A look at which high school programs have the most alumni playing D1 college lacrosse.

Kiburi Tucker, a close friend of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and son of Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday on tax evasion and wire fraud charges.

The son of a state Assemblywoman and a close friend of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was sentenced to more than three years in prison Wednesday for cheating the government of taxes and defrauding a now-defunct nonprofit.

Kiburi Tucker, of Newark, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and wire fraud charges in November, admitting he embezzled $332,116 from The Centre, Inc., a nonprofit started by his late father -- a hailed civil rights leader and longtime Newark City Council member. 

Tucker, 43, also underreported his income, including money he earned from his political consulting firm, Elite Strategies LLC, that provided services to Newark, the city's redevelopment agency, and Baraka's campaign. 

With his mother, Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (D-28th Dist.), his wife, and more than a dozen other supporters in the courtroom, Tucker stood before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares, expressing remorse for his actions. 

"I'm extremely embarrassed and ashamed of what I've done," Tucker said. "I'm so sorry."

Tucker will surrender on May 30. 

"I want to make amends, I plan to make that my mission," Tucker said. He declined to comment further after his sentencing saying only, "(I) just want to spend time with my family." 

Timothy Donohue, Tucker's attorney, said the 38-month-sentence was disappointing. Donohue argued before Judge Linares that Tucker should receive the minimum 33-month sentence as he "is fully committed to mitigating the harm that he's caused."

"What he has done is an extraordinary acceptance of responsibility," Donohue said, adding that Tucker struggled with a gambling and alcohol addiction which led him to make "impulsive choices."

The U.S. Attorney's Office, represented in court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacques S. Pierre, said Tucker used the embezzled funds not just for gambling but to pay for his "lavish lifestyle" that included trips to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and a $2,000 entertainment system for his penthouse apartment. 

Those dollars were a mixture of state and city funds as well as tuition money that low-income families paid to The Centre, Inc. for child-care services.

"The fact that this organization was in financial chaos begs the question, what were the conditions of this organization?" Pierre said. "People entrusted their children to The Centre."

A son of Newark

Deeply rooted in the city where he was raised, Tucker is the son of Assemblywoman Tucker, and his late father, Donald Kofi Tucker, served on the state Assembly and on the Newark City Council until he died in 2005.

Assemblywoman Tucker declined to comment after the sentencing Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors said Tucker, who was the executive director of The Centre, Inc., defrauded the nonprofit of $332,116 between 2012 and 2015. The money was used to fund gambling, travel and to furnish his home. The Centre, which opened in 1989, is now closed.

Tucker also worked at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission since 1994 as a senior external relations representative earning $113,082. He resigned on Nov. 10. 

Weeks prior to Wednesday's sentencing, Baraka, a Democrat, told NJ Advance Media Tucker was a close friend and that he has known the family for decades. 

"Kiburi just got married, just had a child. I'm friends with his wife, I'm close to his mother, everybody. It obviously has an impact on me as if it were my own brother," Baraka said recently. "My father married Kiburi's mother and father." 

Tucker has a 1-year-old child at home, his attorney said. 

Baraka said Tucker's actions were his own and unrelated to the city, despite Elite Strategies' work for the administration. 

"It's their own money, it's their own business, they are going to pay for the things that they made mistakes for," Baraka previously said. "It had nothing to do with the functioning of the city, the management of the city, it has nothing to do with the functioning of the campaign, the management of the campaign."

The city said it paid Elite Strategies, LLC $26,500 for marketing services provided between 2014-15. Tucker's consulting partner, Linda Jumah, was sentenced to three years probation in March for also underreporting her income. 

Baraka said despite his relationship with Tucker and Jumah, the two followed the city's bidding procedures and had "every right to bid."

The Newark Community Economic Development Corporation hired Elite Strategies in 2014 for $111,500, according to a contract. Campaign finance records show the Committee to Re-Elect Ras Baraka paid Elite Strategies $95,000 between April 2015 and April 2017 for consulting services and coordinating a fundraiser. 

Tucker was also developing a $10 million mixed-use apartment complex in the South Ward, named Tucker View apartments. Baraka said the 42-unit building is still moving forward, but Tucker has removed himself from the project.

