TRENTON Andrew Lucas, the former mayor of Ma-

nalapan, testified in federal court here that he did make

egregious errors in paperwork to acquire a 97-acre
farm that returned him $1.2 million in grants. But many
of the mistakes were made in haste and under pressure,
he said, not part of a scheme designed for his benefit, as
prosecutors allege.
Lucas, 37, took the stand in U.S. District Judge Freda
L. Wolfsons courtroom for the first time on Monday
and faced close to a full day of questioning by attorneys
about the time leading up to his 2010 acquisition of the
land, known as Burke Farm. Lucas is accused of falsify-
ing his tax returns and inflating his income on a bank
loan application and fraudulently obtaining the
$250,000 down payment for the farm, which is located
near his own home on Iron Ore Road.
Lucas, a self-employed capital adviser and farmer,
Lucas: Errors
were made
... mistakenly
Former Manalapan mayor takes
the stand in federal fraud case
By Dustin Racioppi @dracioppi
See TRIAL, Page A5
Former Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas is
accused of falsely obtaining financing in a
deal that secured him 97 acres of farmland
on Iron Ore Road in Manalapan in 2010.
FILE PHOTO
I believed I was giving them the
most accurate information at the
time.
ANDREW LUCAS,
on why he didnt tell the bank there were discrepancies in his tax
returns
Asbury Park Press APP.COM $1.00
Asbury Park Press - Daily barcode
),
/sbury Park Press daily

Asbury Park Press - Sunday barcode
),
/sbury Park Press 3unday

Home News Tribune - Daily barcode
),
Home News Jribune daily

Home News Tribune - Sunday barcode
),
Home News Jribune 3unday

Ocean County Observer - barcode
)|
0cean 0ounty 0bserver daily

Ocean County Observer Sunday - barcode
),
0cean 0ounty 0bserver 3unday

Beach Haven Times - barcode
),

Beach Haven Jimes

The Beacon - barcode
),
Jhe Beacon

The Lacey Beacon - barcode
)|

Jhe Lacey Beacon

The Tuckerton Beacon - barcode
),
Jhe Juckerton Beacon

TUESDAY 09.16.14
VOLUME 135
NUMBER 222
SINCE 1879
ADVICE D8
CLASSIFIED D9
COMICS D7
LOCAL A3
OBITS A8
OPINION A11
SPORTS C1
TECH TUESDAY A4
TV D6
WEATHER C8
TECH TUESDAY
SIT BACK AND RELAX
This robotic gadget gives you the ability to get
work done around the house while kicking up
your feet and relaxing on the couch. Page A4
U.S. AIRSTRIKES TARGET ISLAMIC STATE AREAS PAGE 1B
TRENTON With multiple references to suspended
NFL star Ray Rice, the Assembly unanimously ap-
proved a half-dozen measures Monday aimed at com-
bating domestic violence.
None of the proposals was written in response to
Rice knocking his fiancee unconscious in an Atlantic
City casino hotel elevator in February or last weeks re-
lease of a video that captured the incident. In fact, four
of the bills have been awaiting action since 2010.
But the controversy surrounding the former Rut-
gers University and Baltimore Ravens running back
lent a sense of immediacy to the passage of the package
that would allow victims to testify by closed-circuit
television.
This issue of domestic violence isnt just about Ray
Rice, said Assemblywoman Pamela Rosen Lampitt, D-
Camden. This issue, we have talked about in (the)
State Assembly passes
domestic violence bills
On heels of Ray Rice scandal,
state moves to protect victims
By Michael Symons @MichaelSymons_
See VIOLENCE, Page A5
NEW YORK Gov. Chris Christie says a review of anti-terrorism procedures in New Jersey
and New York is taking place because of growing overseas threats. Christie and New
York Gov. Andrew Cuomo led a security preparedness meeting Monday with public safe-
ty leaders from both states and federal officials. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also
attended.
Increased activity by the Islamic State militant
organization has raised concerns, but no specific
threat was identified, though Homeland Security
Secretary Jeh Johnson, who also attended, said
Americans face an evolving potential threat.
The states respective homeland security ad-
visers and state police superintendents were di-
rected to ensure that coordinated protocols are in
place among law enforcement agencies, Christie
said, to make sure the appropriate amount of in-
tensity is being brought to the task of protecting
our region.
The governors will convene a meeting to re-
view initial recommendations in 10 days. In 30
days, the group again will report directly back to
both governors with further findings and recom-
mendations.
Christie said the goal is to strengthen coordina-
tion between agencies charged with securing
VIGILANCE ON
TERROR VOWED
ASSOCIATED PRESS
(From left) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo listen as Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson
addresses a news conference in regards to anti-terror procedures the two states are taking.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
(From left) Cuomo, Christie and New York City Mayor
Bill de Blasio leave a news conference following a
security meeting in New York on Monday.
N.J., N.Y. officials meet to address security amid ISIS threats
See SECURITY, Page A5
By Bob Jordan @BobJordanAPP
iSTRAIN
Love your high-tech gadgets?
Your eyes dont
HEALTHY LIVING, D1
NAMES RELEASED IN I-195 ACCIDENT
Four people sent to the hospital after Sundays four-vehicle accident that snarled traffc. TODAY, A3