Ocean County man was sentenced to 20 years in jail for the attempted murder of former Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Steven N. Cucci, officials said today.
On Friday, September 5, 2014, the Honorable Francis J. Vernoia, P.J.Cr., sentenced defendant Jay R. Goldberg, 64, of Little Egg Harbor to a 20 year period of incarceration, the maximum sentence permitted by law.
The sentencing stems from a June 27, 2014, verdict in which a jury found Goldberg guilty of two first degree crimes for the conspiracy to commit and attempted murder of former Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Steven N. Cucci.
In the June trial’s opening statement by Assistant Prosecutor Jamie L. Schron, she explained to the jury that Goldberg hated Cucci and blamed him for all of his problems. “This was payback,” Schron explained.
A recorded conversation with Goldberg inside of the jail arose where Goldberg discussed his plot to have Cucci killed and how he planned to pay for it.
A few days later, an undercover detective from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office posing as “Victor” met with Goldberg twice in the jail. Their meetings were also recorded and played for the jury.
During their meetings, Goldberg hired “Victor” and gave him a letter to send to his sister and brother-in-law asking for $15,000. Goldberg wrote that the money was for a new attorney, but the jury heard and saw evidence that it was actually payment for Cucci’s murder.
Cucci prosecuted Goldberg for other crimes in 2009. Those charges resulted in convictions in 2012 for the aggravated manslaughter of Goldberg’s neighbor, Sarkis Shahinian, and maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, both first degree crimes.
Goldberg is currently serving a 20 year sentence at South Woods State Prison for that conviction.
Yesterday, Goldberg was sentenced to a 20-year consecutive term, in which he must serve 85 percent pursuant to the No Early Release Act, Judge Vernoia stated.
After Goldberg was sentenced, he stated, “Do you realize you sentenced me until I’m 100 years old?” Judge Vernoia replied, “Yes, I most certainly do.”