New Jersey
Prosecutors accuse Sen. Bob Menendez of introducing Qatari royal family member to aid NJ businessman
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez introduced a member of the Qatari royal family and principal in a company with ties to the government of Qatar to a New Jersey businessman before the company invested millions of dollars in the businessman’s real estate project, a rewritten indictment alleged Tuesday.
The latest version of the indictment against the Democrat in Manhattan federal court did not identify the member of the Qatari royal family, but it said the individual was a principal of the Qatari Investment Co.
The indictment said the Qatari investor then considered and negotiated a multimillion-dollar investment in the real estate project planned by Fred Daibes, one of three businessmen charged in the indictment along with the senator and his wife. All of them have pleaded not guilty.
No new charges were added to the latest version of an indictment that already charged Menendez in a bribery conspiracy that allegedly enriched the senator and his wife with cash, gold bars and a luxury car. The allegations involving Qatar occurred from 2021 through 2023, the indictment said.
According to the indictment, Menendez accepted cash and gold bars in exchange for seeking to induce the Qatari Investment Co. to invest with Daibes, including by taking actions favorable to the government of Qatar.
The indictment said that while the Qatari Investment Co. was considering its investment in the real estate development owned by Daibes, Menendez made multiple public statements supporting the government of Qatar and then provided them to Daibes so he could share them with the Qatari investor and a Qatari government official.
New Jersey
Former NJ fire chief arrested after allegedly forcing firefighters into sexual situations
A man who used to be the former chief of a volunteer fire company in Ocean County, New Jersey, was arrested and is facing charges after allegedly forcing firefighters into non-consensual sexual situations, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Officials said that between 2022 and 2023, Robert Sinnott, Jr. is accused of getting some of the firefighters he worked with alone at his home in Toms River, at the firehouse or at other locations.
Sinnott worked in various roles at the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company in Toms River, including as chief when these incidents happened, officials said.
While alone, Sinnott would reportedly handcuff or restrain the victim while pretending it was for training purposes, officials said.
Sinnott would then force the victims into sexual contact with him, prosecutors alleged. In some cases, he would take photos of the victim while they were restrained.
Sinnott has been living in Florida and on Dec. 4, Cape Coral SWAT agents arrested him before investigators searched him, his home and vehicle, officials explained.
Sinnott is being held at the Lee County Jail in Florida until he is extradited to New Jersey where he faces charges of criminal sexual contact and official misconduct.
If you have any information on this case, please contact Detective Brandon Mastropasqua at 609-960-3768 or Detective Malikah Daniels at 856-414-8855.
You can also leave a tip by calling 1-844-OPIA-TIP.
New Jersey
Crookshank Recalled from Utica | BLOG | New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have recalled forward Angus Crookshank.
He will join the team at morning skate on Friday morning.
The center has played 17 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this season, with five goals and two assists. He has the second-most goals on Utica, behind Xavier Parent’s six.
Crookshank has played 21 NHL games over the past two seasons with the Ottawa Senators, recording two goals and two assists.
New Jersey
NJ mayor indicted by grand jury on child abuse charges after alleged DUI
Months after the mayor of Lumberton, New Jersey, was arrested after allegedly driving drunk with her son in the car, a grand jury indicted her on charges of not protecting her child, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police in Lumberton had responded to the home of Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca after a concerned resident called 9-1-1 to report that she was driving erratically on March 17, 2025.
According to police, the incident happened at about 6:11 p.m. after law enforcement officials were sent a video that allegedly showed a vehicle swerving out of lanes while driving and, at one point, nearly hitting a utility pole.
Court documents claim that in an interview with police, LaPlaca admitted that she had been drinking and said she drove the vehicle to pick up her son from daycare.
Also, according to court documents, officers administered a field sobriety test and LaPlaca “appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the offense.”
During a search of LaPlaca’s car, officers reported finding an open container of alcohol.
LaPlaca was charged with drunk driving, endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse and other related charges.
The Mayor is expected to be arraigned on Dec. 8, 2025.
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