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JJC names Deputy Executive Directors and Superintendent |
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Thursday, 25 September 2008 |
Trenton - Veleria N. Lawson, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC), has announced the appointment of Felix Mickens as Deputy Executive Director of Operations, Gloria R. Hancock, Ed.D. as Deputy Executive Director of Programs and Craig D. Farr as Superintendent of the New Jersey Training School.
Gloria R. Hancock of Newtown, Pa., comes to the JJC from Leap Academy University Charter School in Camden, where she served as chief school administrator. As Deputy Executive Director of Programs, she is responsible for the JJC’s Office of Local Programs and Services, 21 residential and day programs, educational services and initiatives for those juveniles with mental health and substance abuse needs.
Hancock has more than 20 years of public service experience. She began her career in state service in 1976 with the Department of Human Services, working at the Woodbridge Developmental Center. She also served as Director of Public Sector Initiatives with the Office of Policy and Planning. In 1999, she moved to the Department of Education, where she served in various roles, including Assistant Commissioner, Division of Student Services, and Chief of Staff, Office of the Commissioner. In 2004, Hancock was recruited from state government to accept the position of Assistant Superintendent, Division of Student Services, for the Trenton Public School District before serving at the Leap Academy in 2006.
“Dr. Hancock’s breadth of experience in both the areas of education and human services will allow her to take on the broad responsibilities of this critical role,” Executive Director Lawson said. “Education is the cornerstone of the JJC’s rehabilitative efforts, and targeted social service delivery is vital to helping young people turn their lives around. I am confident that under Gloria’s leadership the JJC will make great strides in these areas.”
“I look forward to the challenges that come with this opportunity,” said Hancock. “The JJC has a challenging goal - to prevent youth from coming to its doors in the first place and rehabilitating those who are placed with the JJC so that, when they return home, they can be productive members of their community. I am honored to have the opportunity to impact young lives, as well as to be of service to our state’s communities.”
Hancock attended Thomas Edison State College, where she earned her associate’s and baccalaureate degrees in human services; Rutgers University, where she received her master’s degree in public administration, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her doctorate in educational and organizational leadership. She is a certified school administrator and certified public manager.
Felix Mickens, of Monroe Township, will serve as Deputy Executive Director for Operations, overseeing all juvenile secure-care facilities, parole and re-entry services, classification, training and the JJC’s gang management unit.
Mickens formerly served as superintendent of the JJC’s New Jersey Training School, a 300-bed juvenile secure facility, where he managed every aspect including custody, administration, maintenance, social services and education. Mickens also served as assistant superintendent of the facility, the JJC’s largest, for three years. In this capacity, he helped develop the facility’s gang management unit and served on the Governor’s Anti-Crime Task Force, where he helped develop the re-entry segment of the statewide initiative.
As a regional administrator for the JJC’s Office of Community Programs, Mickens managed the regional operation of 11 juvenile residential programs. Prior to his employment with the JJC, he worked for Project U.S.E., a private organization that operates rehabilitative programs for delinquent juveniles, in various positions. He rose quickly to the rank of superintendent of Edison Prep, Project U.S.E.’s 55-bed residential program operated under contract for the JJC.
“Felix has been a part of the JJC since its inception in 1995. He understands young people and their needs. He brings with him a perspective that is often lost in administration. He has proven himself to be a true leader in every position that he has held and with every project that he has tackled, ” Lawson said. “It was not an easy decision for Felix to accept a position that would take him away from daily contact with young people, but in this position he will be able to successfully impact many more young lives.”
“So many dedicated and caring individuals have touched my life during my career with the JJC. These experiences have been invaluable and have influenced who I am today,” said Mickens. “I am honored to accept this opportunity and look forward to the challenges ahead of me.”
