MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has issued approximately 514 cease-and-desist letters and 89 subpoenas to businesses reported by consumers to have engaged in price gouging or other consumer protection violations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cases include investigations of brick-and-mortar retailers in New Jersey, companies from other states that are accused of increasing prices for New Jersey consumers, and sellers located in New Jersey who has been accused of raising their prices on online marketplaces.

In addition, about 40 merchants based in New Jersey are under investigation by the Division for engaging in price gouging or other consumer protection violations related to COVID-19 through their use of online marketplaces like Amazon, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace.

To date, the Division has logged a total of 2,978 complaints related to the COVID-19 emergency against about 1,800 business locations.

Morris County consumers who believe price gouging is occurring are encouraged to file complaints online to report specific details investigators can follow up on. Photographs of items being sold, receipts and pricing can now be uploaded to our new price gouging complaint form.

Approximately 90 percent of the complaints involve price increase on items including surgical masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays and wipes, food, bottled water, and other items in demand by consumers concerned about protecting their health and maintaining enough supplies for their homes.

“When people are concerned about keeping their families healthy and paying their bills, they shouldn’t have to worry about becoming the victim of unscrupulous market practices,” said New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

Paul Rodríguez, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, said his agency is reviewing thousands of potential violations. He asked consumers to take advantage of our new online complaint form which allows them to submit photo evidence when they report suspected violations.

New Jersey’s price-gouging law took effect on March 9, when Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The law prohibits excessive price increases during a declared state of emergency and for 30 days after its termination. A price increase is considered excessive if the new price is more than 10 percent higher than the price charged during the normal course of business prior to the state of emergency.

Price-gouging violations are punishable by civil penalties of up to $10,000 for the first violation and $20,000 for the second and subsequent violations.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp reminds residents that criminals continue to operate even during these unprecedented times. The recent national attention on the Economic Impact Payments, or COVID-19 relief stimulus checks, is one such opportunity for scammers.

The United States Postal Inspection Service advises that scammers are calling and/or emailing individuals claiming to be from the Treasury Department, and offering expedited stimulus payments or assistance with obtaining a stimulus payment. According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, citizens do not need to pay taxes or processing fees in order to obtain the relief stimulus payment.

Prosecutor Knapp advises if you receive a call asking for personal information or for fees to obtain a stimulus check, do not give the caller any personal information or do not send money. Just hang up.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offers the following tips for protecting yourself and others against incoming mail theft:

• Promptly pick up mail, or arrange for prompt pickup
• Inquire about overdue mail
• File a change of address if you move

On March 30, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced the creation of a Federal-State COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to investigate and prosecute those who exploit the COVID-19 pandemic by defrauding others.

If you believe you have been victimized, please notify the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit at (973) 285-6200, or your local police department.

Residents can also report the theft of stimulus checks from the mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or 1-800-ASK-USPS.

MORRIS COUNTY — In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Morris Habitat for Humanity is launching a virtual food drive to benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry. There is an unprecedented need for food as a result of the crisis and purchasing food online allows people to fight hunger while staying safe at home.

As people practice social distancing, traditional food drives are no longer an alternative. Morris Habitat’s food drive allows donors to actually see and shop online for the items they wish to donate. For example, a donation of $3.75 will purchase a carton of milk while $24.00 will purchase a six-pack of canned chicken. All of the food options are healthy items that the Interfaith Pantry wants and needs. At the end of the drive, all donations are delivered directly to the food pantry.

“This health crisis is now an economic crisis, and so many people have lost jobs and income making it difficult to afford basic needs like food,” said Blair Schleicher Bravo, CEO of Morris Habitat for Humanity. “Our organization’s focus has traditionally been on providing affordable homes, but now we’re broadening our outreach because the need is so great to feed our communities.”

The Interfaith Food Pantry is a non-denominational, non-profit organization helping families make ends meet by supplementing their monthly groceries. The organization is now facing an unprecedented challenge, as demand is picking up and they are bracing for an influx of unemployed workers. Companies, houses of worship, and schools that typically hold food drives are now unable to do so; their most important spring fundraising gala has been postponed.

