A compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) with the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and his brother face charges that they conspired to extort $6,000 in cash from a general contractor, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Alvaro Idrovo, 44,from Bloomfield, and Paul Idrovo, also known as “Jose Diaz,” 46, from Nutley, are charged by complaint with knowingly and intentionally conspiring to commit an act of extortion through Alvaro Idrovo’s office or employment with OSHA.

The defendants appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre.

Extortion in North Bergen

According to the complaint, Alvaro Idrovo was assigned to investigate an anonymous complaint concerning the misuse of an extension ladder at a North Bergen worksite of Company 1.

According to the complaint, Alvaro Idrovo allegedly told Individual 1, owner of Company 1, that Individual 1 was in violation of OSHA regulations for not having the necessary safety training certificates for Company 1’s workers to be on ladders at the worksite.

Alvaro Idrovo allegedly falsely advised Individual 1 that he needed to obtain training certificates with a specific vendor named “Jose Diaz,” or Individual 1 would be subject to exorbitant fines and possible arrest for the violation, according to the complaint.

Individual 1 contacted the phone number supplied by Alvaro Idrovo. According to the complaint, the number actually belonged to Paul Idrovo, posing as “Jose Diaz,” who allegedly told Individual 1 that the required OSHA training certificates would cost $13,000 in cash.

Paul Idrovo allegedly repeated Alvaro Idrovo’s false assertions that if Individual 1 did not get the training certificates, Individual 1 would be in trouble with OSHA, including owing large fines and doing possible jail time. In followup phone conversations with Paul Idrovo, Individual 1 was able to negotiate the fee down to $6,000 in cash.

Caught in the act

When OSHA officials learned of Idrovo’s attempt to extort Individual 1 while questioning Individual 1 on an unrelated matter, OSHA officials referred the matter to federal law enforcement officials, who arranged for Individual 1 to make consensual recordings with both Alvaro and Paul Idrovo.

During an April meeting surveilled by law enforcement, Individual 1 paid Paul Idrovo $6,000 in cash in exchange for ladder and safety awareness training certificates and a safety and health plan.

Alvaro Idrovo attached copies of the training certificates and the plan to his OSHA reports regarding Company 1’s violation, He did this, despite knowing that the training certificates falsely claimed that training had been provided to the noted individuals in March 2020. They also claimed falsely that Jose Diaz had provided training, and the alleged training was OSHA certified.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Mikulka in New York; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Leslie Faye Schwartz, of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.

The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

North Bergen has honored a local U.S. Navy veteran who recently turned 100 years old.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation honoring town resident Joseph Mongelli on his 100th birthday at the Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Sept. 9.

“On behalf of all of North Bergen I would like to congratulate Joseph on his 100th birthday,” Sacco said. “This magnificent milestone is truly a cause for celebration and to reflect on the wonderful life Mr. Mongelli has lived. We are grateful for his selfless service to our nation during WWII and look to him for inspiration on how to live a long, happy, and healthy life.”

Mongelli is a longtime resident of North Bergen, whose love for life inspires his family, friends, and community every day. He wakes up early each morning and, at the age of 100, goes to work driving empty buses for Alliance Bus Group in Carlstadt, NJ.

A life of service

Mongelli was born at home on Sept. 8, 1920 to Ignazio and Maria Mongelli.

He proposed to his future wife Rita Ferris in Hudson County Park in North Bergen and they married while he was on a short leave from the U.S. Navy Submarine Division during WWII on Dec. 9, 1943.

After returning to the war in the Pacific, Mongelli was injured when the USS Lapon encountered enemy fire. He was awarded medals by the U.S. Navy in late 1944. He and his wife went on to have two daughters, Sharyn and Joni, who gave them a grandson, Damon, and a granddaughter, Joey.

In the early 1970s, Mongelli played a key role in bringing the USS Ling submarine to New Jersey to memorialize those lost in submarine service during WWII.

