NEWARK, NJ - Monday morning, Alaa Saadeh, 23, was arrested at his West New York home in Hudson County for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to ISIL - the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant," a designated foreign terrorist organization, US Attorney Paul J. Fishman 
announced.  

The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) have been investigating a group of at least five individuals from New York and New Jersey who are allegedly involved with actively promoting ISIL. Saadeh, a United States citizen, is the fourth individual that the Department of Justice has noted is part of this current ISIL investigation. 

Charges
Saadeh was charged with the following:

• Conspiring with other individuals in New Jersey and New York to provide services and personnel to ISIL
• Aiding and abetting an attempt to provide services and personnel to ISIL
• Attempting to persuade a witness to lie to the FBI

Information Gathered from Case Documents
The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) have been investigating a group of individuals from New York and New Jersey who have allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIL.

"Conspirator 1"

• The first male individual - "Conspirator 1"
  - age 20
  - lived in Rutherford
  - Dual citizenship: United States and Jordan
  - brother of Saadeh
• "Conspirator 1" is suspected of traveling to the Middle East (with an ultimate destination of Syria and Iraq) out of John F. Kennedy International Airport and that Saadeh purchased his ticket

• On route to the airport, "Conspirator 1" was reportedly joined by "Conspirator 2" and Saadeh; they reportedly discussed reuniting as a group - along with Samuel Rahamin Topaz  - in a few weeks time overseas to join ISIL
• The group reportedly referred to this plan as "Hijra"

• "Conspirator 1" left the United States on May 5; it is alleged that he then joined ISIL
• The family of  "Conspirator 1" reportedly informed "Conspirator 2," Saadeh and Topaz that he had been arrested in Jordan and was suspected of supporting ISIL 
  
  

"Conspirator 2"

• The second individual - "Conspirator 2"
  - age 20
  - resides in Queens 
  - United States citizen
• After arrest of "Conspirator 1," Saadeh, Topaz, and "Conspirator 2" reportedly continue to discuss "Hijra" - their plans to reunite overseas 
  
  

Samuel Rahamin Topaz

• The third individual - Samuel Rahamin Topaz
  - age 21
  - resides in Fort Lee
  

• - United States citizen
  
• Text messages recovered from Topaz's phone allegedly reflect the group's plan to reunite overseas: 
  Text Message: May 21 
   - Saadeh and Topaz discussed the need to “lay low” and decide to refrain from taking any further action in an effort to avoid detection by law enforcement
  -The two also allegedly discussed needing to meet in person to discuss Hijra
  

Alaa Saadeh

• Reportedly, on May 22, Saadeh told a fifth individual that he suspected that either "Conspirator 2" or Topaz had "snitched" on "Conspirator 1" and caused his arrest in Jordan; Saadeh continued that - if that ends up being true - he would have to “kill someone”
• In recorded conversations with an informant, Saadeh allegedly stated:
  - he supported ISIL's use of beheadings and mass killings to impose its violent agenda 
  - he planned to travel overseas with "Conspirator 2" “at some point” 
  - he provided "Conspirator 1" with transportation and removed a SIM card from his phone to attempt to hide incriminating data
• Apparently this month, Saadeh became aware that he was under FBI surveillance and allegedly directed another New Jersey individual to not divulge to the FBI what was known about "Conspirator 1" 
  - he instructed the individual to “play dumb” and to be “honest up to a point” but to be sure not to tell the FBI anything about ISIL

Subsequent Arrests
Following the reported arrest of "Conspirator 1" sometime in May in Jordan, the following individuals were also arrested as part of this current investigation:

• "Conspirator 2" was arrested in New York, June 13, and charged with 
  conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization
  
  
• Samuel Rahamin Topaz was arrested June 17 in New Jersey and charged with conspiring to provide services and personnel to ISIL  
  
  
• Alaa Saadeh was arrested Monday, June 29, and charged with:
  - Conspiring with other individuals in New Jersey and New York to provide services and personnel to ISIL
  -Aiding and abetting an attempt to provide services and personnel to ISIL 
  - Attempting to persuade a witness to lie to the FBI 
  
  

Penalties
Each count in the complaint carries:

• a maximum of potential penalty of 20 years in prison
• a fine of $250,000
  

Investigative Team
Fishman credited the following in leading to today’s arrest:

• The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel of the FBI’s Newark Division
  

Trial Representation
The US Government will be represented by:

• Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Judson Welle, Dennis C. Carletta, and Francisco J. Navarro of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark, with the assistance of Trial Attorney Robert J. Sander of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section
  

NEWARK, NJ - Today, Dr. Richard Goldberg, 65, and Dr. Gary Leeds, 61, both of Connecticut with practices in New York, were sentenced to 20-months today in Newark federal court, US Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
 
The two doctors had previously pleaded guilty before US District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to one count of accepting bribes in exchange for test referrals. Chesler imposed both sentences today in Newark.

