Convicted Killer Sentenced for Attempted Hit on Prosecutor

After Jay R. Goldberg finishes serving up to 20 years for the death of his neighbor in Little Egg Harbor, he'll start serving up to 20 more for trying to rub out the man who put him away.

Goldberg, 64, was given the maximum sentence Friday in a Monmouth County courtroom in Freehold on convictions for conspiracy and attempted murder of former Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Steven N. Cucci, first-degree felonies. He was convicted June 27.

Judge Francis J. Vernoia ordered the terms to be served consecutively, dismissing a plea for concurrent terms submitted by the assistant public defender handling his case, according to information from the office of County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.

Cucci won an aggravated manslaughter conviction against Goldberg in 2012 for the death of Sarkis Shahinian, in addition to a conviction for maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, also first-degree crimes.

Goldberg is serving time in South Woods State Prison. He's required to serve at least 17 years of the new sentence under New Jersey's No Early Release Act.

Testimony given by Ocean County investigators this past June described conversations recorded by an inmate, in which Goldberg discussed the plan and his means of paying for it.

He was steered to an undercover Monmouth County detective posing as a Russian mobster named "Victor," who soon appeared and recorded further discussions.

Goldberg, prosecutors said, instructed "Victor" to get $15,000 from his sister and brother-in-law, ostensibly for a new lawyer. The jury was persuaded that it was money for murder.

In details given by Coronato's office, Goldberg responded to his sentencing, "Do you realize you sentenced me until I'm 100 years old?" To which Judge Vernoia replied, "Yes, I most certainly do."