Food donors will receive $20.00 off online purchases at Morris Habitat’s Restore and Morris Habitat will give an additional $20.00 in food purchases to Interfaith Food Pantry for each donation.

The ReStore is a retail home improvement outlet featuring new and second-hand building materials and furnishings—all at reduced prices. Inventory is donated and proceeds help fund the construction of affordable homes. To date, the ReStore has funded 28 of the 112+ houses constructed by Morris Habitat and saved over 10,200 tons of materials from landfills. The store is closed temporarily but $20.00 coupons can be used online or when the store reopens.

Click here to donate to Morris Habitat’s Food Drive

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has risen to 3725 an increase of 89 cases since last reported on Thursday, April 16. A total of 232 deaths have been reported.

The figures reflect open COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, not cases which have been closed, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

The County of Morris, in partnership with Atlantic Health, is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the County College of Morris, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869, in parking lot 1. Testing is scheduled beginning at 9:00 a.m. and is for Morris County residents only. There is no fee for the test.

To sign up for an appointment online click here for details.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

Please note the following limitations and provisos related to the data above:

• COVID-19-related deaths are not included in this data. Visit the State of NJ COVID-19 Dashboard for a summary of death totals.
• Pursuant to HIPAA, specific identifying health information of persons testing positive or who have passed due to the virus will not be released.
• Data reflects COVID-19 positive cases on dates and times indicated; some cases may be pending and are not yet entered.
• Data may not include cases with incomplete or incorrect street addresses or PO boxes. Such cases require additional investigation by local health officials.
• Figures do not include persons under quarantine/isolation due to exposure and who have not tested positive.
• The numbers, especially higher numbers, do not necessarily reflect community spread in a specific town. Various factors may be related to high numbers, such as increased testing and facilities with high-risk populations.
• This data should not be used to gauge if heightened precautions are needed in specific towns. Social distancing, hand hygiene, and preventive steps must be followed at all times regardless of the number of cases in a municipality.

PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) joined with Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), leading a letter from Members of Congress urging the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to establish an official coding or labeling system for the prioritization of COVID-19 tests.

A standard system for health care providers and testing centers to label samples sent to commercial laboratories would ensure laboratories have the information necessary to prioritize the samples for health care workers and first responders, as well as those most at-risk for complications, such as hospitalized patients and nursing home residents. It would also save our hospitals and health care providers the personal protective equipment used in the days they wait for COVID-19 testing results to arrive from commercial laboratories.

“The emergence of testing centers in our state is putting even more pressure on commercial laboratories, despite their best efforts to increase capacity to keep pace with the pandemic,” the lawmakers wrote. “Given the insurmountable challenge of laboratory capacity being outpaced by the number of cases, it is essential to establish a prioritization framework for both our health care providers and laboratories.”

The letter was also signed by Senator Cory A. Booker and Representatives Albio Sires (NJ-08), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Danny K. Davis (IL-07).

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has risen to 3635 an increase of 166 cases since last reported on Wednesday, April 15. A total of 216 deaths have been reported.

The figures reflect open COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, not cases which have been closed, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

The County of Morris, in partnership with Atlantic Health, is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the County College of Morris, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869, in parking lot 1. Testing is scheduled beginning at 9:00 a.m. and is for Morris County residents only. There is no fee for the test.

To sign up for an appointment online click here for details.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

Please note the following limitations and provisos related to the data above:

• COVID-19-related deaths are not included in this data. Visit the State of NJ COVID-19 Dashboard for a summary of death totals.
• Pursuant to HIPAA, specific identifying health information of persons testing positive or who have passed due to the virus will not be released.
• Data reflects COVID-19 positive cases on dates and times indicated; some cases may be pending and are not yet entered.
• Data may not include cases with incomplete or incorrect street addresses or PO boxes. Such cases require additional investigation by local health officials.
• Figures do not include persons under quarantine/isolation due to exposure and who have not tested positive.
• The numbers, especially higher numbers, do not necessarily reflect community spread in a specific town. Various factors may be related to high numbers, such as increased testing and facilities with high-risk populations.
• This data should not be used to gauge if heightened precautions are needed in specific towns. Social distancing, hand hygiene, and preventive steps must be followed at all times regardless of the number of cases in a municipality.

