Glen Bowman, his wife and his son have been sent to prison for operating the prostitution ring

A Newark man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison prison for trafficking a 16-year-old girl from New York to New Jersey and forcing her work as a prostitute, authorities said.

Glen Bowman, 42, ran a prostitution ring he advertised on Backpage.com with his wife Ernestine Bowman, 33, of Orange, according to Attorney General Christopher Porrino.

"Bowman threatened a girl of 16 with violence if she didn't submit to the hellish life of sexual slavery he devised for her," Porrino said in a statement. "

An April 2015 indictment said the pair, along with others, had forced the 16-year-old girl, a runaway from Brooklyn, to engage in prostitution at motels along Route 46 in South Hackensack and Clifton.

The investigation that led to charges against the prostitution ring began as an undercover operation by the South Hackensack Police Department. 

An undercover officer responded to an advertisement that included the photo of a young girl. He phoned the number and a woman told him he could have "full sex" for $160 at a motel on Route 46 in South Hackensack.

The officer went to the hotel and a teenage girl answered the door. Another woman was hiding in the bathroom.

The teenage girl had asked the woman, Tokina Williams, 33, of Raleigh, N.C, to come out of the bathroom because the client had agreed to have sex with both of them, authorities said. Back-up officers entered the room and arrested the teenage girl and Williams, authorities said.

A further investigation revealed that Bowman was the primary leader of the ring, but relied on others in the group to drive the victim and other prostitutes to hotels and motels, authorities said.

A total of four defendants have been sentenced to state prison as a result of the investigation, including Bowman's son, Glen Bowman Jr., 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Jessica Copeland, 29, of Newark, who acted as boss over the prostitutes. 

Bowman Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to promote prostitution and was sentenced on Nov. 3 to six years in prison. Bowman's wife, who stepped into a leadership role in the ring after her husband was imprisoned in August 2014, pleaded guilty to facilitating human trafficking and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Copeland pleaded guilty to facilitating human trafficking and was sentenced on Nov. 6 to six years in prison, with three years of parole ineligibility. Williams pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution and is awaiting sentencing.  

"This was a classic case of human trafficking in which Bowman and his co-conspirators trapped a vulnerable victim in a situation where she was completely isolated and had no one to support her," said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice.  "We urge members of the public to notify us if they see a young woman or child in questionable circumstances, so we can investigate."

The victim was struck by gunfire on 18th Avenue

A man was shot and killed Sunday night in Newark, authorities said. 

The victim was gunned down on 18th Avenue around 7 p.m., a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosector's Office said.

No additional information was available. Officials said the investigation is ongoing.

Sunday's shooting was at the least the second homicide of the weekend in the city. On Friday night, suspects fled the scene of a fatal shooting in Newark on Friday before they crashed their car and it burst into flames, trapping them inside.

None of the occupants of the car were seriously hurt before being taken into custody. The shooting on Evergreen Avenue killed a 27-year-old man. 

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Dogs and cats throughout New Jersey await adoption in shelters and rescues.

Pets Plus of Delran hosted a grand reopening on Nov. 19 to celebrate its transition from selling commercially-raised puppies to only offering rescued shelter dogs and puppies for adoption.

The dogs will come from the Hub City Humane Society in Mississippi, Animal Aid USA and St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey, Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Virginia, the Humane Society of Raleigh County in West Virginia, the Heart of Louisiana Humane Society in Louisiana, Natchez-Adams County Humane Society in Mississippi, Oktibbeha County Humane Society and other shelter partners.

The store will join more than 2,600 other pet stores around the country that have signed the Puppy Friendly Pet Stores pledge of The Humane Society of the United States, making it their official policy not to do business with puppy mills.

The Pets Plus Natural pet store chain has converted all of its stores to the new humane model.

"The Humane Society of the United States applauds Pets Plus of Delran for improving the community's pet adoption rate and taking a stand against inhumane puppy mills," said John Moyer, corporate outreach manager of the Stop Puppy Mills campaign for The HSUS.