"It's going to move forward, we don't want the project to be hurt, he wasn't the only person doing the project," Baraka said. 

It's not the first time Tucker will sit behind bars. He previously served four years in prison for his involvement in a drive-by shooting. He was released in 2001. 

Donohue, Tucker's attorney, argued those charges were 20 years old.

"This is a great person, with great abilities to offer his community," Donohue said. "He fell short of the mark."

Donohue said Tucker was in an intensive counseling program three times a week for his drinking problem and had put himself on the gamblng exclusion list in Atlantic City. 

Tucker will have to pay the IRS $133,000, of which he has already paid $20,000. He will also have to forfeit $332,116. 

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

The top prom song of the 1980s was "Every Breath You Take" by the Police; apparently, no one realized the lyrics were about a stalker ....

The theme for my 1977 senior prom was "Harbor Lights." And, for decades I've thought how great it would have been if Boz Scaggs had performed. Well, before you scoff, it's not so farfetched. After all, famous rock bands have played at high schools.

During a short period in the late 1960s, classic groups that performed in Union Catholic High School's gym in Scotch Plains included The Who, Black Sabbath and Cream.

And UCHS appears to have had a counterpart in Staples High School in Westport, Conn., around the same time, hosting bands like the Doors, Sly and the Family Stone and the Animals.

And in the 1960s and '70s, Cherry Hill East High School would regularly hold its proms at the Latin Casino in Cherry hill, a venue played by just about every major musical solo act of the time. Thus, the Class of 1963 got to see Andy Williams perform.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Our gallery shows a photo of the Tokens, who had a #1 hit with 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' in 1961, playing at an East Brunswick prom in 1969; no information is available on how and why that came about. The Yardbirds played the St. Xavier High School prom in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1968, though it should be noted that the school was large enough that the event was held at the Cincinnati Convention Center; the band was paid $2,000.

 

But this photo is my favorite. A band known as "Zee Zee Top" played the Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School prom in 1970. The band released its first album, removing four 'e's' in the interim, in 1971 and had their first chart single ("Francine") in 1972. ZZTop played a high school prom.

Enjoy this collection of prom photos from the past in New Jersey, as well as these links to previous prom galleries.

Vintage photos of proms in N.J.

Vintage photos of N.J. proms

Vintage photos of high school proms in NJ

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

Booker Allen, 55, is accused of assaulting a patient at Straight and Narrow, a non-profit substance abuse treatment center in Paterson

A Newark man who worked at a drug-and-alcohol rehab program in Paterson has been charged with sexually assaulting a patient who was living at the facility and was under his supervision, authorities said Wednesday.

Booker Allen 

Booker Allen, 55, is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.

The victim was an in-patient resident at the Straight and Narrow, a non-profit substance abuse treatment center run by the Catholic Diocese of Paterson for 64 years. The facility is located on Straight Street in Paterson.

The assault occurred in April 2016 when the patient was participating in a residential treatment program, Valdes said.

The prosecutor said Allen was a staff member tasked with the supervision of residents, including the victim.

"It should be noted that Mr. Allen is no longer employed by Straight and Narrow," Valdes said.

If convicted of all counts, Allen faces up to 23 years in prison, the prosecutor said. He was held at the Passaic County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Public records show Allen received two years' probation and a $1,000 fine in October 1990 for the manufacture-distribution of heroin and cocaine in Essex County.

No one at Straight and Narrow was available to comment Wednesday morning on Allen or his arrest.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

From Marty Liquori to Sydney McLaughlin, N.J. has made its mark at Franklin Field.

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Cast your vote for the top senior pitcher in the Garden State

The thieves use string, glue from mouse traps and a water bottle to dip into postal drop boxes to troll for checks

"Mail fishing" thieves used water bottles, the adhesive from mouse traps and shoe string to steal more than $115,000 in checks from United States Postal Service drop boxes in several towns across North Jersey, police said.

Five men have been arrested this month in the scheme and another 10 to 15 arrests are expected within the next month as Glen Ridge police investigate whether they are part of a larger theft ring that steals checks and fraudulently deposits them.

