News – New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney

28 Jul

Passaic County Man Sentenced to 194 Months in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 194 months in prison for transporting and possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced today. Edward M. O’Hagan, 51, of Hawthorne, New Jersey previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox...

25 Jul

Monmouth County Man Admits to Armed Bank Robbery

TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County man admitted to armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 51, of Wall Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi on July 22, 2025, to a one-count Information charging him with armed bank robbery. According to documents...

18 Jul

N.J. teacher directed child to perform sex acts on video, prosecutor says

An elementary school teacher arrested last month in Gloucester County on charges of possessing and distributing child sex abuse materials has now been charged with directing a child in another country to perform sex acts via video. James M. Adams, 50, was charged after detectives executed a search warrant at...

17 Jul

California Man Indicted for Scheme to Defraud New Jersey Company of Millions of Dollars

NEWARK, N.J. – A California man has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars from a victim company based in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Joseph Rodriguez, 70, of Irvine, California, is charged by indictment with three counts of wire fraud. Rodriguez was arrested yesterday and appeared...

1 Jul

Somerset Man Indicted for Fentanyl and Heroin Distribution Leading to the Death of a Victim

NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Somerset County man with drug offenses including distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Thomas Kane Miller, 40, of Somerset, New Jersey was charged by criminal indictment...

27 Jun

Former Somerset County Man Charged with Making Violent Threats, including Threats to Kill a Federal Judge

TRENTON, N.J. – Abhinaba Barthakur, a dual citizen of the United States and India, was charged in a six-count Indictment today for making violent threats to a United States District Court Judge in the District of New Jersey, two New Jersey Superior Court Judges, an elected official, and a Somerset...

29 May

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Exploitation Offenses

A California man pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of children and distribution and receipt of child pornography. According to court documents, Monico Erich Gastelo, 43, of Fresno, sexually exploited children using different methods. For example, in January 2019, Gastelo created a social media account where he claimed to be...

17 May

New Jersey attorney general sues Discord app for ‘alarming’ security lapses

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin sued the messaging app Discord Thursday under the state Consumer Fraud Act, saying the tech giant has failed to protect underage users from sexual predators, harassment, and violent content. Platkin, who also has sued TikTok and Meta, alleges Discord misleads parents and users about the efficacy of its “porous security...