Trump Pardons Several Prominent – Some Convicted – NJ Figures

NEW JERSEY – President Trump has pardoned several New Jersey figures who were convicted in some of the state's most high-profile crimes over the past decade.

Trump granted pardons to 73 people and commuted the sentences of an additional 70 on his last day of office, granting freedom to former political power brokers in the state as well as a New Jersey man who is a friend of the president’s son-in-law, according to NJ Advance Media, which broke the story.

That man, Kenneth Kurson, was charged in October with cyberstalking during his divorce, according to the US Attorneys Office.

Here are the New Jersey figures who were pardoned or had their sentences commuted:

George Gilmore

Trump granted a full pardon to George Gilmore, Ocean County's chief power broker who was convicted for failure to pay payroll taxes and false statements.

Just last month, a federal appeals court upheld the conviction on tax charges of Gilmore, the former chairman of the Ocean County Republican Party who was widely seen as one of the most powerful Republicans in New Jersey.

Gilmore, 71, of Toms River, was sentenced last year to 366 days in prison for his conviction on two counts of failing to pay over payroll taxes withheld from employees to the IRS and one count of making false statements on a bank loan application submitted to Ocean First Bank. But his sentence was put on hold pending the outcome of his appeal.

Gilmore, a former equity partner and shareholder at Gilmore & Monahan PA, was convicted in April 2019, following a two-week federal trial.

Gilmore had long been viewed as one of the most powerful political bosses in New Jersey, even serving on Chris Christie's transition team when Christie was elected governor of New Jersey in 2009.

Even after he resigned as the Ocean County GOP chairman, Gilmore's influence continued to be felt in political circles, including in connection with a political action committee set up after Frank Holman was elected Ocean County Republican Party chairman over Gilmore's choice, Frank Sadeghi. Read more: Federal Court Upholds Ex-Ocean Co. GOP Boss Gilmore's Conviction

In a press release, the White House said the pardon was supported by Bill Stepien, Trump's campaign manager; former Governors Chris Christie, James McGreevey, James Florio and Donald DiFrancesco; former Lt. Gov. Kimberly Guadagno; and former Congressman Thomas MacArthur, among others.

"Mr. Gilmore has made important civic contributions over his career in New Jersey," the White House said.

Eliyahu Weinstein

Trump commuted the sentence of Eliyahu Weinstein. of Lakewood, who was convicted in 2014 for running a real estate investment Ponzi fraud scheme that caused $200 million in losses.

In February 2012, Weinstein and his fellow conspirators offered a pair of investors – referred to in the indictment as the "Facebook victims" – the opportunity to purchase large blocks of Facebook shares prior to the company's initial public offering, or IPO, in May 2012, according to authorities.

The offer was particularly attractive because large blocks of the shares were extremely difficult to get and were expected to increase in value at the time of the IPO. Weinstein and his conspirators did not actually have access to the shares, according to authorities.

Based on misrepresentations by Weinstein and his conspirators, the Facebook victims wired millions of dollars between February and March 2012 to an account Weinstein and a conspirator controlled. Weinstein and another conspirator provided investors with false documents showing companies owned by various conspirators held assets, which would secure the Facebook victims' investment, according to authorities. Read more: Convicted Ponzi Schemer From Ocean County Gets 2 More Years In Facebook Fraud Case

This commutation was supported by former US Attorney Brett Tolman, former US Attorney Joseph Whittle, Professor Alan Dershowitz and Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-Cape May, among others.

"Mr. Weinstein is the father of seven children and a loving husband. He is currently serving his eighth year of a 24-year sentence for a real estate investment fraud and has maintained an exemplary prison history," the White House said. "Upon his release, he will have strong support from his community and members of his faith."

Salomon Melgen

Trump commuted the sentence of Salomon Melgen, who was convicted of healthcare fraud and false statements.

Federal prosecutors once accused US Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, with conspiring with Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, in an alleged bribery and corruption scandal that involved gifts and campaign contributions.

A mistrial, however, was ruled in the case in 2017. Read more: Mistrial In Menendez Corruption Case

The commutation was supported by Menendez, Col. Mark D. Holten, as well as his friends, family, and former employees, the White House said.

"Numerous patients and friends testify to his generosity in treating all patients, especially those unable to pay or unable to afford healthcare insurance," the White House said.

Frederick Nahas

Trump granted a full pardon to Frederick Nahas, a "talented surgeon" with a practice in New Jersey.

In the 1990s, Nahas became aware of a federal investigation into his billing practices. Although the 6-year investigation uncovered no underlying billing fraud, Nahas did not fully cooperate and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing justice in a health care investigation, according to the White House.

Nahas spent 1 month in prison in 2003 and has spent the subsequent 18 years "working tirelessly to regain the trust and admiration of his patients, colleagues, and community," the White House said.

The pardon was supported by Van Drew.

Kenneth Kurson

Trump granted a full pardon to Kenneth Kurson, a Maplewood man whom prosecutors recently charged with cyberstalking related to his divorce from his ex-wife in 2015. Kurson was a former top editor of Jared Kushner’s New York Observer, according to Bloomberg.

Between November 2015 and December 2015, Kurson engaged in a pattern of stalking and harassment against three victims, according to an October 2020 release from the US Attorneys Office.

As part of this pattern, Kurson used multiple aliases to file false complaints about two of the victims with their employer, post false negative reviews about one victim’s professional conduct on crowd-sourced review websites and made unsolicited contact with two of the victims, according to the release.

Kurson traveled on multiple occasions to the workplace of two of the victims, taking photographs and inquiring about one victim’s work schedule, the release said. During the investigation, the FBI gathered evidence that Kurson simultaneously engaged in a similar pattern of harassment against two other individuals.

As a result of Kurson’s conduct, an employer of two of the victims hired a security guard, the release said.

“Kurson is alleged to have engaged in a disturbing pattern of retaliatory harassment that intimidated and alarmed several victims and their employer,” stated Acting United States Attorney DuCharme. “This Office is committed to protecting victims from malicious cyberstalking activity and apprehending criminals who try to rely on Internet anonymity to facilitate their crimes.”

In a "powerful" letter to the prosecutors, the White House said, Kurson’s ex-wife wrote on his behalf that she never wanted this investigation or arrest and “repeatedly asked for the FBI to drop it… I hired a lawyer to protect me from being forced into yet another round of questioning. My disgust with this arrest and the subsequent articles is bottomless…”

"This investigation only began because Mr. Kurson was nominated to a role within the Trump Administration," the White House said.

The New York Times reported in 2018 that Kurson had been offered a position at the National Endowment for the Humanities, but he withdrew from consideration after the FBI began its investigation.

Kurson, the White House said, has been a "community leader in New York and New Jersey for decades."

"In addition, Mr. Kurson is a certified foster parent, a successful business owner, and is passionate about various charitable causes. Mr. Kurson is an upstanding citizen and father to five beautiful children," the White House said.

Karen Wall contributed and reported for this story.