It's not an urban myth. Thieves are stealing checks from mailboxes

The thieves have been particularly active this time of year because many of the checks stolen were tax payments bound for the Internal Revenue Service, according to Capt. Sean Quinn.

Glen Ridge police made two more arrests Tuesday after pulling over a car at 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Ridgewood Avenue and Glen Ridge Parkway and finding 24 stolen parcels.

The two Paterson men in the vehicle were charged with theft, trafficking in personal identification information and possession of burglary tools. Both were sent to the Essex County jail.

The thieves applied adhesive from mouse or rat traps to string, tie the string around a water bottle and then "fish" the mail out of the mailbox, police explained. 

On April 2 at around 3 a.m., a Paterson man and a Garfield man were arrested after being found with a similar homemade device as they were preparing to steal mail, police said.

Later that week, a Passaic man whose account was used to deposit stolen checks was arrested. 

All five arrested range in age from 19 and 24, police said. Police declined to release their identities, citing the ongoing investigation. 

Police said they have been investigating reports of stolen checks for more than a year-and-a-half.

Other mail boxes hit in Glen Ridge include those at these intersections:

• Bay Avenue and Sherman Avenue
• Ridgewood Avenue and Baldwin Street.

Glen Ridge police said the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office is also involved in the investigation. 

Other towns where mail was stolen include Bloomfield and Wayne, according to News12.com.

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

Find out which college program features the most talent from the Garden State.

The 17-year-old faces charges including murder and robbery. Watch video

The night Karamoko Fatiga died, he called his mosque to make his monthly contribution.

Half an hour later, his father-in-law told reporters Thursday, the 41-year-old was gunned down on the streets of East Orange as he was delivering Chinese food.

"He was a happy man," Imam Souleimane Konate said, surrounded by microphones in a narrow hallway following a press conference at the city's police headquarters. His children "don't know yet what happened, but they kept asking, 'When is my father coming back? Where is my father?'"

On Thursday afternoon, East Orange officials announced a 17-year-old boy had been arrested in Fatiga's April 2 killing.

The Essex County Prosecutor's office said Fatiga was shot in the 100 block of Shepherd Avenue around 8:57 p.m. that night while attempting to make a delivery.

Fatiga was East Orange's first homicide victim of 2018.

Konate told reporters Fatiga came from a large family of immigrants from Africa's Ivory Coast. Dozens of his family members filed into the department's command briefing room Thursday escorted by department staff.

The teenager, whom Public Safety Director Sheilah Coley said had previously lived in the city, has been charged with murder, felony murder, robbery and weapons offenses. Authorities are withholding his name because he is a juvenile.

Whether Fatiga's death was connected to the attempted delivery remains unclear, and Coley said she couldn't speak to the teenager's motive in the shooting, which is still under investigation.

"We just know that this was a senseless act, and how we got from point A to point B we don't know," she said.

Family members said they wanted the boy tried as an adult. City officials said a decision on whether to seek the boy's prosecution as an adult in state Superior Court will ultimately be up to the prosecutor's office.

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

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NJ Advance Media has put together a list of the top girls lacrosse seniors. Vote for the No. 1 player at the bottom.

Gov. Phil Murphy's latest town hall also featured a confrontation with another crying parents worried about school funding. Watch video

The man stood right in front of Gov. Phil Murphy and was blunt. 

"This state is too expensive, and you're making it worse," Greg from Freehold told the Democratic governor during a town hall in Newark on Thursday night. 

Three months into his tenure, Murphy had come to Newark Tech High School to sell his first state budget proposal -- a $37.4 billion plan that includes more than $1.5 billion in new taxes and moves to close loopholes. 

The governor argued those hikes are needed because he "inherited a mess" from his predecessor, Republican Chris Christie, and that the state "stopped funding" important things like education, transportation, women's health and more.  

"We need to be that state that's good value for money," Murphy told the audience of about 100 or so. "You say: 'You know what? It may not be the cheapest place in the country to live, but you get a lot back for that."

But Murphy faced two confrontations in an otherwise jovial evening in New Jersey's largest city, a Democratic stronghold.

One came from another crying mother from south Jersey who begged Murphy to fix the state's school funding issues. 

Phil Murphy faced anger and tears over school funding at a town hall

Greg, however, came first. 

