Category: Prosecutor

An Elizabeth man was arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that took place on November 23rd, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca announced today.

Gerard Manning, 30 of Elizabeth, was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. This morning, the Elizabeth Police Department arrested Manning without incident. He is currently being held at the Union County jail.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, November 23^rd, Elizabeth Police Officers responded to Mravlag Manor after a report of a homicide. Upon their arrival they located 30-year-old Victoria Myers, of Elizabeth, who was found dead at the scene.

A joint investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, members of the Elizabeth Police Department, and Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit resulted in Manning being swiftly identified as a suspect in the case.

 “I want to assure the public that the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and our partner law enforcement agencies remain committed to tirelessly pursuing those who threaten the safety and security of the communities we serve,” Prosecutor Daniel stated.

This is an ongoing active investigation, and anyone with information about this matter is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Sergeant Filipe Afonso at 908-370-4318, Detective Alex Lanza at 908-603-7116 or Elizabeth Police Department Detective Tom Gaines at 908-418-6434.

These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, November 23^rd, Elizabeth Police Officers responded to Mravlag Manor after a report of a homicide. Upon their arrival they located 30-year-old Victoria Myers, of Elizabeth, who was found dead at the scene.

The suspect, identified as Gerard Manning, 30 of Elizabeth, has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Manning is still at large.

This is an ongoing active investigation, and anyone with information about this matter is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Sergeant Filipe Afonso at 908-965-3807, Detective Alex Lanza at 908-337-0807 or Elizabeth Police Department Detective Tom Gaines at 908-418-6434.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org; submission of tips made in this fashion that result in an indictment and conviction can be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 via the Union County Crime Stoppers.

A Union County jury has returned a guilty verdict against a woman for the fatal stabbing of her mother in 2020, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Rahway Police Director Nicholas Breiner announced today.

Malika Jones, 26 of Rahway, was found guilty on Friday of Aggravated Manslaughter following a three-week trial before Union County Superior Court Judge Thomas Isenhour. The jury deliberated for a day and a half before returning its verdict.

Shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, 2020, members of the Rahway Police Department responded to a home on the 100 block of East Albert Street, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Grady, who prosecuted the case. Arriving officers found the victim, Inell Jones, 58, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Jones was immediately taken into custody.

A joint investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, Rahway Police Department, and the Union County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit resulted in charges being filed against Jones within hours of law enforcement learning of the incident.

Sentencing for this case has been scheduled for January 26, 2024 before Judge Thomas Isenhour.

On Friday, November 3, 2023, an Elizabeth man was sentenced to 60 years in state prison for the shooting death of Antwoine Thompson in 2021, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca announced today.

On May 16^th, Michael Rogers was found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon following a 5-week trial before Union County Superior Court Judge Thomas K. Isenhour. Today, Judge Isenhour sentenced Rogers to 60 years in State Prison, requiring him to serve at least 85% of the term before the possibility of parole. 

In the early afternoon of April 26, 2021, Elizabeth Police patrol units responded to the intersection of Second and Bond streets where they found Thompson having sustained six gunshot wounds, according to Assistant Prosecutors Jillian Reyes and Joseph Cho, who prosecuted the case. Thompson was rushed to Trinitas Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 3pm.

Prosecutor Daniel hopes that this sentence can provide some assurance to the victim’s loved ones, as well as the community, that we will not tolerate these egregious offenses and will expend all of our efforts to bring the offenders to justice.

A Union County jury has returned a guilty verdict against two men in the shooting of two individuals in Plainfield in 2021, which resulted in the death of one of the victims, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Plainfield Police Director James Abney announced today.

Jahaad Ingram, 23 and Zaire Wallace, 30 both of Plainfield, were found guilty on Tuesday of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose following a two-week trial before Union County Superior Court Judge John Deitch. The jury deliberated for 3 days before returning its verdict. 

At approximately 1:55 p.m. on Friday, July 9, 2021, members of the Plainfield Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call of shots-fired. Upon arriving at the intersection of Rock Avenue and West Front Street, they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Jennifer Vorn, 24 of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The second victim ultimately survived the gun shot injuries but was permanently paralyzed according to Assistant Prosecutors Christopher Desimone and Melissa Caparruva, who prosecuted the case. 

Testimony offered at trial revealed that on the day of the crime, Ingram and Wallace followed the two victims in their vehicle, eventually stopping at a traffic light located at West Front Street and Rock Avenue in Plainfield. Both men got out of their black Buick SUV with handguns and fired at least sixteen rounds into the victim’s vehicle. At approximately 8 p.m. that same night, Wallace was stopped driving the black Buick. Ingram was found nearby at the Joanne Hollis apartment courtyard at the same time.

Prosecutor Daniel commends the steadfast efforts of the prosecution team, including Assistant Prosecutors Christopher Desimone and Melissa Caparruva, Sergeant Lamar Hartsfield, Detectives Sonia Rodriguez and Ryan Kirsh, as well as the members of Plainfield Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, and Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit.

