Mercer County Prosecutor Recognized In Fight Against Trafficking

Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri recently received the 2020 Advocacy Champion Award from the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, the prosecutor’s office announced. He was recognized for his efforts in human trafficking protection across the state.

Onofri is the Vice Chairman of the New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking and President of the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey.

“To those who believe that New Jersey does not have a human trafficking issue, that it is only something that happens in the movies or on television, you are sadly wrong,” Onofri said. “In Mercer County alone, we have four active human trafficking cases and a fifth that recently saw a defendant plead guilty and receive a 10-year prison sentence. We cannot pretend that human trafficking does not exist.”

Earlier this month, 48-year-old Darrell Smith was sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking a homeless mom.

In another case, 48-year-old Chin Pang Liu was indicted for human trafficking, false contract payment claims, filing a fraudulent return and facilitation of criminal activity. He owns the Fusion House in Lawrence and Golden China restaurant in Yardley. Read more here: Lawrence Spa Owner Indicted For Human Trafficking: Prosecutor

Dong Teng and 34-year-old Yonglian Liu were also arrested in the case in 2018, but they have not yet been indicted. Teng owns Anna Nails and Massage on Brunswick Pike in Lawrence. Yonglian Liu was an employee of Chin Pang Liu. Read more here: 3 Busted In Prostitution Ring At Lawrence Restaurants, Spa: Cops

Also recognized were Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-Hudson), Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-Morris, Somerset, Union), Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R-Essex, Morris, Passaic), Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) and Atlantic County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Buckley.

In the attached image, Onofri is pictured with Detective Alicia Bergondo (left) and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Heather Hadley (center) of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Human Trafficking Unit.

See related:
Three People Arrested For Human Trafficking In Mercer County: Police
Woman Convicted Of Trafficking Girl Found On I-295: Officials