Essex County Man Charged With Large-Scale Bias Email Scheme
Monday, August 18, 2025, 6:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
FORT LEE, NJ.- On Friday, following an investigation, a 23-year-old Montclair, New Jersey, man was taken into custody and jailed after being charged in connection with a mass email scheme that targeted Jewish and African American individuals with racial intimidation and terroristic threats.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, on Thursday, August 14, 2025, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit was contacted by members of the Fort Lee Police Department regarding a mass email containing biased and threatening content that was sent to 411 residents at the Atrium Palace Condominium Complex in Fort Lee, New Jersey, that was sent during the overnight hours.
Joint Investigation Results In Arrest
Accordingly, a joint investigation was initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit, the Bergen County Bias Crimes Unit, and the Fort Lee Police Department. During the investigation, Detectives uncovered that two email messages, each containing explicit language, targeting Jewish and African American individuals, were sent by an unknown user who unlawfully accessed the online building management and communication mailing system.
During further investigation, Detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s Cyber Crimes Unit and the Bias Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Fort Lee Police Department, were able to track the online activity to an internet connection belonging to Nicholas M. Scarano, 23, of Montclair, New Jersey.
On Friday, August 15, 2025, Detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit located Scarano and executed a court-authorized search warrant at his Montclair home. During the search, Investigators located two electronic devices that Scarano utilized to unlawfully access the building management system and send out the biased and threatening emails.
   Following the search, Scarano was taken into custody and formally charged with second-degree Bias Intimidation; third-degree Terroristic Threats; third-degree False Public Alarm; and third-degree Computer Criminal Activity. Scarano was processed on the charges and was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending future court proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.Â
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
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