The long-running and elaborate scheme was operated by Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services (BLS), of Parsippany. As of now, 38 people (26 of them doctors, including Leeds and Goldberg) have pleaded guilty in connection with the bribery scheme. Organizers have admitted that millions of dollars in bribes, which resulted in more than $100 million in payments to BLS from Medicare and private insurance companies, were involved in the far-reaching fraud plot. The investigation has so far recovered more than $11 million to date through forfeiture.

Information Gathered from Case Documents and Court Statements

• Goldberg and Leeds admitted to accepting thousands of dollars per month in cash between September 2010 and April 2013 in return for referring patient blood specimens to BLS. 
  
  
• The pair acknowledged they each accepted more than $100,000 in cash from BLS in exchange for referring at least a combined $1.8 million in lab business from their joint practice, Family Medical Group of Manhattan.
  

Professional Medical Practice
Besides sharing a Family Medical Group of Manhattan, both men are affiliated with the Beth Israel Medical Center

• Leeds earned his MD at Brown University and completed his residency at Georgetown University
  
  
• Goldberg earned his MD at the University of Michigan and completed his residency at Duke University. He is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians as well as the New York Academy of Family Physicians. His writing has been published in Medical Tribune, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Glamour Magazine and the Journal of Parasitology.

Penalties

• 20-months in jail
  
• Goldberg will also serve three years of supervised release
• Goldberg will also pay a $5,000 fine
• Leeds will also serve one year of supervised release
• Leeds will also pay a $15,000 fine
• Goldberg and Leeds must each forfeit $108,000
  

Investigative Team

• Special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel
  
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert; 
• IRS–Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen
• US Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates
  

Trial Representation
The US Government is represented by:

• Senior Litigation Counsel Andrew Leven
• Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph N. Minish
• Jacob T. Elberg, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care and Government Fraud Unit in Newark
• Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Ward, Chief of the office’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Unit
  

The Defense counsel is made up of: 

• Goldberg:
  Aidan P. O’Connor Esq., Hackensack, New Jersey
• Leeds:
  E. Scott Morvillo Esq., New York

NEWARK, NJ - U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced yesterday that a Newark man, Jamar Darby, 27, also known as "Rhino," was sentenced to 225 months in prison after pleading guilty to 14 armed robberies of commercial establishments throughout Essex, Hudson and Union counties - including the Verona Subway armed robbery on the night of May 20, 2013.  


In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge William H. Walls sentenced Darby to three years of supervised release and a $73,324 fine of restitution. 

Darby had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of an indictment which charged him with:

• Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies
  
• Brandishing a firearm during one of the robberies 
  
  

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Darby conspired with others to rob these commercial establishments:

• Dec. 29, 2012 
  Pao Da Terra, Newark 
  
  
• Jan. 20, 2013 
  Lukoil, Newark 
  
  
• Jan. 24, 2013 
  Newark Community Pharmacy, Newark 
  
  
• Feb. 1, 2013 
  Linden Stationary, Linden
  Delta Gas Station, Newark 
  
  
• Feb. 2, 2013
  Shoppers Express, Belleville 
  
  
• Feb. 10, 2013
  Krauszers, Kearny 
  
  
• Feb. 13, 2013
  Krauszers, Bloomfield 
  
  
• Feb. 19, 2013
  Pat’s Deli, Newark 
  
  
• March 16, 2013
  Smashburger, Paramus 
  
  
• March 29, 2013
  Krauszers, Bloomfield 
  
  
• April 17, 2013
  South Wood Discount Liquor, Linden 
  
  
• May 1, 2013
  Newark Community Pharmacy, Newark
  
  
• May 20, 2013 
  Subway Restaurant, Verona 

The Attorney General said that Darby and his conspirators robbed each establishment at gunpoint, stealing cash, cigarettes and other items. In 13 of the 14 robberies, they used zip ties or duct tape to restrain their victims. During the Pat’s Deli robbery on Feb. 19, 2013, Darby and a conspirator restrained several victims with duct tape after threatening one victim with a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Verona Subway Robbery
According to the Attorney General, on Monday, May 20, around 11 p.m., Darby brandished a handgun as he and two other men entered the Verona Subway located at 45 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona. Darby and another robber restrained a Subway employee by tying the employee’s hands and feet with plastic zip ties and stole $409 from the cash register before fleeing. The restaurant's surveillance camera captured the event on video. Reportedly, the suspect was wearing a dark NY Yankees hat with white lettering, dark pants, black boots, and black gloves and his face was also covered with a black mask. 

Arrest
On June 21, 2013, law enforcement searched Darby's residence and a vehicle used by him and found:
 

• dark NY Yankees hat with white lettering 
  
  
• a pair of dark pants
  
  
• a pair of black boots
  
  
• a black face mask
  
  
• a pair of black gloves
  
  

In addition, law enforcement agents obtained Darby's phone records and found that his cell phone indicated that he was in the vicinity of the Subway restaurant at the time of the crime. Darby was arrested that day at his Newark residence. 