Pets Plus of Delran is located at 1321A Fairview Blvd.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

A parents group is planning to file a lawsuit against the district demanding more action be taken to address unequal opportunities

Teams tumbled and two new teams entered.

The first of five finalists in NJ.com's #NJmascotchallenge

It's only fitting that as the NJ state football playoffs are marching toward their finals, the #NJmascotchallenge is gyrating toward its final.

Here, as promised, is the first of our five finalist videos, produced by the NJ Advance Media video team: The Rancocas Valley Red Devil. Infamous for stalking the sidelines of South Jersey, this Jersey Devil doesn't slink off into invisibility like its mythical cousin. It sticks around for the fight.

LOOK BACK: 5 finalists and all 25 mascot videos for the #NJmascotchallenge

The video above is No. 1 of five finalist videos we'll be rolling out this week ahead of next week's final vote, scheduled to launch Monday, Nov. 27. On the 27th, we'll post all the videos, along with the original video submissions and package them with the final poll.

Thanks for your patience - we did warn you it could take a while to get all the finalists shot, and it did. We look forward to a thrilling final round.

Video schedule (order selected at random):
Tuesday - Whippany Park's Wildcat
Wednesday - Vineland's Rowdy Rooster
Thursday - Gateway's Turkey ... er, Gator - Gateway's Gator
Friday - West Orange's Monty Mountaineer

Who stole the show in in the playoffs?

Who stole the show in state tournament?

Matchups will be determined after the semifinal round is complete

Two more rounds to go. The 2017 state football semifinal round is this weekend — 46 games — where the winners will move on to the championship finals. 

MORE: Follow NJ.com's coverage of the semifinals on Friday and Saturday

The NJSIAA has released the locations, dates and times for the championship games, to be played Thursday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 3. 

NOTE: The matchups will not be determined until after Saturday's semifinal games are complete. Check back Saturday night for updates.

Ticket prices are as follows: 
• MetLife Stadium: $9 adults, $3 students and seniors, $12 parking
• Rutgers: $9 adults, $3 students and seniors, $12 parking
• Kean: $5.50 adults, $2  students and seniors, free parking
• Rowan: $5.50 adults, $2 students and seniors, free parking

BY DAY

THURSDAY, NOV. 30 — 2 games

AT METLIFE STADIUM

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2, 5 p.m.
1-Rutherford vs. 6-Hackettstown

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5, 8 p.m.
1-Westfield vs. 3-Bridgewater-Raritan

FRIDAY, DEC. 1 — 3 games

AT METLIFE STADIUM
North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5, 5 p.m.
1-Montclair vs. 3-Union City

Non-Public, Group 4, 8 p.m.
1-Bergen Catholic vs. 2-St. Peter’s Prep

AT KEAN
North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2, 7 p.m.
2-Lakeland vs. 4-Newton

SATURDAY, DEC. 2 — 15 games

AT METLIFE STADIUM
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3, 10 a.m.
1-West Essex vs. 3-Voorhees 

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4, 1 p.m.
1-Phillipsburg vs. 2-North Hunterdon

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3, 4 p.m.
1-Ramapo, vs. 2-River Dell

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4, 7 p.m.
1-Old Tappan vs. 3-Mount Olive

AT RUTGERS
Central Jersey, Group 2, 10 a.m.
1-Point Pleasant Boro vs. 7-Hillside

Central Jersey, Group 5, 1 p.m.
1-Manalapan vs. 2-South Brunswick

Central Jersey, Group 4, 4 p.m.
3-Long Branch vs. 8-Freehold Borough

Central Jersey, Group 3, 7 p.m.
1-Rumson-Fair Haven vs. 2-Somerville

AT KEAN
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1, 10 a.m.
1-Weequahic vs. 2-Shabazz

Non-Public, Group 3, 1 p.m.
1-DePaul vs. 3-St Joseph (Mont.)

