Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Daevon Davis, 28, of Newark of the July 2015 murder of 44-year-old Christopher Graham of Irvington, following a trial before the Honorable Mark Ali, Judge of the Superior Court.

According to Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Oliveira, who handled the case, on July 13, 2015 around 4:45 pm, Graham was on Isabella Avenue when Davis and an unidentified co-conspirator ran up the street and in an ambush-style attack shot Graham multiple times in broad daylight before fleeing the scene. The victim died from gunshot wounds within the hour.

“With this verdict today, justice has been done. A violent offender will be off the streets of Newark,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Oliveira.

The motive for the murder was never known. The state’s case included surveillance footage, as well as fingerprint evidence from the scene that linked the defendant to the crime. Davis was also identified by a witness who saw him fleeing the surrounding area shortly after gunshots were fired.

Yesterday an Essex County jury convicted Davis on all charges — murder, conspiracy, and two gun charges.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 23 before Judge Ali.

 

Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that Saladine Nunez, 30, of the Fords section of Woodbridge pled guilty to using a fake passport to attempt to collect nearly $250,000 fraudulently wiring to him.

Assistant Prosecutor Sarah Turk, who handled the case, said between Aug. 1 and Aug. 12, 2017, Nunez opened a bank account in another person’s name and $244,973 was wired into the account. He was able to withdraw $133,196 in two cashier’s checks, one made payable to a Limited Liability Corporation and one made payable to in the name of the false identity he had used to open an account at Bank of America of Irvington.

When Nunez returned to Bank of America to withdraw the remaining money in the account, the bank realized a fraud had occurred and he was arrested and charged with money laundering, theft by deception, identity theft, and false government documents.

He subsequently pled guilty to second degree theft by deception before the Honorable Arthur Batista, Judge of the Superior Court. Under the terms of the plea agreement Nunez will be sentenced to three years in New Jersey State Prison and must pay full restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for March 26.

“Though crimes of this nature are nonviolent, there is a great societal impact,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Turk. “In this case both the plea and restitution will make the victim whole and hopefully deter others from committing fraud in the future.’’

 

Newark — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that four men have entered guilty pleas, admitting their role in a West Orange home invasion in which a husband and wife and a young child were terrorized.

The defendants Eduard Bentura, 33, Yodelin Diaz, 25, Lidio Martinez Miese, 30, and Jesus Quinones, 38, all of Jersey City, pled guilty today before the Honorable Martin Cronin, Judge of the Superior Court. Under the terms of the plea agreement they are expected to be sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison with an 85 percent period of parole ineligibility. They are scheduled to be sentenced on April 6.

Three of the four defendants are not U.S. citizens and will be deported back to the Dominican Republic after they serve their prison term. One defendant, Quinones is an American citizen. Only Bentura had a prior conviction for burglary. This is a first offense for the others.

“This just result would not be possible if not for the bravery and vigilance of the victims in the face of danger, as well as the prompt and thorough efforts of the West Orange Police Department,” said Assistant Prosecutor Jason Goldberg, who handled the case.

According to Assistant Prosecutor Goldberg, on June 8, 2017 the four armed men broke into the family home as the husband was returning from IKEA and unloading the car. They tied the husband up with zip-ties and assaulted him demanding cash. The wife, who was holding an infant, was threatened at gunpoint. They began heating a knife on the stove and threatened the husband that they would kill his wife and child if he didn’t open a safe, where they believed there was cash.

During the course of the incident, the wife bravely alerted family and the police via text with a hidden cell phone. Realizing there was a surveillance system, the intruders demanded the equipment before fleeing, tripping an alarm.

The four were captured on Route 280 by West Orange police with the video equipment, cash, guns, zip ties and masks. Although they took part of the surveillance equipment the entire incident was captured on cameras that were still intact.

In 2017, an Essex County grand jury indicted the defendants on 17 counts of conspiracy, robbery, burglary, criminal restraint, terroristic threats, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and tampering with evidence.

