around the JerSey Shore Student Scholars And

Leaders Honored

TRENTON – The New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) honored 37 students from the state’s 18 Community Colleges for being named to the 2023 New Jersey All-State Academic Team for their outstanding academic achievements and exceptional service to their communities and colleges as members of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for Community Colleges. The New Jersey Community College Scholars Celebration was held at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton.

“These exceptional students utilized the many opportunities that New Jersey’s Community Colleges have to offer and succeeded brilliantly. We applaud the New Jersey All-State Academic Team members for their academic excellence, hard-work, and perseverance to rise to the top of their class. Their tenacity and incredible work ethic serve as an inspiration to all,” said NJCCC President Aaron R. Fichtner, Ph.D.

“These students have thrived on and off campus as community leaders to reach this high level of achievement,” said NJCCC Chair Mary Zimmermann. “They exemplify all the good that comes from a New Jersey Community College education, and we could not be prouder.”

The 2023 New Jersey All-State Academic Team members are:

• Brookdale Community College: Belinda Asamoah (New Brunswick) and Sara Hosbach (Freehold);

• Ocean County College: Brooke Doering (Toms River) and Cynthia Huggins (Brick);

Local Man Pleads Guilty To Money Laundering

By Alyssa Riccardi

LAKEWOOD – A Township man has pleaded guilty to a charge of money laundering involving an illegal wire fraud scheme, state officials said.

Eli Schamovic, 41, of Lakewood, made “several fraudulent financial transactions through at least two entities that Schamovic formed and established as merchants that used multiple credit card processing companies,” police said.

Officials said the transactions totaled more than $1 million in losses to a multinational financial services corporation that specialized in payment cards.

Additionally, Schamovic laundered portions of the proceeds of this scheme, including through an estimated $500,000 wire transfer from a bank account under his control.

Schamovic faces a maximum10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits or gross loss suffered by the victims, whichever is greatest. His sentencing is scheduled for September 8.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.