PARSIPPANY — A “Final SendOff” for Paterson Police Officer Francesco Scorpo, 34, who succumbed to COVID-19, was held Thursday, carrying the officer from St. Joseph’s Medical Center to a Stephen J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, 60 North Beverwyck Road, where Funeral Services will be private.

Video by Fireground Buff Network, LLC

Hundreds of Police Officers, Fire Trucks and other Emergency Vehicles lined North Beverwyck Road to show their condolences for Paterson Officer Francesco Scorpo.

He leaves behind a wife of six years, Kristina, and two sons, four-year-old Francisco Jr., and 6-month-old Santino.

Officer Scorpo joined the Paterson police force on July 20, 2015, serving in both the Patrol and Traffic Divisions.

He was hospitalized for more than ten days with the coronavirus.

“Frank was the love of my life, and there are no words that can describe what I’m feeling right now,” wrote his wife, Kristina, a nurse, on a Facebook post.

“Officer Scorpo was a dedicated public servant who served our profession and our community with pride, honor, and distinction,” the Paterson Police Department said in a statement.

He is survived by his father Sebastiano “Sam” Scorpo and his mother Anna.

“A dedicated son, husband, and father, Officer Scorpo, was a family man who cared so very much about people and his profession,” the statement read. “He will be remembered not only for being an exemplary police officer but as an exceptional and very special human being.”

Francesco Sebastiano Scorpo, Sr., passed away Sunday, April 12, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson.

Born in Wayne, he was raised in West Paterson and Wayne and moved to Montville Township in 2014.

Frank attended Wayne Valley High School, where he played for the Varsity Football Team. He earned his Bachelors Degree in History from William Paterson University in 2009. A member of the Class #115, Frank graduated from the Bergen County Police Academy in 2015.

Parsippany resident Brandon Cafferata, a high school friend of Kristina Scorpo set up a GoFundMe account. To donate, click here.

Final Sendoff for Paterson Police Officer

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MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio today warned that the Murphy Administration’s over-reaching coronavirus policies are putting the lives and finances of the state’s residents at risk and is calling for the Senate to investigate the Administration’s handling of the crisis.

“I am in extreme disagreement with the Administration and its over-reaching policies during these difficult times,” said Senator Pennacchio (R-26). “Some of the policies make no sense. How does closing parks and beaches keep you safe,  but crowding people together in isolation is supposed to spare us from this contagion?

“How is forcing sick patients to wait until they are so sick they need to be admitted to overcrowded hospitals before they can be treated with hydroxychloroquine – a cheap effective and safe medication – considered good medical practice?

“Since when does the Governor and Attorney General know more about medicine than doctors? I have been fighting to unshackle our doctors and give them the tools necessary to treat patients unencumbered by government restrictions,” Senator Pennacchio continued.

“The people of New Jersey are anxious to get back to work and return to their normal lives. Public policy cannot be one size fits all, especially when it’s based on faulty and constantly changing data,” said the Senator. “Demanding continued isolation until this virus ‘goes away’ is a flawed and dangerous approach.

“Ridding ourselves of this pandemic may still require isolation of those who are most at risk, testing to determine who has the COVID-19 virus, testing for antibodies to discover who has had the virus and recovered, and implementing a treatment protocol using hydroxychloroquine as both therapeutic, early treatment and/or a preventative measure.

“To date, the Administration has hidden behind the bureaucratic skirts of agencies that failed to adequately prepare us for this pandemic – the FDA, CDC and the national and international health institutes. New Jersey deserves better,” concluded Senator Pennacchio.

“In the interest of our residents, the Senate Select Oversight Committee will determine what policies and their timings were and were not in the best interest of the citizens of New Jersey, and to what extent the Governor was or was not thinking of our Constitutional rights as these policies were being formulated.”