Category: Cedar Grove NJ

Lucchese Crime Family Soldier John Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove, Admits Guilt in Assault Case

12/16/2020

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 1:23pm

John Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove

New Jersey's US Attorney Cragi Carpenito announced this afternoon that John Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove, pled guilty today to planning and carrying out an aggravated assault as a "made man" Soldier in the Lucchese Crime Family.

The first count of the June, 2020, indictment which Perna pled guilty to charged him with committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity.

Also charged in the indictment was Thomas Manzo, 55, of Franklin Lakes whose case is still being heard in court.

Manzo is the ex-husband of Dina Cantin who is known for appearing on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. They separated in 2012, and their divorce was finalized in 2016.

The assault was made against Cantin's current husband who at the time of his assault was her new boyfriend.

The guilty plea came over videoconference in front of U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty.

CASE TIMELINE

According to Court statements and filed documents:

SPRING 2015:

Manzo reportedly hired Perna to assault his estranged wife’s then-boyfriend in exchange for a deeply discounted wedding reception for Perna held at the Brownstone Restaurant in Paterson where Manzo is co-owner
The assault was reportedly meant to "leave a permanent facial scar"
Manzo reportedly gave Perna:
- the Victim's residence address
- business addresses
- vehicle information

JUNE, 2015:

Perna pled guilty to separate racketeering charge
Guilty plea stemmed from a 2010 indictment involving 34 defendants who were managing a $2.2 billion gambling ring as members of the Lucchese Crime Family organization

JULY, 2015:

Perna worked together with his Lucchese crew to plan and carry out the assault

July 18, 2015:

The Victim was driving his vehicle and was followed to a Passaic County strip mall.
Perna using a "Slap Jack" weapon, working along with Another Lucchese Member, attacked the Victim in the parking lot

Slap Jack type of weapon IMAGE: Online

AUGUST 16, 2015:

Perna held a reportedly lavish wedding reception at Brownstone
Reception was allegedly paid for by a Lucchese associate and close friend of Manzo, at "a fraction of the price."
330 people attended the affair, including Lucchese Crime Family members

IMAGE: Brownstone Restaurant

FALL, 2015:

Manzo reportedly failed to turn over relevant Perna Reception documents in response to a Grand Jury Brownstone subpoena
FBI stated Manzo instead deliberately submitted a false document and a false certification

JANUARY 2016:

Perna reportedly worked with Lucchese members to stage a theft and arson of his 2006 Mercedes Benz.

Jan. 2, 2016:

Directed by Perna, Another Person reportedly drove the Mercedes to Newark and set it on fire

Jan. 3, 2016:

Perna allegedly falsely reported to Clifton Police that his car was stolen and destroyed

Jan. 4, 2016:

Perna is accused of filing an insurance claim for the stolen and destroyed car, which was accepted

Jan. 2016:

Perna was scheduled to begin serving a 10-year state prison sentence for the 2015 racketeering guilty plea.

FEBRUARY 17 2016:

Perna received $17,816 for the insurance claim to pay off the outstanding loan

NOVEMBER, 2019:

The FBI executed a search warrant at the Brownstone Restaurant and seized invoices for the August 2015 Perna wedding reception and other relevant documents that were not previously turned over.

JUNE 30, 2020:

FBI arrested Perna and Manzo
Perna and Manzo were each charged with:
- Committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity
- Conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity which carries a maximum 3 years in prison and $250,000 fine
Perna also charged with:
- Conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud related to the submission of a false car insurance claim which carries a maximum 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine
Manzo also charged with:
- Falsifying and concealing records related to the federal investigation of the violent crime which carries a maximum 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine

POTENTIAL PENALTIES

Perna's sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2021.

Violent Crime In Aid of Racketeering Activity

Maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison
Maximum $250,000 fine

INVESTIGATORS

The investigation leading to today's guilty plea by Perna was led by:

FBI Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr.
Crouch's team of FBI special agents

Regina DeComa and Allan Soriano of Cedar Grove, along with Dawn Becker of Oakland, Charged with Million Dollar Fraud Theft

12/14/2020

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 7:17pm

Allan Soriano and Regina DeComa, of Cedar Grove IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Tonight, Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna announced the arrest of three persons charged with fraud which resulted in over $1 million in theft. The five-month investigation was conducted by Fairfield Detective Sergeant Jeffrey Didyk and Fairfield Detective Steven D’Argenio who worked along side the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

SUSPECTS

Dawn Becker IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Dawn Becker, 55, of Oakland

Financial comptroller of Fairfield business which asked to not be identified

Regina DeComa IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Regina DeComa, 36, of Cedar Grove

Office manager, co-worker of Becker at same Fairfield business

Allan Soriano IMAGE: Fairfield Police

Allan Soriano, 42, of Cedar Grove

Owner of AJ's Lunchbox in West Caldwell.