“I also want to thank all of the concerned citizens whose contributions were essential to the expeditious apprehension of Mr. Ingram and Mr. Wallace.” Prosecutor Daniel said. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s families and their loved ones.”

Sentencing has been tentatively scheduled for January 12, 2024 before Judge Deitch, at which time each defendant can face a sentence of up to life in state prison.

An Elizabeth man has pled guilty to fatally stabbing a local man in October of 2021, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca jointly announced today.

Alexis Mondesi, 50, pled guilty to first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter before the Honorable Candido Rodriguez, Jr. yesterday in the stabbing death of 21-year-old Yonatan Alexander Vasquez-Torres of Elizabeth.

Shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 10, 2021, Elizabeth Police Officers responded to the 300 block of Center Street and found Vasquez-Torres, who had sustained a fatal stab wound, according to Assistant Prosecutors Bryan Tiscia and Jillian Reyes, who are prosecuting the case. 

An investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force, the Elizabeth Police Department and the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, resulted in the identification of Mondesi and led to his capture and arrest.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2023, before Judge Rodriguez, at which time Mondesi faces a sentence of up to 23 years in State Prison, with the requirement that he serve at least 85% of his term before the possibility of parole.

ELIZABETH, NJ – An Elizabeth man has been charged and arrested for sexual offenses he committed against a child, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, Elizabeth Police Director Earl Graves, and Elizabeth Police Chief Giacomo Sacca jointly announced today.

Neil Rosenstein, 78, has been charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact

In October of 2022, the Elizabeth Police Department received information about alleged sexual acts committed by Rosenstein against a child, which had occurred years earlier. A joint investigation, by the Elizabeth Police Department and Union County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit, revealed that the assault occurred in Elizabeth during the summer of 2015, against a victim who was fifteen years old at the time, according the Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, who is prosecuting the case.

Rosenstein was charged and ultimately arrested on October 20, 2023 at Newark Liberty International Airport, after arriving on a flight from out of the Country. He was remanded to the Essex County Jail to await further proceedings

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit Detective Scott Chertoff at (908) 358-9162 or Elizabeth Police Department Detective Neptune Ambroise at (908) 558-2014.

These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

A Union County grand jury has returned an 11-count indictment against a Roselle man who was arrested for a double homicide that took place in Roselle on April 19^th of this year, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced today.

Everoy Morrison, age 44, was indicted for murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, credit card theft, receiving stolen property, and hindering prosecution.

Just before noon on April 19^th, Roselle Police Officers were called to a home located within the 200 block of West 7^th Avenue on the report of two missing persons. A subsequent search of the home uncovered the bodies of Keisha Morrison, age 45, and Kelsey Morrison, age 9, according to Assistant Prosecutor Bryan Tiscia, who is prosecuting the case.

While at the home, police determined that Keisha Morrison’s vehicle had been taken from the scene. Investigators from the Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and the Roselle Police Department were able to track the vehicle to Maryland, where the driver, Everoy Morrison, was stopped and arrested for being in possession of the stolen car.

An exhaustive investigation led by the Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and the Roselle Police Department, with the assistance of the of the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, and the Maryland State Police, led to the identification of Morrison as the perpetrator of the aforementioned crimes and to his eventual apprehension. Morrison, who is the brother-in-law and uncle of the respective victims, had been reportedly living in the basement of the home at the time of the homicides.

“I want to assure the public that the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and our partner law enforcement agencies remain committed to tirelessly pursuing those who threaten the safety and security of the communities we serve,” Prosecutor Daniel stated.

Morrison is currently being held in the Essex County Jail pending trial.

These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

A Union County grand jury has returned a 14-count indictment against a Westfield man who instigated a standoff with police in a home on The Boulevard in Westfield, which started on July 5^th and carried over into the 6^th, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced today.

Michael P. Ward, 41, was indicted for Aggravated Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Terroristic Threats, Obstruction, Unlawful Possession of Weapon, Possession of Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Resisting Arrest.  

At approximately 3:39 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, Westfield police officers responded to a 9-1-1 call from Ward’s residence for a reported dispute. Upon arrival, officers were met at the front door by Ward, who was brandishing a large kitchen knife. Ward refused to comply with Officers’ demands to drop the knife and subsequently retreated back inside the residence. Shortly thereafter, the victims exited the residence before Ward barricaded himself inside.  

Officers secured the area around the residence, and the Union County Emergency Response Team (UCERT) – consisting of Hostage Negotiators and the SWAT Team – were summoned to respond. Negotiators initiated and continued hours-long on-and-off communications with Ward, but were unable to convince him to voluntarily exit the residence. The stand-off ended at approximately 5:31 a.m. when SWAT made entry into the residence and forcibly took Ward into custody.

“I want to commend the brave officers of the Westfield Police Department and the Union County Emergency Response Team for their swift and professional response to this dangerous situation,” said Prosecutor Daniel. “Their actions prevented a tragedy.”

Ward is currently being held in the Union County Jail pending trial.

These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.