February 23, 2004
NEWS RELEASE

Somerset County Crime Stoppers Program Offers Rewards For Fugitives

Somerville, NJ - Somerset County Crime Stoppers Chairman Douglas W. Kimmelman has announced that Somerset County Crime Stoppers, Inc. has begun to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest of certain designated fugitives.

Chairman Kimmelman stated that presently the Sunday Courier News and the Messenger-Gazette/Reporter newspapers feature a Somerset County Most Wanted Fugitive each week. Beginning on Sunday, February 29, 2004 anyone who provides the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Program with information that results in the arrest of the fugitive featured in the Sunday Courier News or the weekly Messenger-Gazette/Report newspapers will receive a $250.00 cash reward.

Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest stated that information may be provided anonymously by telephone by dialing the Crime Stoppers toll free T.I.P.S. Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). Information may also be provided to law enforcement online at the Somerset County Crime Stoppers website at "www.somersetcountycrimestoppers.org" or the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office website at "www.scpo.net." Whether a citizen provides the important information online or via the telephone, they will be assigned a confidential code number. Therefore, the person providing the information will remain totally anonymous and in any future communications they will only be identified utilizing their confidential code number. At no time will anyone from Crime Stoppers or law enforcement ever ask someone their name. Once a person is eligible for a reward, arrangements will be made for the individual to receive their reward utilizing only their confidential code number. The reward money will be paid in cash by Crime Stoppers, which is funded by contributions, not tax dollars.

Chairman Kimmelman has also announced that Crime Stoppers will be offering a reward of $1,000.00 for information that results in the arrest of any one of Somerset County's top five (5) most wanted fugitives. In addition, in cooperation with U.S. Marshal James T. Plousis, the reward offered by Crime Stoppers for the arrest of any of Somerset County's top five (5) most wanted fugitive will be matched by federal funds. Therefore, the total reward for information provided that results in the arrest of any one of the County's top five (5) most wanted fugitives can be viewed online at either the Crime Stoppers website at "www.somersetcountycrimestoppers.org" or the Somerset County Prosecutor's website at "www.scpo.net."

Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation governed by an independent Board of Directors who are volunteers from our communities. For more information about Crime Stoppers log onto our Internet website at "www.somersetcountycrimestoppers.org" or log onto Crime Stoppers International's website at "www.c-s-i.org."

Again, anyone having information that could assist the police or Prosecutor's Office in effecting the arrest of either a weekly featured Most Wanted or one of the County's top five (5) Most Wanted please call anonymously toll free at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or log onto "www.somersetcountycrimestoppers.org" or "www.scpo.net".

Finally, Chairman Kimmelman asks that everyone remember that "crime doesn't pay, but we do!"