Essex County News

Bloomfield Man Accused of Taking Part in Mob-Run Trash Scam

Anthony Pucciarello, of Bloomfield, is one of 32 others charged with various crimes related to helping run a Mafia waste management ring in and around NYC

A 77-year-old Bloomfield man was charged Wednesday in a widespread federal sweep targeting a mob-run conspiracy to control the trash-hauling industry in New York and New Jersey.  Anthony Pucciarello, known as "Muzzy" and a soldier for the Genovese Crime Family, was one of 32 people in New York and New Jersey charged in an FBI-run takedown that included members of several crime families, US Attorney for the Southern District of NY, Preet Bharara, Assistant Director in Charge of the NY Office of the FBI George Venizelos and Westchester County Police Department Commissioner George Longworth said in a release. Pucciarello was charged along with Carmine Franco, a 77-year-old Genovese Crime Family associate and allegedly the ring leader of a …

• Photos (3)
• Documents (1)

16-Year-Old Bloomfield Girl Killed in Weekend Crash

Christina Lembo was pronounced dead shortly after the Honda Civic she was a passenger in was involved in an accident with a Camaro Saturday night.

A 16-year-old Bloomfield High School soccer player died Saturday night in car crash that left four others injured.   Christina Lembo was seated in the back of a 2007 Honda Civic when it was involved in a car crash with a 2000 Chevrolet Camaro at about 11:10 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Broughton Avenue and Walter Street in Bloomfield, according to a press release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Lembo was transported to University Hospital in Newark, and was pronounced dead a short time later, the release said.  “I heard, 'Bam!' Like a crunch. You heard glass breaking and people screaming,” said high school student Ashley Bieksha, 20, Sunday afternoon, who heard the accident happen from her home nearby. Bieksha and her …

• Photos (4)