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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 04, 2024 | The Indian Eye 30

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

SAM JOSHI RAJ PAREKH

Mayor-led Crime Bill passes NJ Attorney named as Chief of

Legislature Corporate Enforcement at BIS

A
crime bill advocated by Mayor Sam Joshi has passed the state assembly
on Monday and will be sent to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk in 45
days. According to this bill, home invasion is classified as a first-degree
offense and residential burglary as a second-degree offense. It extends impris- he US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
onment for those convicted of a home invasion or burglary in possession of a recently announced the appointment of Raj Parekh as its first-ever
firearm and permits juveniles to be tried as adults if charged while in posses- TChief of Corporate Enforcement. He will serve as the primary interface
sion of a firearm. between BIS’s special agents, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Chief
“Edison has been hit by home invasions and burglaries. I have been Counsel for Industry and Security, and the Department of Justice to advance
pushing penalties for any individual including juveniles who commit home significant corporate investigations.
invasions and burglaries. This effort has led to my testimony before the New Parekh joins BIS from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern
Jersey Senate and Assembly committee. I am pleased to announce that the District of Virginia (EDVA), where he served as Acting United States Attor-
senate and the assembly have passed the bill. I thank Senator Pat Diegnan, ney and for four years as First Assistant United States Attorney. Parekh was
Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, Assembly the highest-ranking career (non-political) official in EDVA and led a staff of
Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senator Vin Gopal, and Senator Brian Stack, as well more than 300 federal prosecutors, civil litigators, and support personnel in a
as all of those involved in advocating for this bill,” said Joshi in a released district that serves more than six million residents.
statement, “I look forward to the passage of this bill for the safety and security This is the first time BIS has appointed a Chief of Corporate Enforce-
of our residents.” ment, further reflecting BIS’s commitment to this effort.
Joshi has been discussing this issue with members of the state assembly
since March 2023. In that time, Joshi hired more police officers to make the “Today’s appointment of Raj Parekh as Chief of Corporate En-
department the largest it has been in 15 years, according to the Mayor’s office.
Chief of Edison township Police Department, Thomas Bryan, said “This forcement is an important step in institutionalizing the progress
legislation is a major step forward in our ongoing efforts to combat the rise of we’ve made over the past three years to strengthen our adminis-
burglaries and home invasions. In addition to this legislative victory, we have
increased our Police force to 195 officers, the most in 15 years. We launched a trative enforcement program,” said Assistant Secretary of Com-
street crimes unit and expanded our K-9 unit.” merce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod.
Added DEP chief Robert Dudash, “ We have also installed over 100 li-
cense plate readers throughout Edison township. We have also opened two
police stations for a greater police presence. Parekh is an experienced litigator, having tried more than 40 cases to
Mayor Sam Joshi concluded, “The safety of Edison residents remains our verdict throughout his career and having previously worked at EDVA, the
top priority and we will continue fighting until this bill becomes a law.” Department of Justice’s National Security Division, a major technology com-
Mayor Joshi and the Edison Police have been urging the state to enact pany, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the
stricter sentencing for juveniles since March, when three teenagers attempted Central Intelligence Agency, and an international law firm.
to steal a car outside of the Patel Brothers. Continued on next page... >>

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