Central Jersey, Group 1, 4 p.m.
4-Middlesex vs. 7-Point Pleasant Beach

North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1, 7 p.m.
5-Hasbrouck Heights vs. 6-Pompton Lakes

AT ROWAN  
South Jersey, Group 3, 11 a.m.
4-Delsea vs.  2-Woodrow Wilson

South Jersey, Group 1, 2:30 p.m.
1-Paulsboro vs. 2-Penns Grove

South Jersey, Group 5, 6 p.m.
1-Lenape vs. 2-Rancocas Valley

SUNDAY, DEC. 3 — 3 games

AT ROWAN
South Jersey, Group 2, 11 a.m.
1-West Deptford vs. 6-Haddonfield

Non-Public, Group 2, 2:30 p.m.
1-St. Joseph (Hamm.) vs. 3-Mater Dei

South Jersey, Group 4, 6 p.m.
4-Shawnee vs. 6-Hammonton

BY LOCATION
MetLife Stadium — 8 games total
Thursday, 11/30 - 5 and 8pm
Friday, 12/1 - 5 and 8pm
Saturday, 12/2 - 10am, 1, 4 and 7pm

Kean — 5 games total
Friday, 12/1 - 7pm
Saturday, 12/2 - 10am, 1, 4, and 7pm

Rutgers - 4 games total
Saturday, 12/2 10am, 1, 4 and 7pm

Rowan - 6 games total
Saturday 12/2 - 11am, 2:30 and 6pm
Sunday 12/3 - 11am, 2:30 and 6pm

A Jersey City man who strangled the mother of his child to death in 2014 was to be sentenced Friday but the hearing was adjourned due to a defense motion for a new trial

JERSEY CITY -- The sentencing of a Jersey City man who strangled the mother of his child in 2014 was postponed when his attorney filed a motion for a new trial.

Nathan Williams III, 36, had been scheduled to be sentenced Friday for the aggravated manslaughter of former girlfriend 33-year-old Marilyn Albizu, 33, on June 17, 2014 in the Old Bergen Road home they shared. He was convicted on Sept. 29.

"We truly believe he deserves a new trial," defense attorney James Lisa said today.

Lisa, who defended Williams with co-counsel Max Novel, added "We also believe the verdict was compromised and the jury did not believe the charge of murder was proven beyond a reasonable doubt and they just settled on aggravated manslaughter."

The defense moved for a new trial, saying security video shown to the jury had not been properly verified as to the time it was recorded.  

The defense also noted that guns recovered in the home were listed on the evidence list given the jury, but the gun charges against Williams had been severed from the murder trial. He is to be tried on those charges in January. 

Finally, the defense says the prosecutor improperly made a statement at the beginning of the trial that suggested Williams was already incarcerated. At the time, Williams was already serving a prison sentence, but his record could not be brought up unless he testifies. 

At Friday's hearing, the defense and state agreed that a transcript of the trial was necessary to move forward and transcribing the audio recording could take about a month. The motion for a new trial will be taken up again once the transcript is complete.  

Hudson County Superior Court Judge Vincent Militello set Dec. 29 for the next hearing on the motion.   

The day of the homicide began with Albizu telling Lenisha Murray, who also has a child with Williams, that Williams was with a third woman. Murray testified she went to the Old Bergen Road home that morning and found Williams in bed with Alicia Santana. Both Murray and Santana testified at the trial.

According to authorities and testimony, Williams struck Albizu and then left the apartment. Responding officers issued a warrant for his arrest and took a picture of Albizu showing a bump on her forehead.

That evening, Murray called Albizu's phone and a man answered, saying "Ain't no need to call this number anymore. That b---- is dead." The phone was on speaker and Tenyel Manning dialed 911 after hearing the man's response.

Murray told police it was Williams' voice, but changed her story on the witness stand.

Officers responded to the apartment again at about 6:30 p.m. for a welfare check and found Albizu dead. Police were on the lookout for Williams' vehicle, which was spotted in Newark around 11 p.m. that night, according to testimony.

Following a high-speed pursuit, Williams crashed, took off on foot and jumped 50 to 60 feet from an overpass on Rt. 280 in Newark. Williams broke both legs and a hip in the fall. A gun fell from his pocket as he plummeted, officials said.

That night police searched the Old Bergen Road home and found two shotguns and a rifle. Williams is already serving an 8-year sentence on Essex County charges from that night, including eluding police and gun offenses.