On Wednesday, Fairfield police executed search warrants at two Cedar Grove residences and at the deli in West Caldwell. DeComa and Soriano were arrested immediately after the search warrants were executed. Today, Becker surrendered herself to Fairfield Police.

FIVE-MONTH INVESTIGATION

October 2018 through August, 2020

DeComa and Becker allegedly made unauthorized distributions of their Fairfield employer's corporate funds to themselves and charged items to their employer's corporate accounts
- DeComa reportedly even opened an unauthorized corporate American Express card in her own name

March, 2020

Soriano allegedly used stolen funds from the same Fairfield company to renovate his AJ Lunchbox business

PURCHASES

The detectives were able to recover many items reportedly paid for by the three individuals with money stolen through the unauthorized business accounts.

High End Sports Memorabilia

Framed autographed Michael Jordan University of North Carolina jersey, valued at approximately $10,000
Framed game-used base signed by Derek Jeter
Several autographed Eli Manning helmets and pictures

Personal Items

Peloton exercise bike
An engagement ring for DeComa, who is engaged to Soriano, which she reportedly purchased herself

CHARGES

Dawn Becker

Credit card theft
Theft by deception
Corporate misconduct
Conspiracy, three counts

Regina DeComa

Credit card theft
Theft by deception
Corporate misconduct
Conspiracy, three counts

Allan Soriano

Credit card theft
Theft by deception
Conspiracy, two counts

Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna
Dec. 14, 2020

“This was an extensive and comprehensive investigation that took some time for our investigators to fully determine the complete scope of the criminal activity but they did an outstanding job. As is the case most of the time, greed remains law enforcement’s greatest ally in helping us to catch criminals.”

All suspects were released on their own recognizance pending further legal proceedings.

Cedar Grove Police Arrest Five Suspected Car Thieves with Assist from Verona and North Caldwell Officers, Thursday

11/18/2016

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 8pm

CEDAR GROVE, NJ - Early Thursday morning, Cedar Grove Police arrested three adults and two juveniles for eluding police while in possession of stolen car. According to Cedar Grove Police Chief Richard Vanderstreet, the incident happened at 3:30am, after Cedar Grove Police Lieutenant Frank Pumphrey observed a 2014 Honda traveling north on Pompton Avenue with its high beam headlights on.

"As the officer turned around
to attempt a motor vehicle stop, the vehicle
went through a red traffic light at West Bradford Avenue
and accelerated rapidly
west on West Bradford," Vanderstreet explained.
"After the officer activated his emergency lights and siren
to stop the vehicle, the operator refused to stop and continued west across Grove Avenue onto Keeney Street towards the old Essex County Hospital Property.

When the Honda got to the closed gate prohibiting entry to the property, the driver rammed the gate,
knocking it down and dragging it into the property.
The Honda then began to travel behind the old buildings, before the occupants all exited the vehicle and fled on foot."

It was at this point that mutual aid was called in and police officers from Verona, North Caldwell, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department were able to catch all of the suspects.

Cedar Grove Police determined that the Honda had been stolen while parked in Parsippany earlier in the evening and the owner was not even aware yet of the theft.

The driver of the Honda, Rasheed F. Mells, 18, of Irvington, was charged with multiple motor driving offenses including:

possession of a stolen vehicle
eluding police
resisting arrest

He was processed on all charges, released, and on Dec. 1 will be arraigned in Superior Court in Newark.

The other adult passengers were Kasim A. Williams, 23, and Sharieff N. Copeland, 20, both of Newark. Both Williams and Copeland were charged with:

possession of a stolen vehicle
resisting arrest
obstruction of the administration of the law

Williams was released pending Superior Court arraignment and Copeland was turned over to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department on an outstanding warrant.

The juveniles - a 16-year-old East Orange resident who is being held at the Essex County Youth House, and a 16-year-old Newark resident who was released to the custody of a guardian - are both to be charged with the same offenses and have pending Juvenile Court proceedings.

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POLICE

Lucchese Crime Family Soldier John Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove, Admits Guilt in Assault Case

Regina DeComa and Allan Soriano of Cedar Grove, along with Dawn Becker of Oakland, Charged with Million Dollar Fraud Theft

Cedar Grove Police Arrest Five Suspected Car Thieves with Assist from Verona and North Caldwell Officers, Thursday

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