Yesterday, they pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, armed robbery, burglary, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Acting Prosecutor Laurino commended the West Orange Police Department for their exceptional work in this case.

Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Durrell Hearn, 26, of Newark of murdering Tykwan Crenshaw during a robbery a chicken restaurant, following a one-week trial before the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, Judge of the Superior Court.

Assistant Prosecutor Carlo Fioranelli, who tried the case, said on Jan. 8, 2015 Crenshaw, 20, of Newark was fatally shot during a robbery at the Royal Chicken Restaurant, located in the 400 block of Springfield Avenue in Newark. In addition to robbing and killing Crenshaw, Hearn was convicted of robbing two other people during the Jan. 8, 2015 incident.

On Friday, an Essex County jury convicted Hearn on all eight counts charged in the indictment — murder, felony murder, three counts of robbery, conspiracy and weapons charges.

Sentencing for Hearn, who also uses the last name Heard, is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2018. Hearn, who has three prior drug convictions, faces life in prison without possibility of parole. Hearn also has five open robbery cases, including one in which he shot a patron and is charged with attempted murder.

In addition to Hearn, his codefendant, Leon Trent, 30, of Newark pled guilty to conspiracy and robbery charges on Feb. 2. Trent was accused of standing as the lookout during the robbery at the Royal Chicken restaurant. Trent faces 10 years in New Jersey State Prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 8, 2018.

“We are pleased the jury returned a just verdict in this tragic case. Hopefully, the resolution of the case will provide the Crenshaw family with a degree of closure,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Fioranelli.

Earlier this year an Essex County jury convicted Williamson of shooting the victim five times. As a result of the gunshot injuries she was left paralyzed and remained hospitalized for 11 months before she died.
Williamson was found guilty of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the death of Bell. On May 5, 2014, he shot at the victim 11 times using a 9mm Ruger handgun. Five of the shots hit Bell. One of the bullets severed her spine, leaving her paralyzed below her neck.
She died on April 7, 2015 as a result of medical complications from the wounds.
Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case, asked the judge to impose a consecutive sentence of 25 years for the aggravated manslaughter and 8 years for the unlawful possession of a handgun for a total sentence of 33 years in New Jersey State Prison. The defense argued for 10 years.
The judge imposed a 25-year sentence and ordered that Williamson be on parole supervision for an additional five years when he is released from custody. The judge also ran this sentence consecutive to a sentence the defendant received on a case he was out on bail on at the time of the homicide. That older case, a case that predated the homicide case by almost 7 months, was disposed of on Nov. 28, 2017 before Judge Ronald D. Wigler, Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division, wherein the defendant was sentenced to 42 months New Jersey State Prison with 42 months parole ineligibility for unlawful possession of a handgun. Williamson has been incarcerated at the Essex County Correctional Facility since he was charged with homicide.
“This is truly a tragic case of a young mother walking in front of her apartment building being shot for no apparent reason. The loss has been tremendous for her children and extended family. We hope this final resolution of the case will bring them some sense that justice has been served,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Edwab.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, he is expected to be sentenced to seven years for witness tampering and five years for aggravated assault when he is sentenced on Jan. 5, 2018, according to Assistant Prosecutor Sean Dickson, who handled the plea.

The charges and guilty plea arise from an incident that occurred on the night of Oct. 25, 2016. Coleman shot a 15-year-old girl on Eagles Parkway in Newark. The girl was in the company of another girl. The 15-year-old was injured. The other girl did not sustain any injuries. Coleman also shot a male and shot at another male on Lincoln Street in the city of Newark. The two that were injured were taken to University Hospital. They survived their injuries but Coleman was charged with four counts of aggravated assault. Coleman pled guilty to two counts.

After the shooting incident Coleman attempted to tamper with witnesses who had given statements identifying him as the shooter.

“Witness tampering is a serious crime that undermines the administration of justice. We hope the final disposition of this case will make clear that such cases will be taken seriously by our office and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Dickson.

Under the No Early Release Act, Coleman must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. When he is released from custody, he will also be on parole supervision for another three years.