Mongelli is the leading voice in saving the USS Ling, which is docked in the Hackensack River. It memorializes the brave men he served with and who sacrificed their lives on submarines during WWII. He continues to work tirelessly to preserve this piece of history. He has made it his mission to relocate the USS Ling Memorial to Hoboken.

Mongelli lives a remarkable life at age 100, characterized by devotion to his faith, family, and friends; hard work; healthy eating; honesty, humility, and humor. He continues to inspire many with stories of his service to the country and commitment to his fallen comrades.

Sacco said that after the commissioner’s meeting, he gave Mongelli a call to personally wish him a happy birthday. Mongelli’s daughter told Sacco he got a “big kick out of all this.” Sacco said the township was happy to be able to celebrate with him.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

NB C.A.R.E.S. in conjunction with the Nicholas J. Sacco Foundation and the Township of North Bergen once again held its annual back-to-school drive.

School supplies were distributed to nearly 600 children on September. 1. Social distancing and masks were required to participate.

This year the distribution was more critical than ever, with people out of work due to the pandemic and many experiencing financial problems.

Pens, pencils-and hand sanitizer 

Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Parks Commissioners Hugo Cabrera, and Commissioner of Public Safety Allen Pascual were on hand to oversee the event, greet residents, and ensure that things ran smoothly.

The giveaway is held each year shortly before school starts. Residents are invited to the Recreation Center to pick up whatever they need for the school year.

Sacco said that “although the school year begins virtually, it’s imperative to make sure the students have what they need for a successful school year.”

Kids choose their own backpacks from among hundreds of options, and fill them with pens, pencils, markers, folders, notebooks, glue, erasers, sharpeners, scissors, and more.

This year the options also included hand sanitizer, in colorful cartoon bottles.

“NB C.A.R.E.S. gave out almost 600 backpacks and school supplies to North Bergen residents,” Sacco said. “Every year we expand our giveaways based on the needs of the community, and this year was our largest one yet. Thank you to all of the volunteers who help make this possible!”

The distribution was organized by NB C.A.R.E.S. Coordinator Aimee Focaraccio with the help of the North Bergen Recreation Department and numerous volunteers.

Items and funding were provided by Eye Contact Vision Center, Dollar Tree, the Frank A. Pinto Foundation, and the Nicholas J. Sacco Foundation.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Originally scheduled to run through August, the  “Eat & Shop Local” program in North Bergen has been extended into September due to popular demand.

The initiative involves closing parts of streets to allow local restaurants to expand seating into the street, given restrictions on indoor dining.

While indoor dining is set to resume on Sept. 4 per Gov. Murphy’s announcement, only 25 percent capacity is allowed meaning that outdoor dining will continue to play an important part in helping businesses stay afloat.

More than 40 local restaurants and dining establishments have participated in the initiative created by Mayor Nicholas Sacco, the Board of Commissioners, and Freeholder Anthony Vainieri to help local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a weekend off for Labor Day, the program will continue to close certain blocks to vehicular traffic on weekends to create pedestrian malls, allowing restaurants and businesses to expand into the street to serve customers while maintaining social distancing.

“Eat & Shop Local was created by the township to help our local business that suffered significant losses as a result of the pandemic,” Sacco said. “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who came out to support our neighborhood restaurants and business owners.”

A movable feast

Residents and visitors have eagerly taken advantage of the program every weekend so far, according to the township. Many people return regularly as the program moves from one location to another, highlighting a new selection of international restaurants and fine cuisine each week.

Streets will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. on Fridays until 10 p.m. on Sundays.

From Sept. 11 to 13, Broadway will be closed for “Eat & Shop Local.”

From Sept. 18 to 21, outdoor dining will shut down Bergenline between 76th and 82nd.

From Sept. 25 to 27, Bergenline between 70th and 76th Streets will be closed.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, Eat & Shop Local will take place in conjunction with the annual Classic Car Show, from 79th to 85th Streets on Bergenline Avenue.

Patrons must wear masks and practice social distancing.

