New Jersey

Former N.J. man threatened state official, judges in violent voicemails, feds say

Published

6 months ago

June 26, 2025

Former N.J. man threatened state official, judges in violent voicemails, feds say

A former Somerset County man was charged Thursday with leaving violent voicemails threatening three New Jersey judges, a local elected official and a resident of his former town, authorities said.

Abhinaba Barthakur, 58, formerly of Hillsborough Township, was charged with five counts of transmitting a threat in interstate or foreign commerce and one count of retaliating against a federal judge by threat, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.

Barthakur is a dual citizen of the United States and India who left the United States in 2018 and has not returned since then, the office said.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s office could not immediately be reached for comment and no attorney information was listed for Barthakur.

Between Sept. 13, 2020 and Nov. 26, 2024, Barthakur called a United States District Court Judge in the District of New Jersey and two New Jersey Superior Court judges and left them voicemails with threats, including assault, murder and removal of fingers, the office said.

Two of the judges presided over civil cases involving Barthakur and another presided over a family court matter that involved him, authorities said.

On July 14, 2020, Barthakur called the Somerville office of a government official in the executive branch of the state and left a voicemail message threatening to assault them and remove their fingers, the office said.

On Oct. 16, 2023, Barthakur called a Somerset County resident and left voicemail messages threatening to assault and murder them using a .22 caliber handgun, federal prosecutors said.

None of the people threatened by Barthakur were identified in the statement.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.

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New Jersey

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

Published

6 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) — New Jersey casino workers, who are pushing to permanently ban smoking in their workplaces, held a rally in Trenton on Monday.

A hearing was held to discuss a lawsuit that aims to close the smoking loophole in the Garden State.

For years, casino workers have been pursuing protections against secondhand smoke in their workplaces.

RELATED | Judge allows smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to workers

New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act largely bans indoor smoking, but casinos have a long-standing exemption.

The lawsuit filed last April by the United Auto Workers, which represents dealers at the Bally’s, Caesars and Tropicana casinos.

In August 2024, a judge ruled in favor of the casinos to allow smoking to continue.

“Casino workers are expected to clock in to work every day despite inevitably facing a toxic environment that could cause countless health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and asthma,” said Nancy Erika Smith, the lawyer representing Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and the UAW on Monday.

“We’re asking the court to find the exemption in New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act unconstitutional and void it immediately. We hope this case will serve as a precedent for casinos across the country to close their smoking loopholes and stop poisoning their workers,” added Smith.

The casinos have warned that thousands of jobs and millions in gambling revenue and taxes could be lost if smoking was banned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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New Jersey

11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

Published

18 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

11-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike, College Student Abducted: NJ Weekend

A teenager was shot to death in Jersey City, a woman was killed in a fiery crash with a dump truck in Ocean County, and a man is in critical condition after an SUV hit him in a Princeton crosswalk.

Here are the headlines from the weekend in New Jersey you may have missed.

Teen Shot Dead In Jersey City Apartment, Prosecutor Says

A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in Jersey City on Friday night, prosecutors said.

Woman Killed In Fiery Head-On Dump Truck Crash In Ocean County

A woman was killed Friday when her van hit a dump truck head-on in Jackson and burst into flames, Jackson police said.

Evelin Villanueva-Detejeda, 43, of Perth Amboy, was killed in the crash that happened about 2 p.m. on Toms River Road (Route 571) near Osprey Place, Sgt. Edward Travisano said.

Six people sustained minor injuries in the collision late Friday afternoon, according to State Police Tpr. Christopher Postorino.

Read more: 11-Vehicle Crash, Overturned Truck Shut Down Turnpike In South Jersey: Police

NJ College Student Abducted From Campus, Sexually Assaulted By Armed Man, Police Say

A Union County man is facing a slew of charges after kidnapping a woman, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

Akram Elsayed, 28, of Roselle, has been arrested after an investigation found that he’d kidnapped a woman and handcuffed her to the door of a car, police said.

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