The suspected shoplifter tried to bite a cop as he left Target with hundreds of dollars in over-the-counter medicine, authorities say

A suspected Target shoplifter was killed Sunday after he tried to bite a cop and fled in a stolen car, which burst into flames when it crashed into a medical building in Union County during the ensuing chase, officials said.

The bizarre police pursuit began around 4 p.m. when two Union Township police officers approached the man in the Target parking lot as he tried to leave with several hundred dollars in over-the-counter medicine, the Union County prosecutor's office said Monday.

The man, whose name has not been released, tried to bite one of the officers, authorities said. He then jumped in a Jaguar and sped off, authorities said.

With police giving chase into Springfield, the man failed to negotiate a turn and lost control of the luxury car. 

The Jaguar overturned, crashed into Advanced Pain Care on Springfield Avenue and burst into flames. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three police officers who tried to free him from the burning car were treated for smoke inhalation at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

The Jaguar was reported stolen last week in Irvington, officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Michael Manochio of the Union County Prosecutor's Office at 908-966-2287.

Union co. Prosecutor's office investigating chase turned deadly crash in 65 Springfield ave. Bldg. Body still in car. @News12NJ pic.twitter.com/ssEWlqWT04

-- Van Tieu (@Van_Tieu) November 19, 2017

Lots of cleanup still to be done... and lots of questions still after police chase ends in fiery crash in @Springfield_FD @countyofunionnj @UCPONJ pic.twitter.com/2rHlGZAtJR

-- Marci Rubin News12NJ (@MarciRubinN12) November 20, 2017

Kiburi Tucker, a Newark developer and entrepreneur pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to wire fraud and tax evasion

NEWARK -- The head of a local nonprofit and a Newark developer with deep ties to the city pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion in federal court Monday. 

Kiburi Tucker, whose late father Donald Kofi Tucker, served on the state Assembly and on the Newark City Council until he died in 2005, admitted he used money from the bank accounts of his nonprofit, The Centre Inc., to fund personal items and gambling.

He also underreported his income from other work and failed to pay thousands of dollars in taxes. 

According to the government, Tucker made $95,679 in other cash withdrawals from The Centre's bank accounts for gambling purposes and to buy home furnishings. He also withdrew $165,880 from ATMs in New Jersey and numerous other states to fund his personal travels. 

Tucker on Monday apologized to his friends, family and the community. 

"I'm tremendously embarrassed by the situation," Tucker told reporters after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares. 

Tucker is the executive director of The Centre, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to "civic and cultural uplifting of the greater Newark area" according to a description on his LinkedIn page.

Tucker is also listed as the chief executive officer of Elite Strategies LLC, state corporation records show. He admitted he underreported more than $177,0000 on his 2015 tax return and owed more than $56,000 to the IRS.

Linda Jumah, president of Elite Strategies, previously pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion earlier this month for failing to report more than $121,000 earned in 2015, resulting in a tax loss of nearly $40,000. 

Tucker is also developing a 42-unit apartment complex in the South Ward and is the CEO of a political consulting and fundraising firm in the city. 

Mayor Ras Baraka and other local politicians have lauded Tucker's plans to build a mixed residential and commercial space on Bergen Street in the Weequahic section of the South Ward.

During the groundbreaking ceremony in July, which drew heavyweights from around the state -- including Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop -- Tucker said the $10 million development project had been six years in the making. 

The city is giving Tucker $3 million in tax breaks and other incentives for the market-rate units with 20 percent set aside for low- and moderate-income units, city officials said at the time. 

Tucker was also employed at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission earning $89,000, public records show. His mother, Cleopatra Tucker, was elected to the state Assembly in 2008.

"I let them down," Tucker said of the community members who trusted him. "I'm going to try and rectify the situation to the best of my ability, and I accept the consequences and take full responsibility for my actions."

Tucker's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. 

The crew tied up the owners, four others and stole personal items and $100K worth of catalytic converters

The last three of the five men who violently robbed a scrap metal yard in Elizabeth three years ago were sentenced to prison terms of at least 22 years on Friday.