Mickens has received the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Clubs Man of the Year Award in 2005 and the NAACP Freedom Fund Branch Award in 2001. He was named Superintendent of the Year in 2001, Americorps/JJC Employee of the Year in 2002, and Edison Prep Staff of the Year in 1997. He has had professional affiliations with the National Major Gang Task Force, the East Coast Gang Investigators Association, the American Correctional Association and the Middlesex County Council for Children’s Services.
Mickens graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in sociology and obtained a certification in criminology. He has also pursued graduate level course work at New York University.
Craig D. Farr, a resident of Mount Laurel and former Director of Custody for the New Jersey Training School, has been chosen to lead that facility as superintendent. Farr retired from his law enforcement position last year and has been serving as a hearing officer for JJC, handling grievances and disciplinary actions. In his new role, Farr will manage operation of the state’s largest secure facility for juvenile males and oversee a combined law enforcement and civilian staff of approximately 400.
Beginning his career in 1983 as a Correction Officer with the New Jersey Department of Corrections (prior to creation of the JJC), Farr has spent the majority of his career working with juveniles or younger offenders in secure settings. He rose through the ranks, ending his law enforcement career as one of the JJC’s two Directors of Custody, the highest law enforcement title available.
“While the New Jersey Training School is familiar territory to me, I am very excited to be leading the facility in a new role. There have been strong and dedicated superintendents before me and I hope to build on what they have established,” said Farr. “I strongly believe that the opportunity exists for positive results and look forward to working with old and new colleagues to move the Training School forward.”
Farr graduated from Thomas Edison State College and has obtained several certifications in areas such as anti-terrorism, managerial communications, leadership management, investigations, and survival training, among others. Farr completed a 20- year career with the United States Air Force Reserves, retiring as a Master Sergeant.
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12 MEMBERS OF VIOLENT BLOODS SET CHARGED |
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Thursday, 25 September 2008 |
State Police, Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Corrections
and Paterson Police uncover murder plots and prison drug smuggling
TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram announced that 12 alleged members and associates of the violent Nine Trey Hillside Beehive set of the Bloods street gang, including its two top leaders, were charged today as a result of a joint investigation targeting the Paterson-based set. Eleven defendants were arrested, and the remaining one is being sought on a warrant.
The charges resulted from a year-long investigation called Operation Swarm led by the New Jersey State Police, Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Corrections’ Special Investigations Division and Paterson Police Department. The gang activities of this Bloods set extend through Passaic, Essex, Monmouth and Cumberland counties, but its primary area of operations is Paterson. The investigation also uncovered smuggling of drugs into the state prisons.
“By taking down the leadership of the Hillside Beehive set, we can be most effective in disrupting the narcotics dealing and violence that are its stock in trade,” said Attorney General Milgram. “Members of this gang, including the leaders we charged today, have been quick to use violence to enforce internal discipline and protect their turf in Paterson. This is one of the first investigations where we have filed charges under New Jersey’s new provisions targeting the criminal activities of gangs, which were signed into law in January by Governor Corzine.”
The set’s leader, or “Godfather,” Clarence Scott, 34, allegedly ran the gang from New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, where he is serving a life sentence, 35 years without possibility of parole, on a 2002 conviction for murder. Scott was charged today with conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering, both first-degree crimes, and being a leader of organized crime, a second-degree crime. He also was charged under the state’s new criminal code provisions with first-degree gang criminality and second-degree solicitation to join a criminal street gang.
Asmar Bease, 28, of Paterson, also was charged today with conspiracy to commit murder and other charges. Bease allegedly was Scott’s top man outside prison. Bease allegedly utilized violence and intimidation to control his turf of 17th Avenue and East 28th Avenue in Paterson. Scott and Bease allegedly plotted to kill another member of the Nine Trey Gangsters, but the plot was thwarted as a result of this investigation.
Bease was already in the Passaic County Jail, along with another leading gang member, Corey Cauthen, 27, of Paterson. The two men were arrested by the Paterson Police Department and State Police in August on a charge of attempted murder for allegedly shooting a 37-year-old man during a confrontation on 17th Avenue in Paterson. Bease was also charged today with being a leader of organized crime, racketeering, gang criminality and promotion of organized street crime.