“It’s been wonderful to see everyone enjoying this opportunity to get outside and sample our many delicious dining options while maintaining safe social distancing,” Sacco said. “I hope to see even more friends and neighbors during round two in September.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced on Aug. 24 that DCR will pursue a former corporate marketing director’s complaint against her ex-employer alleging pregnancy discrimination.

In her original 2018 complaint against her former employer, VCNY Home of North Bergen, the former marketing director alleged that her former employer denied her rights under the New Jersey Family Leave Act.

In 2019, the woman filed an amended complaint alleging that VCNY retaliated against her after she filed a complaint with DCR about the denial, and eventually fired her.

Her name was redacted from both complaints.

Pregnancy discrimination

The discrimination allegedly began soon after she advised VCNY that she was planning to take time off under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to physically recover from giving birth, and then take an additional 12 weeks of leave under New Jersey’s Family Leave Act to care for her newborn.

Under the law, an employee who gives birth does not exhaust her New Jersey Family Leave Act time by first taking federal FMLA time to physically recover from childbirth.

However, VCNY sent the woman a letter in March 2018 claiming that federal FMLA and state Family Leave Act time run concurrently. The letter directed her to return to work on June 18, 2018, and warned that if she failed to do so, the company would view it as her resignation.

The marketing director filed her complaint with DCR on April 10, 2018. In January 2019, she filed an amended complaint alleging that, upon her return to work in July of 2018, VCNY retaliated against her in multiple ways and eventually discharged her as reprisal.

Alleged retaliation for speaking out

The woman alleged that VCNY retaliated against her when she returned to work after her leave by, among other things, diminishing her role in the company and excluding her from projects and meetings she had previously been involved in.

According to the complainant, VCNY fired her when she refused to take a two-week international business trip to India and China while she was breastfeeding her baby.

“New Jersey law protects the rights of new parents during those early days when infants require so much care,” Grewal said. “Employers should make certain they understand family leave protections under both state and federal law. We take these protections seriously, and will hold accountable employers who violate the rights of their workers.”

“No parent should be forced to choose between their job and caring for or breastfeeding their child,” said DCR Director Rachel Wainer Apter.

“And it is all too common for mothers, in particular, to be sidelined at work after they return from leave. That is illegal. New Jersey law protects a parent’s right to take leave to care for a newborn child and to return to the same position after leave. It also protects a parent’s right to breastfeed a child; employers must grant reasonable accommodations to employees who are breastfeeding unless doing so would be an undue burden on their operations.”

VCNY claims department “restructuring”

VCNY Home manufactures and imports bedding, window and bath textiles and other goods. VCNY hired the complainant in July 2016 as a marketing director. In that role, she was responsible for the development and implementation of marketing campaigns, promotional events, and digital marketing.

VCNY officials interviewed by DCR acknowledged a reduced role for the complainant after her return from pregnancy leave, and confirmed her exclusion from some meetings and events. However, they cited a marketing department “restructuring” as the reason, and denied retaliation.

As to the two-week international trip, when the complainant asked to be excused from the trip as a breastfeeding accommodation, VCNY offered to pay for her baby and a childcare provider to travel with her, the company said.

Complainant declined VCNY’s offer based on advice from her child’s pediatrician and provided VCNY with a medical note which explained why this international trip posed “significant health risks” to her child. She proposed other measures to support the trip. But VCNY allegedly fired her for her “inability or unwillingness to perform an essential function of job.”

Pursuing the case

DCR conducted an investigation into the case, and subsequently issued a Finding of Probable Cause against VCNY earlier this year. However, a Finding of Probable Cause does not resolve a civil rights complaint.

Rather, it means the state has concluded its preliminary investigation and determined there is sufficient evidence to support a reasonable suspicion the law has been violated.

The Division then attempted to resolve the matter through its conciliation process. Because no agreement was reached during conciliation, DCR will pursue the case in the Office of Administrative Law.

Investigator Justin Hoffer and Legal Specialist Carlos Bellido handled the VCNY investigation for DCR. Deputy Attorney General Farng-Yi Foo is handling the case in the OAG.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.