Shoplifter fleeing Target dies in fiery crash

Rafael Clemmons, 30, of Irvington received 25 years while Newark residents Steven Chambers, 32 and Sharrod Saunders, 42, got 22 years each, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

Clemmons, Chambers and Saunders were part of an armed crew who held six people captive for 90 minutes at Bayway Scrap Metal on April 18, 2014 -- pistol-whipping one of their victims until he was unconscious.

They tied the victims hands and feet with zip ties and stole their wallets and other personal property. The quintet then stole 600 catalytic converters worth about $100,000 and fled in a rented commercial vehicle and pickup truck they swiped from the parking lot.

Four of the five were arrested after crashing into a police car following a brief pursuit. Gunfire was exchanged but no one was hit. The fifth -- Anthony Brailsford -- was on the lam until February 2017.

The last two -- Clemmons and Saunders -- pleaded guilty in August. 

Howard is serving a 10-year sentence, according to department of corrections records. Brailsford began an eight-year sentence last month. 

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A South Orange felon charged with threatening a stranger with a knife on a bus in Union City was ordered detained through the course of his prosecution this morning.

JERSEY CITY -- A South Orange felon charged with threatening to kill a stranger with a knife on a bus in Union City was ordered detained through the course of his prosecution this morning.

Gabrian Hidalgo, 38, of Irvington Avenue, is charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses related to a kitchen knife in connection to the incident that occurred on Wednesday, the criminal complaint says.

The alleged victim flagged down a police officer saying that after an argument with a stranger on the bus, the armed man threatened to kill him, the complaint says, adding that police also received a 911 call.

Hidalgo was arrested the same day and made his first court appearance on the charges Thursday via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. The state moved to detain him at the hearing.

Hidalgo has convictions for robbery and assault, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Nelson noted at Hidalgo's detention hearing this morning in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City.

The defendant's public safety assessment lists him at the highest possible level of being a risk of committing an new offense and for failing to appear for court hearings if released pending trial. The PSA also lists him as being a risk of violence, said Nelson, who ordered Hidalgo detained. 

The sheriff's office was one of six agencies awarded the Justice Department grants, intended to allow them to hire additional officers.

NEWARK -- The Essex County Sheriff's Office has been awarded more than $1.8 million in federal Community Oriented Policing Services grants, enabling the hiring of 15 additional officers, the Justice Department said Monday.

The sheriff's office was one of six agencies in New Jersey awarded the funds as part of $98 million in grants awarded nationwide. The New Jersey agencies alone were awarded more than $4.1 million in grants.

The funds, awarded through the COPS Hiring Program, are intended to support "hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address specific crime problems through community policing strategies," according to a Justice Department statement.

The other five departments include:

• Long Branch Police Department, 5 officers ($625,000)
• Paramus Police Department, 5 officers ($625,000)
• Nutley Police Department, 4 officers ($500,000)
• West Orange Police Department, 4 officer ($500,000)
• Moonachie Police Department, 1 officer, ($125,000)

The Justice Department said agencies applying for the grants had been told their applications could receive additional points in the scoring process "by certifying their willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities within their detention facilities."

Of the agencies that applied for the fiscal year 2017 grants, officials said, 80 percent indicated they intended to cooperate with federal immigration officials "within their detention facilities."

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

State lawmakers are lining up to speak out against the perceived momentum behind legalizing marijuana, since Democrat Phil Murphy won the governor's race on a platform to legalize pot.

TRENTON -- One of New Jersey's longest-serving state Senators said he plans to hold public hearings to question the next governor's push to legalize marijuana next year.

Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, announced Monday he would use his authority as chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus to call public hearings to explore the negative consequences felt in the eight states in which marijuana possession and sales are legal.

"We know there are negative factors that we will need to safeguard against, from children's access to marijuana-infused edibles to motor vehicle accidents caused by impaired driving to the effect of marijuana on babies and the impact of legalization on communities of color," according to Rice's statement.

The hearings would be scheduled sometime after Phil Murphy is sworn-in as governor Jan. 16, Senate Majority spokeswoman Trish Graber said.

