Hazlet man charged with beating a federal witness NEWARK - A Hazlet man employed by a Newark towing company was charged last week with beating a cooperating government witness whose assistance led to the guilty plea in 2005 of the manager of emergency towing services for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Carmine Dente Jr., 32, was charged in a one-count indictment with retaliation against a government witness. The charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Dente was arrested at his home early on the morning of Feb. 27 by special agents of the FBI. He made an initial appearance that afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Claire C. Cecchi. Bail was set at $200,000 unsecured with home confinement and electronic monitoring. The judge also ordered there be no contact with the witness he allegedly assaulted. According to the indictment, which was unsealed with Dente's arrest, he was an employee of a Newark towing contractor whose principal owner was Dente's father. The company provided heavy-duty towing services under contract with the Turnpike Authority on certain portions of the turnpike. In about the spring of 2004, an individual associated with a competing towing company, and identified in the indictment as Individual 1, provided information to the FBI about extortion and corrupt conduct by Turnpike Authority Emergency Services Manager Robert Desena. As a result of Individual 1's information, which included recording conversations he had with Desena, Desena resigned. On May 11, Desena, of Bayonne pleaded guilty to accepting approximately $3,800 in benefits ($2,950 in cash and a $881 payment toward a set of wheel rims for his car) from the owner of a towing operator contracting for the turnpike. This towing contractor, Individual 1, was cooperating with the federal investigation. On Nov. 16, 2006, Dente allegedly assaulted Individual 1 at a bar in Rahway, causing him to receive approximately 15 stitches to close a head wound. The indictment alleges that the attack was in retaliation for witness' assistance to the FBI during its investigation of Desena. U.S. Attorney Christie credited special agents of the FBI Newark Division, under the direction of acting Special Agent in Charge Pedro Ruiz, with developing the case that led to Desena's guilty plea and last week's indictment.