The Freehold resident echoed many of the arguments that Republicans -- and some Democrats -- make about Murphy: that New Jersey already has the nation's highest property taxes, and he should look to cut money instead of spending more. 

Greg noted that his property taxes have more than doubled since he and his wife bought their home in 2001. 

He then reeled off how Murphy wants millions of dollars for things like universal pre-kindergarten and free community college. 

"Who's paying for this? Where is this money coming from?" Greg asked Murphy face-to-face. The governor walks right over to those with questions at his town hall meeting.

"You're going way too far," the man continued. 

At one point, Greg argued that new public workers -- such as teachers and police and firefighters -- should be forced into 401k-styled retirement plans instead of pensions. 

Then, the man said he plans to flee the Garden State once he's able to.

"I got seven years, four months, and one day, and I am gone," Greg said. "I am sending my daughters to college out of state with orders never to return."

Murphy didn't fire back the way Christie might have during those arguments at his old town halls. 

Instead, he smiled.

"I wanna be the governor for the folks who stay, let me just say that," the new governor responded. 

Murphy then noted "we're doing a lot on property taxes."

"Yeah, increases," Greg shot back.

"OK, I listened to you. Do you want to listen to me?" Murphy replied. 

Though short on details, the governor started a list:

* His administration filed a lawsuit to fight the Republican-backed federal tax overhaul that will hurt New Jersey. 

* He's appointing a czar to examine having more towns share services to bring down property tax bills. 

* He plans to fully fund the state's education formula over the next four years, which he argues will bring down property tax bills. 

* And he vowed to help grow the state's economy. 

"I'll tell you what we're not gonna do, though," Murphy added. "We're not gonna take it out of the backs of teachers and the police and fire."

Now a man in the crowd angrily told Murphy to his face: "This state is too expensive, and you're making it worse." pic.twitter.com/ewhgBa0xy2

-- Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) April 19, 2018

A few minutes later, the second confrontation happened. 

It echoed the scene from Murphy's last town hall, in Willingboro, earlier this month, when a group of worried parents, school officials, and young students implored Murphy to rework the school funding numbers in his budget. 

Critics say while Murphy's proposal significantly increases education funding overall, many school districts considered "underfunded" have been shortchanged while "overfunded" districts receive too much money. 

On Thursday, Amy Jablonski, a parent and school board member in Chesterfield, told Murphy she voted for him and that she's "very supportive" of his legislative agenda. 

But she pleaded with the governor to rework school funding. 

"I want to believe you, that you're gonna do the right thing for my kids," Jablonski, who stood next to her first-grade daughter Emma, said through tears. "But when I hear from everyone else and I don't hear you making those commitments, I'm afraid I can't believe in your agenda anymore."

Murphy told her that "help is on the way."

He assured her he is working with the Democratic-controlled state Legislature on the matter. Acting state education commissioner Lamont Repollet told top lawmakers earlier this week that he will work with them to "modernize" the school funding formula before the state budget is due June 30. 

"We accept the formula isn't right," Murphy continued Thursday. "I'm on your side. We're committed to figuring this out. You have my word." 

On a lighter note, another person in the audience had a different question for Murphy. 

"I want to ask you face to face, man to man, will you please come on my podcast?" Terrell from Newark asked. "Please. Please."

"Can someone follow up with Terrell?" Murphy responded with a grin. 

The governor also snapped a photo with the man. 

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Lisa Durden was fired from her job as an adjunct professor at Essex County College in June over comments she made on a Fox News show.

An adjunct professor who was fired after comments she made on a Fox News show is suing Essex County College claiming she was wrongfully terminated and her civil rights were violated. 

Lisa Durden, 54, of Newark, was fired after making an appearance on Fox's "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on June 6. 

Durden taught media and public speaking at Essex County College for six months last year before the college suspended and later fired her. She's now suing the college for damages, saying the administration violated her right to free speech and breached her contract. 

"It's important to make sure my civil rights are preserved," Durden told NJ Advance Media. "I have a right to free speech."

The lawsuit states Durden was not speaking on behalf of the college and did not identify herself as an employee of the public institution while on TV.