Multiple Agencies Involved
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the following law enforcement officers and agencies for their work on this case:
 

• Special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark
  
  
• Belleville Police Department
  
  
• Bloomfield Police Department
  
  
• Kearny Police Department
  
  
• Linden Police Department
  
  
• Maplewood Police Department
  
  
• Newark Police Department
  
  
• Paramus Police Department
  
  
• Verona Police Department
  
  
• West Orange Police Department
  
  
• New Jersey State Police
  
  
• Essex County Prosecutor’s Office 
  
  

The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamari Buxton and Rahul Agarwal from the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark while the counsel for the defense was Anthony C. Mack Esq., Newark.

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ - On Thursday, the Newark Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that four Bloods street gang members were indicated by a federal grand jury on charges of murder, attempted murder, racketeering, robbery, weapons offenses and drug distribution. The four men, all of Newark, are allegedly members of the Blood's subgroup, found primarily in Essex County,  called "Sex Money Murder."

According to the FBI, beginning in 2007, Sex Money Murder controlled the distribution of heroin and crack cocaine in the area surrounding Martin Luther King Boulevard and Spruce Street in Newark and amassed firearms in the same neighborhoods. The gang is made up of friends and family members who join at a young age and and mark themselves with SMM tattoos. They follow the typical Bloods governing rules and hierarchical power structures and mark their territory with SMM gang symbols. 

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced that the men were charged in a 14-count superseding indictment in connection with their alleged Sex Money Murder gang activities. The four indicted men and their charges are:

Narik "Spaz" Wilson, 29 - Leader of the gang
Wilson was previously charged with drug distribution and firearm possession on Oct. 7, 2011.

• Racketeering
  Life in prison (death eligible); $250,000 fine
• Murder in aid of racketeering 
  Life in prison (death eligible); $250,000 fine
• Racketeering conspiracy
  Life in prison; $250,000 fine
• Use of a firearm during a violent crime ( 4 counts)
  Life in prison; $250,000 fine 
• Assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering ( 3 counts)
  20 years in prison; $250,000 fine
• Conspiracy to use a firearm during a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime conspiracy
  20 years in prison; $250,000 fine
• Attempted murder in aid of racketeering ( 3 counts) 
  10 years in prison; $250,000 fine 
  

Emil “Diddy” Rutledge, 26

• Racketeering
  Life in prison (death eligible); $250,000 fine
• Murder in aid of racketeering
  Life in prison (death eligible); $250,000 fine
  
• Racketeering conspiracy
  Life in prison; $250,000 fine
• Use of a firearm during a violent crime ( 3 counts)
  Life in prison; $250,000 fine 
• Assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering ( 2 counts)
  20 years in prison; $250,000 fine
• Conspiracy to use a firearm during a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime conspiracy
  20 years in prison; $250,000 fine
  
• Attempted murder in aid of racketeering ( 2 counts) 
  10 years in prison; $250,000 fine

Laquan “Drama” Reed, 25

• Racketeering
  Life in prison (death eligible); $250,000 fine
  
• Racketeering conspiracy
  Life in prison; $250,000 fine
• Use of a firearm during a violent crime
  Life in prison; $250,000 fine
• Assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
  20 years in prison; $250,000 fine
• Conspiracy to use a firearm during a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime conspiracy
  20 years in prison; $250,000 fine
• Attempted murder in aid of racketeering 
  10 years in prison; $250,000 fine

Rajohn “1090” Wilson, 23

• Racketeering
  Life in prison (death eligible); $250,000 fine
• Racketeering conspiracy
  Life in prison; $250,000 fine
• Conspiracy to use a firearm during a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime conspiracy
  20 years in prison; $250,000 fine  

All four men are already in custody on related charges and are expected to appear in Newark federal court on a date still to be determined. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, under the leadership of Wilson, the four gang members allegedly engaged in a wide range of violent criminal activity in order to deal drugs, silence those that they considered police informants and intimidate rival gangs. According to the FBI, these acts included numerous murders, shootings, robberies and auto thefts.

The case points to these specific events as evidence:

• Oct. 29, 2010
  Rutledge and others allegedly attempted to murder a rival gang member, “Victim 3” at Narik Wilson’s direction
  
  
• June 16, 2011
  Rutledge and others allegedly attempted to murder rival gang members, “Victim 4,” “Victim 5,” “Victim 6,” and “Victim 7” at Narik Wilson’s direction
  
  
• July 14, 2011
  Rutledge and others allegedly murdered a rival gang member, “Victim 8," at Narik Wilson’s direction
  
  
• July 31, 2011
  Laquan Reed and others allegedly murdered an individual, "Victim 9,” while attempting to carjack the victim’s vehicle
  
  

Other members of Sex Money Murder are currently serving prison sentences in state and federal prison for gang-related crimes. The investigation into the criminal activities of Sex Money Murder was a combined effort of the following members of federal and local law enforcement:

• Special agents of the FBI and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford in Newark
  
• The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray
  
• The Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando V. Fontoura
  
• The Newark Police Department
  
• Special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski
  
• Special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stephanie R. Shoemaker

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael H. Robertson and Dara Govan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.