In addition, Bease and Cauthen were charged with conspiracy to commit murder for allegedly plotting to kill a man who Cauthen may have believed targeted him in a July 18 shooting outside an apartment at 227 17th Avenue in which a woman was wounded in the leg. Bease and other gang members allegedly used the apartment as a base for drug dealing and gang meetings.
The nine other defendants face various charges, including possession and distribution of heroin, cocaine and marijuana; unlawful transfer of a firearm; promotion of organized street crime; gang criminality; and solicitation to join a street gang. A full list of defendants and charges is included below. In addition to the 12 individuals charged today, eight defendants were arrested previously on drug charges as a result of Operation Swarm.
The investigation revealed that members of the Nine Trey Hillside Beehive set who were incarcerated in state prisons were using female associates to smuggle drugs into the prisons during contact visits. Two men, David Clay, 33, who is in Bayside State Prison, and Issac Porter, 37, of Paterson, were charged today with conspiring to smuggle narcotics into the state prisons. Porter is still being sought on a warrant. Two women were charged with assisting in the smuggling: Cynthia Gainey, 37, of Paterson, was charged with attempting to smuggle marijuana to Clay in Bayside State Prison, and Tyla Chance, 36, was charged with procuring drugs to be smuggled into prison. The prison smuggling allegedly was carried out under the supervision of Scott and Bease.
As a result of arrests made during the investigation and a search warrant executed at 227 17th Avenue in Paterson on Aug. 13, detectives seized 6,850 decks of heroin worth approximately $48,000, 50 ten-dollar bags of crack cocaine, and six small bags of marijuana.
The charges filed are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. First-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $200,000 fine, while second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Attorney General Milgram credited the lead investigators and attorney, Detective Mark Finnegan of the New Jersey State Police Street Gang North Unit; Deputy Attorney General Christopher Romanyshyn of the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau; Investigator Raphael Dolce of the Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division; and Detective Sgt. Dalton Price of the Paterson Police Department Gang Intelligence Unit. Attorney General Milgram also credited the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department for their valuable assistance. She thanked all of the individuals who worked on the investigation for each of the participating agencies.
These 12 defendants were charged as follows:
• Clarence Scott, 34, Trenton State Prison. Leader of Organized Crime (2nd degree), Conspiracy to Commit Murder (1st degree), Racketeering (1st degree), Gang Criminality (1st degree), Solicitation to Join a Criminal Street Gang (2nd degree).
• Asmar Bease, 28, Paterson. Leader of Organized Crime (2nd degree), Conspiracy to Commit Murder (1st degree), Racketeering (1st degree), Gang Criminality (1st degree), Promotion of Organized Street Crime (1st degree).
• Corey Cauthen, 27, Paterson. Conspiracy to Commit Murder (1st degree), Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (2nd degree), Employing a Juvenile to Commit a Drug Offense (2nd degree), Gang Criminality (1st degree), Promotion of Organized Street Crime (1st degree).
• Aimee Harker, 32, Vineland. Gang Criminality (2nd degree).
• Roshiema James, 36, Paterson. Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (2nd degree), Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (2nd degree), Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rd degree), Gang Criminality (2nd degree).
• Lewis Alford, 32, Keansburg. Unlawful Transfer of Firearm (4th degree), Gang Criminality (3rd degree).
• Cynthia Gainey, 37, Paterson. Possession of Marijuana (3rd degree), Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree), Gang Criminality (2nd degree).
• David Clay, 33, Bayside State Prison. Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substances (3rd degree), Conspiracy to Possess Controlled Dangerous Substances (3rd degree).
• Issac Porter, 37, Paterson. Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rd degree), Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rd degree), Gang Criminality (2nd degree), Promotion of Organized Street Crime (2nd degree), Solicitation to Join a Street Gang (3rd degree).
