March 17, 2008: Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Wofford and Rockaway Township Chief of Police Walter A. Kimble announce the investigation and arrest in connection with a Nigerian Check Scam involving the manufacturing and distribution of fraudulent United States Postal Money Orders and Wal-Mart Money Orders valued in excess of $585,325.00.

In October of 2007 a representative of Federal Express Security referred an investigation to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office regarding fraudulent money orders being shipped from Federal Express drop boxes located in Rockaway Township and addressed to various locations throughout the United States.

In September 2007, a Federal Express driver noticed a high volume of Federal Express envelopes being dropped off at a Federal Express drop box located in Rockaway Township. These envelopes were addressed to numerous individuals throughout the United States. A subsequent investigation which was conducted in partnership with Federal Express Security, Rockaway Township Police Department, United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office revealed that the envelopes contained numerous fraudulent and counterfeit Wal-Mart money orders and United States Postal Money Orders. It was also discovered that the sender's Federal Express account number was fraudulent as well.

In October 2007, a Federal Express representative turned over to Detective Stephen Ortiz of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office a box containing 106 Federal Express envelopes which were retrieved from a Federal Express drop box in Rockaway, New Jersey between September 12, 2007 and October 08, 2007. Thirty-six (36) envelopes were examined and found to contain two hundred and forty-eight (248) fraudulent money orders with an aggregate total of $124,025.00.

In October 2007, a surveillance operation and subsequent search warrant execution, revealed that on October 29, 2007, Albert P. Lahndt, Jr. dropped fifty-seven (57) Federal Express envelopes into three different Federal Express drop boxes located in Rockaway Township. An examination of these (57) envelopes revealed one hundred and sixty nine (169) bogus Wal-Mart money orders addressed to multiple individuals throughout the United States with an aggregate value of $90,000.00.

In November 2007, Detective Ortiz collected fifty-three (53) Federal Express envelopes from Federal Express Security who retrieved these fifty-three (53) Federal Express envelopes from Federal Express drop boxes located in Rockaway Township, New Jersey between late October 2007 and early November 2007. The envelopes were addressed to numerous individuals throughout the United States. These (53) envelopes contained one-hundred and ninety-one (191) fraudulent money orders with an aggregate value of $108,100.00.

In March 2008, Investigators seized twenty-six (26) envelopes which were previously collected by a Federal Express delivery driver in Rockaway Township, New Jersey on January 30, 2008. An examination of the packages contained seventy-eight (78) fraudulent United States Postal Money Orders worth an aggregate value of $66,300.00.

On March 6, 2008, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified Detective Stephen Ortiz that a Federal Express package originating from Nigeria and addressed to Albert P. Lahndt, 1329 Hamilton Drive, Rockaway Township, New Jersey, was seized by Inspectors at Newark's Liberty International Airport on March 4, 2008. The package was opened and inspected by the Customs and Border Inspectors on March 4, 2008. This package contained ninety-six (96) bogus US Postal money orders, seventy-one (71) bogus Money Gram money orders, and one-hundred and ninety-one (191) bogus Wal-Mart money orders. The total value of the three hundred and fifty-eight (358) money orders is $196,900.00.

On March 11, 2008, Special Agent Felix Cruz with ICE turned over the package containing the bogus money orders to Detective Ortiz. Detective Ortiz examined the money orders and discovered that they were similar in appearance to the ones dropped off into the Federal Express drop boxes by Albert P. Lahndt and seized as part of this investigation. As a result of the joint investigation the following individual was charged:

Albert P. Lahndt Jr.
DOB 4-9-38
1329 Hamilton Drive
Rockaway Township, New Jersey

Charges:
One Count of Bad Checks (2nd Degree)
One Count of Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception (2nd Degree)
Three Counts of Uttering Forged Documents (3rd Degree)
Three Counts of Attempted Theft by Deception (2nd Degree)
Three Counts of Attempted Theft of Services (3rd Degree)

The defendant was transported to the Rockaway Township Police Department where he was processed and remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility. The defendant was remanded in lieu of $75,000 with 10% option which was set by Superior Court Judge John J. Harper, JSC.

Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi stated, "This was an extensive investigation that had an economic impact throughout the United States. Detective Stephen Ortiz in partnership with the Federal Express Security, Rockaway Township Police Department and our Federal Partners at the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be commended for their cooperative and extensive efforts."

This investigation is still on-going.

Chief Walter A. Kimble stated, "We are grateful for the partnership with all of the involved agencies as well as Federal Express."

If anyone has any further information, they are encouraged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200, the Rockaway Township Police Department at 973-625-4000 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office CrimeStoppers Program at 973-COP-CALL (973-267-2255).

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.

Media Contact: Captain Jeffrey S. Paul

March 13, 2008: Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., and Long Hill Township Chief of Police Dan Hedden announce the investigation and arrest in connection with a bank robbery which occurred at the Hudson City Savings Bank at 977 Valley Road, Gillette, New Jersey.

At approximately 3:56 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, the actor, described as a black male, approximately 6'02" and approximately 240 pounds, entered the Hudson City Savings Bank and passed a note to the teller demanding money. In addition, this subject lifted his jacket and displayed a portion of what appeared to be a handgun held in his waistband. The actor then fled the bank and entered a black Lincoln Sedan with an undisclosed amount of money.

The Long Hill Township Police Department was notified and quickly put out a radio broadcast concerning the robbery along with a description of the suspect vehicle.

Officer William Fettes of the Berkeley Heights Police Department heard the radio broadcast and was informed that the suspect vehicle was fleeing east on Valley Road. Shortly thereafter, Officer Fettes observed the vehicle matching the description traveling on Springfield Avenue in Berkley Heights. Springfield Avenue is a continuation of Valley Road.

Officer Fettes activated his emergency lights and siren pulling the vehicle over. The vehicle stopped in front of the Firestone store located on Springfield Avenue. As Officer Fettes was communicating over his car radio the vehicle fled from the stop.

Officer Fettes pursued the vehicle with his lights and siren activated. The suspect vehicle which was being driven in an erratic manner reached speeds exceeding 70 mph in a 40 mph zone.

The suspect vehicle continued onto River Road where it struck a median, causing damage to the front right tire. The vehicle also struck a box truck as it continued onto Watchung Road, lost control, struck a curb and collided front end into a school bus in Chatham Borough. The school bus contained the driver only.

The suspect fled from his vehicle on foot in Chatham Borough where he was chased for approximately 100 yards by Officer Fettes who took him into custody in Chatham Borough. No injuries resulted from this incident.

A black handgun was observed on the front driver's seat of the suspect's vehicle. Upon closer inspection, the weapon was determined to be a plastic pellet gun. The cash proceeds from the bank robbery were also recovered from the vehicle.

The suspect was transported to the Long Hill Township Police Department. The suspect was identified as:

Tommie Marbley
DOB 6-15-65
403 West 5th Avenue
Roselle, New Jersey

Charges:
Armed Robbery (1st Degree)
Eluding (2nd Degree)
Theft (3rd Degree)
Terroristic Threats (3rd Degree)
Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (4th Degree)
Resisting Arrest by Flight (4th Degree)

The defendant was remanded in lieu of $250,000, cash, bond or property which was set by Superior Court Judge B. Theodore Bozonelis, AJSC.

The investigation is ongoing in cooperation with the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Morris County Sheriff's Office, Long Hill Township Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi stated, "The quick capture of the defendant was the result of the quick transmission of information by the Long Hill Township Police Department and the professional actions and courage of Officer William Fettes, and the Berkley Heights Police Department. This is just a great example of good police work conducted in a cooperative, team work environment."

Chief Hedden stated, "We are grateful for the professional response and assistance offered by Officer Fettes and the Berkeley Heights Police Department."

If anyone has any further information, they are encouraged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200, the Long Hill Township Police Department at 908-647-1800 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office CrimeStoppers Program at 973-COP-CALL (973-267-2255).

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.

Media Contact: Captain Jeffrey S. Paul