"As chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, I plan to convene hearings at various locations around the state to make sure that we really delve into the details of this issue," Rice said.

Rice is not alone. One by one, state lawmakers are lining up to speak out against the perceived momentum behind legalizing marijuana, since Democrat Phil Murphy defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in the governor's race.

Murphy's platform included legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use -- to end the disproportionate jailing of black people arrested and convicted for pot possession, and to launch a tax-rich legal market estimated to net the state $300 million a year.

Newly-appointed Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin D-Middlesex, was the first to express concern about legalizing pot following Murphy's Dec. 7 win.

"I want to make sure it makes sense," said Coughlin, a member of the Assembly since 2010 . "As with any bill -- particularly any bill that would create something new -- I think the devil is really in the details. And I think we need to understand it in its totality."  

A snag for legal marijuana in N.J.? New Assembly speaker won't commit

Senate President Sweeney, (D-Gloucester), who supports legalization, wields the power to decide which bills receive public hearings and floor votes. He has enthusiastically supported legalization since taking a trip to Colorado with Sen. Nicholas Scutari D-Union, the bill's sponsor.

But using his position as the leader of black lawmakers in both houses of the Legislature, Rice said he intends to explore how New Jerseyans could be hurt by a legal marijuana market.

"I look forward to working with the members of the Legislative Black Caucus, with community groups and with many others as we examine this issue. The bottom line is that as we proceed, we must do so with caution," Rice said.

Sen. Joseph Pennacchio R-Morris, also has encouraged his Senate colleagues to pump the brakes on pot legalization.

"Governor-elect Murphy sees a $300 million tax revenue windfall. I see a mass of heartache and trouble," Pennacchio said in a Nov. 14 statement. "New Jersey's roadways are extremely congested and we don't have a full-proof weed sobriety test. A mad dash to legalization, without taking the time to examine the consequences, is a recipe for disaster."

Sen. Joseph Vitale D-Middlesex, chairman of the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, praised Rice's call for more discussion. If he had to vote today, Vitale said he would vote against legalizing marijuana, and he knows other Democrats besides Rice share his view.

"I just want to be thoughtful about this," Vitale said."Even Colorado has its issues."

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Student travels to Washington to accept the award for the Newark Museum Explorers Program.

Samantha Joseph

NEWARK -- Samantha Joseph, 17, a student at St. Vincent Academy in Newark, went to Washington, D.C., this month to accept the 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award on behalf of the Newark Museum Explorers Program.

Joseph, a resident of West Orange, is a member of the museum's Explorers Program for students in grades 10 to 12. She is among approximately 35 students currently involved in the three-year program.

Each year, participants commit 6 hours after school and on weekends and 25 hours during the summer to the program. Students spend time in different departments, where they are mentored and learn the inner workings of a museum. The goal is for students to become familiar with the museum's collections and identify aspects of the field that attracts their interest. Participants also complete 30 hours of annual community service.

The program was among 12 creative youth development programs to receive the award, given by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services for "using engagement in the arts and the humanities" to help students in the programs develop life skills.

"This program has brought me so many different opportunities that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience if I had not taken a chance and applied. The diversity that I've experienced walking through the galleries and working in different areas of the Museum has opened me up so much," said Joseph in her acceptance speech.

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

Two adults and a child went to the hospital along with 4 firefighters

Seven people, including four firefighters, were hurt in a large fire that ripped through a three-story home in Newark late Monday, officials said. 

Firefighters pulled four people from the home on the 900 block of South 18th Avenue, Newark police Capt. Derek Glenn said. Two adults and one child were taken to St. Barnabas Medical Center and University Hospital. Information on the severity of their injuries was not immediately available.

Four firefighters were hurt while battling the blaze and were taken to University Hospital in Newark. Glenn said those injuries were considered minor. About 70 firefighters responded.

The fire broke was reported at 11:53 p.m. and was brought under control at 1:29 a.m. Video from ABC7 shows the home engulfed in flames. The television station reported the fire might have started in two cars parked in the driveway.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Glenn said. 