• Tyla Chance, 36, Paterson. Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rd degree), Gang Criminality (2nd degree).
• Kahseem S. Allah-Shabazz, 31, Paterson. Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rd degree).
17-year-old male juvenile from Paterson. Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substance (3rd degree).
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Un Hombre de Bridgewater se Declara Culpable de usar su Posición en Organización para su beneficio |
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Thursday, 25 September 2008 |
Un Hombre de Bridgewater se Declara Culpable de usar su Posición en Organización para su beneficio
TRENTON. La Fiscal General Anne Milgram informó que un hombre de Bridgewater se declaró culpable de usar su posición como fideicomisario del Centro Comunitario Martinsville, para desviar la cantidad de $73,960 de los fondos de esta organzacion a su beneficio personal.El acusado logró obtener la escritura del terreno y edificio por el precio de Un Dólar para que su compañia pueda controlarlo.
John Cleary, de 75 años se declaró culpable al comparecer ante el juez de la Corte Superor Paul W. Amstrong, en el condado de Somerset para responder por las acusaciones en su contra de uso indebido de la propiedad que le fue confiadO con los bienes inmuebles en segundo grado.
Según el acuerdo de culpabilidad, Cleary y su esposa Diane de 72 años, deben renunciar sus intereses en el terreno y la construcción de propiedad que pertenecio al Centro comunitario Martinsville. Cleary, también deberá pagar $ 142.000, que incluye el alquiler de todos los pagos recibidos desde que los bienes inmuebles fueron transferidos a la empresa controlada por los Cleary, así como los fondos utilizados del centro comunitario para hacer un pago inicial en la compra. Si la pareja reúne todas las condiciones del acuerdo, el Estado recomendará una sentencia de libertad condicional para John Cleary y no se opondrá a la solicitud de Diane Cleary la solicitud de ingresar al Programa Preliminar de Intervención(Pre Trial Intervention Program).
John Cleary será sentenciado por el Juez Amstrong el proximo 5 de diciembre.
El 5 de febrero pasado, John Cleary, de 75 años y su esposa Diane, de 72 años, fueron acusados de uso indebido de la propiedad confiada en relación con los bienes inmuebles en segundo grado, y uso indebido de los fondos de este centro en segundo grado. La Division de Justicia Criminal tambien abrio cargos en contra de “The Now School”, organización sin fines de lucro creada por la pareja que tomó el título de propiedad de lods anteriores propietarios, el Centro Comunitario de Martinsville situado en 1961 Washington Valley Road.Los cargos en contra de The Now School serán retirados.
El 30 de junio de 2006, Los Cleary, como fideicomisarios del Centro Comunitario Martinsville, se apropiaron del terreno y la construcción de centro comunitario a favor de The Now School, que se presume era una organizacion sin fines de lucro dedicada a la filosofía y la educación. En realidad, The Now School ni siquiera ttenia una Página Web. La propiedad ha sido valorizada en $ 380.000.
Los Detectives Maronpot Harry Jr. y Michael Behar estuvieron a cargo de la investigación por parte de la División de Justicia Criminal. El Vice Fiscal Adjunto Thomas Clark se encargó de abrir los cargos.
La Fiscal General Milgram señaló que la División de Justicia Criminal ha establecido una línea telefónica gratuita 1-866-TIPS-4CJ para que el público informe de la corrupción, la delincuencia financiera y otras actividades ilegales. Además, el público puede acceder a la Pagina Web de la División de Justicia Criminal: www.njdcj.org y puede informar sobre sospechas de irregularidades. Toda la información recibida será de carácter confidencial.
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GOVERNOR CORZINE FILES DIRECT APPOINTMENTS |
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Wednesday, 24 September 2008 |
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TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the following direct appointments:
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
Reappoint William E. Schluter (Pennington, Mercer)
Appoint Stephanie Bush-Baskette (West Orange, Essex) |
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