The United State’s Attorney’s Office
District of New Jersey announces:  

West New York, N.J., Mayor, Son, Arrested For Hacking And Disabling Website Calling For The Mayor’s Recall

 

NEWARK, N.J. – The mayor of West New York, N.J., and his son were arrested today for allegedly hacking into an e-mail account and website associated with a movement to recall the mayor, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Felix Roque, 55, of Hudson County, and Joseph Roque, 22, of Passaic County, are charged by Complaint with gaining unauthorized access to computers in furtherance of causing damage to protected computers; causing damage to protected computers; and conspiracy to commit those crimes. Felix and Joseph Roque are scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark S. Falk in Newark federal court. “In this case, the elected leader of West New York and his son allegedly hacked into computers to intimidate constituents who were simply using the Internet to exercise their Constitutional rights to criticize the government,” U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who illegally hack into computers and disable websites with the goal of suppressing the exercise of that right.” This case illustrates two primary concerns of law enforcement, the violation of public trust and cyber intrusion,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward said. “In this instance, an elected official conspired to hack into a website and email account. It’s incredibly disappointing that resources have to be diverted from protecting the US against cyber intrusions targeting critical infrastructure, federally funded research and military technology, to address a public official intruding into computer systems to further a political agenda.”

According to the criminal Complaint unsealed today:

In early February 2012, a Hudson County resident and public official anonymously established and moderated an Internet website, www.recallroque.com, to post commentary and criticism of Mayor Felix Roque and his administration. On Feb. 6, 2012, Mayor Roque and his son, Joseph Roque, schemed to hack into and take down the website and to identify, intimidate and harass those who operated and were associated with the website. By the late afternoon of February 8, 2012, Joseph Roque had successfully hacked into various online accounts used in connection with the recall website. Joseph Roque then used that access to disable the website. Mayor Roque harassed and attempted to intimidate several individuals whom he had learned were associated with the recall website. The conspiracy charge and the charge of gaining unauthorized access to a computer in furtherance of causing damage to protected computers are each punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of causing damage to protected computers carries a maximum potential penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark with the investigation leading to the arrests.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Kosto of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section of the Office’s Economic Crimes Unit and Barbara Llanes of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. Read More...

To
the editor:

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Many readers may miss the emphasis here so let’s spell it out clearly – the implications of today’s arrest of West New York Mayor Felix Roque spells big trouble for the Old Guard in Hoboken.

Hoboken horsey?  Yes, Hoboken.

What stands out in the Fed’s complaint against Roque and his son is the clear cut evidence of wrongdoing hacking into a HCDO backed website that called for the West New York mayor’s recall.  According to Max Pizarro at Politicker NJ, victim 1 in the complaint was a Hudson County Freeholder, Jose Munoz. Read More...

News 4 in New York is reporting the FBI has struck in Hudson County again with a story saying Mayor Felix Roque has been taken into custody early this morning.

The mayor had been rumored to be in some trouble with word of documents seized related to medical billing.  Mayor Roque is a physician but denied there was any such visit by the Feds making a seizure of his records.

Roque was noted for his reform posture and independent nature recently announcing an endorsement not for US Senator Bob Menendez’s re-election but State Senator Joe Kyrillos before switching back to Menendez. Read More...

One day out before the holiday weekend for some, for others it’s another momentous day to celebrate counte$$.

At the Hudson Reporter it’s deadline day.  Will they or won’t they be able to fit in another page three ad in from Councilwoman Beth Mason?  That would make five weeks running not counting of course the less than accurate Super Bowl ad they ran earlier.

Will publisher Dave Unger be placating, uhm meeting with James Barracato aka FinBoy, Mason’s man for all defamatory operation seasons to map out the latest ransom ad demands from counte$$?  He and his paymaster want Reform writer blood on those pages or there’ll be no more Super Bowl or maybe any other kind of ads. Perhaps Unger will consult with pal Mike Novak the transparent heir to the rudderless Hoboken Chamber of Commerce who once thought that vehicle would launch him as a mayoral candidate.   Read More...

A Seinfeldish video staring Governor Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker has gone viral.  It’s a comic effort featuring both in the style of Jerry Seinfeld referencing his arch nemesis Newman.

Da Horsey has seen both in person, the Governor when he visited Hoboken to launch a toolkit to limit and rollback taxes and Mayor Booker at a technology conference in Newark.

Gov. Christie early in his term demonstrated his populist strength and on leaving Hoboken, his exit was akin to watching a rock star depart with a moving swarm of people and media.   After Cory Booker’s speech we shared a few brief words afterwards. Read More...

Hoboken Girl, the local website describing herself as “just a brunette with straight hair, leather boots and a Louis Vuitton” with a love for our fair city came out setting the record straight on the Liberty Humane Society.

Hoboken Girl lends support to getting out the truth countering Hoboken411’s Vermont Klaussen putting forward his usual pile of misinformation on anything close to a political vein in town.

While leather boots are optional, and Da Horsey sees no need for Louis Vuitton unless they start producing branded organic carrots, this personal story in support of Liberty Humane Society has strong merit: Read More...

In Part II, of the FBI Data Theft Conspiracy Ring links to Hoboken411, MSV looks at a connection into a self-confessed target of the Feds previously deemed “The Hub.”

This suspect confessed they were a target of the Feds and remarks about the FBI’s interest in themselves, Councilman Michael Russo and Hoboken411.

The connections to the ransacker of mayor’s communications, former IT Manager Patrick Ricciardi shown in this depiction of potential suspects with Beth Mason doesn’t end there based on comment by someone MSV deemed earlier as “The Hub.”  The questions extend to Councilman Michael Russo along with Hoboken411. Again.

The United State’s Attorney’s Office
District of New Jersey announces:  

Alleged Genovese Organized Crime Family Member And Associates Among 14 Charged In Racketeering Conspiracy

City of Hoboken announces:

=&0=& Mayor Dawn Zimmer is pleased to announce that at 5pm on Wednesday, May 23^rd, members of the Hoboken Fire Department will be honored during a ceremony for the Fire Department Valor Awards. The ceremony will take place at City Council Chambers in City Hall, 94 Washington Street, and all members of the public are invited to attend. The Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be honored for their service as well.