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

According to its Trulia listing, the taxes are estimated at about $17,205.

In this week's "On the market" property, we feature a home in West Orange with more than 4,100 square feet of living space.

The home is listed for $1,495,000. According to its Trulia listing, the taxes are estimated at about $17,205.

The home features five bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one partial bath.

The median sale price for homes in the area is $380,000.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Kiburi Tucker, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion and wire fraud charges, is developing the Tucker View Apartments in the South Ward.

NEWARK -- The city will forge ahead with plans to develop a $10 million mixed-use apartment complex in the South Ward even after the project's developer pleaded guilty to tax evasion and wire fraud charges related to a nonprofit he directed. 

Kiburi Tucker, 43, admitted in federal court Monday he underreported his income and defrauded The Centre, Inc., a nonprofit he ran, of more than $330,000 -- using much of the money for gambling and personal expenses. 

Tucker is developing the 42-unit Tucker View apartments in the Weequahic section of Newark. The project was widely praised by city officials and longtime friend Mayor Ras Baraka as a marker of growth outside Newark's downtown epicenter.

"The Tucker View apartments development has been five years in the making and Kiburi Tucker's tax issues do not seem to affect the project," city spokesman Frank Baraff told NJ Advance Media. "To the extent that they might, we will adjust accordingly."

South Ward Councilman John Sharpe James said the Tucker View apartments were a crucial piece of development for one of the city's roughest neighborhoods. He said he wasn't concerned about Tucker's involvement in the project because the charges were unrelated to the Bergen Street property. 

"None of it was related to the project, to my knowledge," James said, adding he hoped to see the development through. "The project is never dependent on one individual."

The mixed-used complex will include ground-floor commercial space and a 20 percent set aside of low- and moderate-income units. The city is giving Tucker's company, Bergen Street Redevelopment Urban Renewal LLC, $3 million in tax breaks and other incentives.

"Those two parcels of land have been vacant for some time ... Bergen and Lyons is kind of the heart of the south," James said. "If we're able to continue with the development, it would take empty lots, which were empty for so long, and put them back on the tax rolls."

Tucker View apartments broke ground July 18; court records show Tucker signed his plea agreement less than a month later on Aug. 14.

The project's groundbreaking drew a slew of local politicians and other supporters including Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, an old friend of the developer's family. Fulop did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Tucker, whose late father Donald Kofi Tucker, served on the state Assembly and on the Newark City Council until he died in 2005, has deep roots in this community. His mother, Cleopatra Tucker, was elected to the state Assembly in 2008. She did not return a call seeking comment.

Baraka and Tucker are close friends. Baraka has tweeted several pictures of them together and even congratulated his "good friend" when Tucker proposed to his girlfriend. 

"This is my neighborhood," Baraka said during the groundbreaking ceremony in July. "The narrative of the neighborhood is always a negative one, where something bad happens in Weequahic. Today we get to tell a different story."

Earlier this year, another developer, Victor Santos, who was working with the city on a $65 million public works garage was charged in an unrelated $5 million mortgage fraud scheme involving other properties in the city. The city said Santos divested from the Goldman Sachs-backed project and construction is moving forward.

Elite Strategies 

As part of Tucker's guilty plea, he admitted underreporting more than $177,0000 on his 2015 tax return, for which he owed more than $56,000 to the IRS. The underreported income included profits he earned at his consulting company Elite Strategies LLC and funds he embezzled from The Centre, according to court documents.

Tucker is listed as the chief executive officer of Elite Strategies, state corporation records show. His business partner, Linda Jumah, also pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of tax evasion. 

Elite Strategies helped plan last year's Mayor's Ball and coordinate other events for Baraka's campaign.  

Through a campaign spokesperson, Baraka declined to comment on Tucker's plea.

A source close to Baraka's campaign said Elite Strategies completed the events it was contracted for and there was no plan to move forward with the company for future work. 

"It's unfortunate," Councilman James said of Tucker. "I grew up with him and I pray for his family. No one wishes this to happen to anyone ... I wish he and his family the best."

Jessica Mazzola and Thomas Moriarty contributed to this report. 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.