A Clifton electronics store that was a popular hangout for teenagers has been shut down after the owner was charged with selling fireworks to an undercover police officer.
Fireworks confiscated in a raid on DVB4U Ltd. a Clifton electronics store and Internet cafe that was popular with teenagers
Karl Roman, 30, of Clifton was arrested Wednesday along with his assistant, Jose Gonzalez, 31, of Paterson, after police raided the store at 1156 Main Ave. Roman was charged with three counts of selling fireworks, which are illegal in New Jersey, and one count of maintaining a public nuisance. Gonzalez was charged with one count of selling fireworks.
The store, DVB4U Ltd., had been in business for about six months and sold mostly satellite television dishes and receivers from a back room. In the front room, Karl Roman had set up a bank of computer terminals with the latest video games, charging his customers $5 an hour to play.
"This guy was looking to make money any way he could," said Samuel Rodriguez, a detective with the Clifton Police Department's juvenile division. "The place was loaded with kids."
About two months ago, Clifton police received a tip that Roman was selling cigarettes to minors and allowing the teenagers to look at pornography. Rodriguez went undercover, posing as a construction worker interested in buying a satellite TV system.
But Roman also allegedly offered him a cache of fireworks he had gotten in Florida.
There were smoke bombs, firecrackers, rockets and a bag of M-80s, a small explosive that packs a big punch. "Some of these things are the equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite," Rodriguez said. "It's not something you want your kid to be playing with. A kid could easily blow his hand off."
Police recovered a 9mm pistol registered to Roman during Wednesday's raid. They also seized a computer and are seeking a court order allowing them to inspect the hard drive for any pornography or other illegal activity.
Roman spent the 10 hours at the Clifton city lockup on Wednesday before his mother posted his $25,000 bail. He said he never let teenagers look at pornography, and was a legitimate businessman.
Roman acknowledged that he sold fireworks, but said that was his only wrongdoing.
"This is witch hunt," he said. "We were trying to do something good for the town by giving kids something to do. But they don't want Internet cafes in town."
Roman returned to his store Thursday and tried to pick up the pieces from the raid. A pile of satellite dishes lay in the corner of the backroom. The sign on the front door said "Closed Until Further Notice."
"I don't care anymore. I've been destroyed," he said. "I'm done."
Fireworks confiscated in a raid on DVB4U Ltd. a Clifton electronics store and Internet cafe that was popular with teenagers
Karl Roman, 30, of Clifton was arrested Wednesday along with his assistant, Jose Gonzalez, 31, of Paterson, after police raided the store at 1156 Main Ave. Roman was charged with three counts of selling fireworks, which are illegal in New Jersey, and one count of maintaining a public nuisance. Gonzalez was charged with one count of selling fireworks.
The store, DVB4U Ltd., had been in business for about six months and sold mostly satellite television dishes and receivers from a back room. In the front room, Karl Roman had set up a bank of computer terminals with the latest video games, charging his customers $5 an hour to play.
"This guy was looking to make money any way he could," said Samuel Rodriguez, a detective with the Clifton Police Department's juvenile division. "The place was loaded with kids."
About two months ago, Clifton police received a tip that Roman was selling cigarettes to minors and allowing the teenagers to look at pornography. Rodriguez went undercover, posing as a construction worker interested in buying a satellite TV system.
But Roman also allegedly offered him a cache of fireworks he had gotten in Florida.
There were smoke bombs, firecrackers, rockets and a bag of M-80s, a small explosive that packs a big punch. "Some of these things are the equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite," Rodriguez said. "It's not something you want your kid to be playing with. A kid could easily blow his hand off."
Police recovered a 9mm pistol registered to Roman during Wednesday's raid. They also seized a computer and are seeking a court order allowing them to inspect the hard drive for any pornography or other illegal activity.
Roman spent the 10 hours at the Clifton city lockup on Wednesday before his mother posted his $25,000 bail. He said he never let teenagers look at pornography, and was a legitimate businessman.
Roman acknowledged that he sold fireworks, but said that was his only wrongdoing.
"This is witch hunt," he said. "We were trying to do something good for the town by giving kids something to do. But they don't want Internet cafes in town."
Roman returned to his store Thursday and tried to pick up the pieces from the raid. A pile of satellite dishes lay in the corner of the backroom. The sign on the front door said "Closed Until Further Notice."
"I don't care anymore. I've been destroyed," he said. "I'm done."