In a heated six-minute exchange with host Tucker Carlson, Durden defended the Black Lives Matter movement's decision to only invite black people to a Memorial Day celebration in New York City. 

"Boo hoo hoo, you white people are angry because you couldn't use your white privilege card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter all black memorial day celebration," she said on the show.

Wayne Yourstone, a college spokesman, said Essex County College does not comment on pending litigation. He added, "The matter involving Ms. Durden was handled in a lawful manner consistent with her status as an adjunct."

Following Durden's firing in June, college president Anthony Munroe defended the decision. 

"The college was immediately inundated with feedback from students, faculty and prospective students and their families expressing frustration, concern and even fear that the views expressed by a college employee (with influence over students) would negatively impact their experience on the campus," Munroe said in a statement at the time.

Durden's lawsuit alleges she was humiliated, embarrassed and suffered emotional distress over her firing -- which made national headlines. 

Durden said she's often made TV appearances speaking on pop culture, politics, social issues and other matters. Her segment on the Tucker Carlson show, she said, was her first appearance on that show during her short tenure at Essex County College. After her firing, Durden ran on the Green Party ticket as a candidate for lieutenant governor, alongside Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale, who ran for governor. 

"This is an example of an educational institutional trying to chill speech by its employees," Durden's attorney Leslie Farber said. "What the person said publicly had nothing to do with their jobs."

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

N.J. is winning the fight against soot, but the state's ozone levels are still concerning according to 2018 "State of the Air" report

There's good and bad news about the quality of New Jersey's air.

Fewer areas in the Garden State are suffering from pollution caused by air particles, like soot and fine dust. Ozone pollution, on the other hand, is worsening.

That assessment comes from the American Lung Association's newly released 2018 "State of the Air" report, which details air pollution around the nation from 2014 to 2016 and found that more than four in 10 Americans live with unhealthy air.

According to the report, both ozone and soot pollution can contribute to lung cancer and other health problems.

Ozone, the main ingredient in smog, that is found in air near the Earth's surface can be extremely harmful to people. It's effects can be described as "sunburn for the lungs," said to Kevin Stewart, a spokesman for the American Lung Association.

"Someone could have an asthma attack as a result of this," Stewart said of ozone pollution. "Someone could go to the emergency room, and we know that asthma can kill people."

Stewart said that ozone isn't typically emitted directly into the air, but rather forms when other pollutants combine. The chemical reaction that causes ozone to form happens more frequently in hot weather.

Out of 227 metro areas, the greater New York area (which includes Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties) was listed as the 10th worst city for ozone pollution. The greater Philadelphia area (which includes Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties) was listed as the 24th worst city for ozone pollution.

The report grades individual counties on an A through F scale based on the number of high pollution days they registered during the study. In New Jersey, 15 of the state's 21 counties monitor ozone pollution. Of those, 11 scored F's; Morris County scored a D; and Atlantic, Cumberland and Warren counties scored C's. New Jersey's ozone pollution grades are worse compared to last year's report.

Because air pollution is not confined by state borders, the report measures metro areas rather than individual states. New Jersey is split between the New York and Philadelphia metro areas. However, Stewart said that if New Jersey was measured as a whole it would still rank as one of the worst ozone pollution areas.

Ozone pollution grades for New Jersey counties, according to the American Lung Association's 2018 "State of the Air" report. Map courtesy of the American Lung Association.Map courtesy of the American Lung Association 

As for soot pollution, New Jersey showed improvement from last year's report.

The greater Philadelphia area was also listed as the 12th worst city for year round air particle pollution, out of 187 metro areas. The greater New York area was ranked 26th.

But areas in Delaware and Connecticut, also included in those metro areas, were more polluted than New Jersey, Stewart said. Overall, the Garden State is in pretty good shape when it comes to particle pollution. Of the 13 counties that monitor particle pollution in the state, all but one were graded A or B. Union County, the worst offender, received a C.

Daily air particle pollution grades for New Jersey counties, according to the American Lung Association's 2018 "State of the Air" report. Map courtesy of the American Lung Association.Map courtesy of the American Lung Association 

Part of the reason New Jersey may have less soot pollution is because the state has focused on putting cleaner engines on the road and expanding renewable energy in the state, said Larry Hajna, spokesman for theNew Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Also, the closure of New Jersey coal power plants and the phasing out of old diesel engines have been important in cutting back the Garden State's air particle pollution, he added.

