Camden Cocaine Dealer Gets Eight Years in Prison

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A Camden man who sold crack cocaine to an undercover police officer was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison, officials said.  Nafeez “Feez” Griffin, 31, will also be subjected to three years of supervised release after finishing his sentence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. 

Griffin was part of a drug dealing organization when he sold the narcotics on Lansdowne Avenue in the city on Nov. 30, 2015, authorities said. He was charged Sept. 9, 2016 after a lengthy investigation by the FBI’s South Jersey Violent Offender and Gang Task Force.

He pleaded guilty in June to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Fellow members of the crew supplied drugs to Griffin and he made separate crack deals, according to court filings.

Authorities said the investigation led law enforcement officers to seize two handguns used by members of the drug distribution crew as well as narcotics. Investigators also used court-approved wiretaps to intercept cell phones used by members of the ring.

 

Man Faces 20 Years for Armed Robbery at Vineland Bank

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A man faces 20 years in state prison for holding up a Vineland bank four years ago, authorities say.

Leonard Johnson, 53, of Millville was found guilty in Superior Court this week of first-degree armed robbery, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae.

Authorities say Johnson went into the Susquehanna Bank at the intersection of Garden Road and Delsea Drive on April 24, 2013, where he gave a teller a note demanding money and told her he had a gun.

He then fled the area on a bicycle, Webb-McRae said. Authorities did not say how much cash he got.

Johnson was arrested after a joint investigation involving the Vineland Police Department, New Jersey State Police and the FBI.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 3. Along with facing 20 years in prison, Johnson will be subject to the No Early Release Act, Webb-McRae said.

The three-week trial was held before Superior Court Judge Cristen D’Arrigo. Elizabeth Vogelsong prosecuted the case and attorney Terry Stomel represented Johnson.

 

Driver Killed in Car Crash in Hopewell Township NJ

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A 23-year-old Ewing man was thrown from his car and killed in an early morning crash on Interstate 95 Friday, officials said.

Dylan Kathiari was killed in the single car crash at 5:44 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the highway in Hopewell Township at mile marker 4.8, New Jersey State Police said.

According to State Police, Kathiari’s Toyota Avalon veered to the left of the road and overturned.

Kathiari was ejected from the car and suffered from fatal injuries, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

One Dead, Six Injured in Piscataway Automobile Crash

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One person was killed and six others were injured in a two-vehicle auto accident Sunday evening in the township.

The crash occurred at about 5 p.m. north of Circle Drive and south of Birch Run Drive on Possumtown Road, police Sgt. Michael Smith said. 

Authorities are not yet releasing any information on the person killed, Smith said.

Garden State Man Pulls Two from Burning Car in Route 80 Accident

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Duncan Smythe was driving to a Fourth of July gathering at a friend’s home in Sussex County when he saw a car veer across the road on Route 80 and strike a Toyota on the shoulder with a great amount of force.

The driver of the vehicle on the shoulder, Michael O’Brien, was outside of his car adjusting his bicycle when he was struck by Mary Potts, 72, and killed instantly. A rear passenger in O’Brien’s car, Mary Briggs, was critically injured and taken to Morristown Medical Center.

Smythe pulled Mary Potts and her passenger out from her car, which was fully engulfed in 90 seconds.

Young Woman Dies in I-80 Car Accident in Warren County

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Peiran Chi, a 20-year-old woman who was a passenger in a Mercedes Benz, died on Monday in a collision with another car in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80. Chi was a rear passenger in the Mercedes, among two other occupants—the driver and a front passenger—both of whom suffered minor injuries. An initial report said that the Mercedes spun out of control, hit a guardrail, flipped over and struck several trees off the highway. The Mercedes had apparently caught fire, but the driver and front passenger escaped before the fire ignited. Chi was thrown out of the Mercedes after the crash with the Mitsubishi, and was pronounced dead at the scene

26-Year-Old Man Killed in Fiery Wreck in Tractor Trailer Accident

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A man by the name of Frankely Guiterrez was pronounced dead Sunday night when his 2009 Toyota Camry crashed into a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of Route 287 and burst into flames.

Guiterrez, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, State Police spokesman Trooper Alejandro Goez said. The cause and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

Two Bike Riders Killed in a Motorcycle Accident in Upper Freehold

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Two motorcyclists were killed in a crash on Sunday afternoon in Upper Freehold. The crash was
reported before 2 PM on Route 524 and Sharon Station Road in Upper Freehold.
Alejandro Goez, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, confirmed that both riders were
dead. He added that the part of the roadway where the crash occurred was closed for
investigation.
This is the second fatal crash in Upper Freehold in four days. On Thursday night, a 38-year-old
township man died after he was injured in a collision on Route 526.

Council President’s Son Charged with Lewdness in Union Beach, NJ

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A man in Union Beach, NJ was arrested after exposing himself in front of a minor in
Middletown.
Albin F. Wicki, son of Union Beach Council President Albin Wicki, was charged Wednesday
with endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of criminal sexual contact and two counts of
lewdness after investigators determined he accosted at least two people two weeks ago.
Wicki was arrested Wednesday after detectives investigated similar reports of a man performing
lewd acts while driving his car on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2.
If you’ve been charged with lewdness in Monmouth County, our attorneys can represent you for
all charges up to the Fourth Degree.

Rear End Vehicle Accident, Man Charged with DWI in Vineland, NJ

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A man involved in a car accident in Vineland, NJ rear ended another vehicle last Monday. Identified as Luis Colon of
Millville, NJ. Vineland authorities said he was driving south of Main Road when traffic began to
slow down. Colon allegedly kept going and rear ended a woman in the vehicle ahead of him.
No injuries were reported. However, officials found Colon to be driving while intoxicated,
and charged him with a DWI. Colon is currently pending trial.