Arrest Made in Newark Homicide

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced the arrest of Rafael Velez, 26, of Newark for the homicide of Edgardo Ruiz, 42, of Newark. Velez was also charged with weapons offenses and conspiracy. On April 20, 2010 Newark police responded to a report of shots fired. When they arrived in the 500 block…

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Judge Imposes 35 Year Sentence on Rapist

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced that Nelson Keenan, 42, of Newark was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the November 2007 knifepoint rape of a 53-year-old Irvington woman. Keenan, who is married, was sentenced today by the Honorable Sherry Hutchins-Henderson. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming…

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Teenage Carnival Shooter Dies

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced that the 17-year-old suspect, who was shot by a Bloomfield police officer on Friday, died at University Hospital. Rasheed Cherry, 17, of East Orange was shot on Friday night after he opened fire at a crowded carnival. He was pronounced dead at 12:26 p.m. today. Next…

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Essex County Prosecutor’s Office VIPER Unit Seizes 500 Grams Cocaine

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced the arrest of Jermaine McMillian, 37, of Newark on first degree narcotics charges. Detectives from the Prosecutor’s VIPER Unit, the major narcotics unit of the Prosecutor’s Office, developed criminal intelligence that McMillian was distributing cocaine in the South Ward of Newark. The investigation resulted in the…

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Two Men Fatally Shot In Newark

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced that two men were fatally shot at approximately 1:30 a.m. today. They have been identified as Alduha Davis, 38, of Elizabeth and Shareef Burton, 32, of Hillside. The two men were shot at 117 Ridgewood Avenue in Newark as they were leaving or going to a local…

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Drug Dealer Sentenced to 12 Years

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced that Stephon Johnson, 37, of Newark was sentenced to 12 years in New Jersey State Prison for narcotics and weapons charges resulting from his January 2009 arrest by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office VIPER Unit. Johnson was a prime target of a long-term investigation dubbed “Operation…

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State vs Rudolfo Trial To Begin

Opening arguments in the case of State v. Rudolfo Godinez are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, 2010 in the court room of the Honorable Michael Ravin, Essex County Veterans Courthouse, 50 West Market Street, 11th Floor, room 1104. The case is being handled by Assistant Prosecutors Romesh Sukhdeo and Thomas McTigue. News organizations…

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