Cutting back vehicle emissions is also a way to combat ozone pollution, Hajna said. He noted that New Jersey has some of the strictest vehicle emissions regulations in the nation, but that the state can do little to address emissions blowing into the Garden State from elsewhere. Specifically, Hajna said it is common for ozone pollution from Pennsylvania and points south to blow northward into New Jersey.

Hajna also noted the state's renewed push for wind energy and electric vehicles.

"All administrations in New Jersey, going back decades, have taken air quality seriously," Hajna said. "This administration is no different."

Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MSolDub. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

From Anthony Ashnault to Sydney McLaughlin, New Jersey's high school sports legends are well represented in the national record books.

Rescuers describe Geets as "calm and friendly."

Geets 

NEWARK -- Geets is a senior male tuxedo cat at the Associated Humane Society in Newark.

Rescued as a stray, shelter workers describe him as a "calm and friendly" feline who should make a good pet in most any home.  Geets is FIV/FeLV negative, neutered and up-to-date on shots.

To meet Geets and other adoptable pets, visit the Associated Humane Society at 124 Ever-green Ave. The shelter is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5:30 p.m. and weekends from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=NJ01.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

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

If you think New Jersey is immune to snow in late April or early May, think again.

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WEST ORANGE -- Mayfair Farms in West Orange hosted the 1986 Union Catholic High School senior prom, where this table photo was taken. MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey The promgoers are unidentified. If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to essex@starledger.com. And,...

WEST ORANGE -- Mayfair Farms in West Orange hosted the 1986 Union Catholic High School senior prom, where this table photo was taken.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

The promgoers are unidentified.

If you would like to share a photo that provides a glimpse of history in your community, please call 973-836-4922 or send an email to essex@starledger.com. And, check out more glimpses of history in our online galleries on nj.com.

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

More than 12,000 people in New Jersey wanted to know how to delete their Facebook account after the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Apparently people in New Jersey have had enough of Facebook.

Tens of thousands of people are actively thinking of getting rid of the platform, according to recent research by Top10VPN, a U.K.-based company focused on cybersecurity.

The number of Google searches about how to delete Facebook doubled in the weeks after the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke in March, the research shows.

The New York Times and the Guardian reported last month that profiles of millions of Facebook users were harvested by Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm hired by President Trump's 2016 campaign. The firm used the information it had gathered to strategically place political ads.

About 87 million Facebook users around the world had their details shared with Cambridge Analytica, forcing CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify on Capitol Hill last week.

More than 80 percent of the people affected by the data breach live in the U.S., said Simon Migliano, head of research and CEO of Top10VPN.

As a response to the scandal, Facebook users across the world began searching for ways to delete their accounts.

His team pooled all the Google searches related to deleting Facebook in 255 locations across 17 countries. The total number of searches totaled 3.5 million. One-third of those searches were from within the U.S., Migliano said.

About 27,000 searches originated from New Jersey -- a 126 percent increase from the months prior to the Cambridge Analytica story breaking, according to the data.

Searches on how to delete Facebook may have doubled in New Jersey, but they spiked even higher in New York.

In New York, searches rose 134 percent to 36,550 in the weeks following the scandal.

Other U.S. cities that experienced spikes include San Francisco, Seattle, San Jose, Portland and Austin.

"I think these numbers are only going to get bigger," Migliano said. "Facebook has something to worry about."

New Jersey's attorney general's office is investigating how personal information came into the possession of Cambridge Analytica and if data from New Jersey was compromised.

"I am particularly troubled by reports that Facebook may have allowed Cambridge to harvest and monetize its users' private data, despite Facebook's promises to keep that information secure," Grewal said in a statement. "At this point we have many questions and few answers, and New Jersey's residents deserve to know what happened."

Facebook says that it can take up to 90 days to process your request and to delete your information from the site.

Click here. This will take you to the page where you can delete your account.

For more information visit the help document located in Facebook's Help Center.

Erin Banco may be reached at ebanco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ErinBanco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.