed as a grandchild, usually a grandson, about 70% of the time.
Twp of Washington NJ, a tree fell onto roof of Washington Township Public Library on Tuesday, closing the library till further notice . The library is located at 144 Woodfield Road.
According to the Library’s website : Due to a fallen tree on the building, we are closed until further notice. Please call or check back for future updates.
Not sure what the policy is on over due books when the Library is closed ?
Midland Park NJ, from the Midland Park Police Department :
Midland Park residents………
From the United States Postal Service….The U.S. Postal Inspection Service would like to notify local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel that due to the increased amount of holiday deliveries USPS employees will be working extended holiday hours including delivering mail through the evening hours and they may be utilizing non-USPS vehicles.
Hawthorne NJ, A two (2) vehicle Saturday afternoon, 12/01, crash involving a marked Hawthorne Police Department vehicle resulted in the drivers of both vehicles being transported to local hospitals by ambulances. The collision occurred at the intersection of Diamond Bridge Avenue and Goffle Road shortly before 2 PM and sent one (1) of the vehicles down an embankment into a section of the nearby Goffle Brook County Park. Hawthorne EMS and Hawthorne Fire Department also responded to the incident. Both wrecked vehicles were removed from the scene by flatbed tow trucks. Unofficial reports are that the injuries to both the police officer and other driver were non life threatening in nature. A utility pole was also damaged in the crash; a PSE&G was on the scene minutes after the impact evaluating its condition.
Glen Rock NJ, Mayor Bruce Packer, the Borough of Glen Rock Council, and the Glen Rock Environmental Commission will unveil two electric vehicle charging stations at the Main Line Station parking lot on Sunday December 2.
Ridgewood NJ, Some women think that it’s somehow tacky to wear jewelry except for the wedding ring with a diamond. However, true diamonds can be found on https://bridesdating.com/. Other women buy jewelry just to cheer themselves up after a hard workweek, but they still do not know how to combine clothes and another “tremendous catch.” So, if you are not the second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, you should be aware of how to wear jewelry with your favorite sweatshirt.
