In 2019, Steven Soto was lawfully installed as pastor of River Edge Church (formally Reformed Church of Cherry Hill & Newbridge), located at 360 Bogert Road, River Edge, NJ 07661.
Beginning in 2020, a coordinated, multi-year enterprise was launched to remove him by any means necessary — not through lawful process, but through force, intimidation, false police reports, illegal surveillance, manufactured foreclosure, financial extortion, and the systematic weaponization of law enforcement.
At the center of this alleged conspiracy: Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, P.C. — a law firm whose attorneys did not merely represent opposing parties, but allegedly coordinated, directed, and participated in the scheme directly. The firm's attorneys filed fraudulent claims. They defied court orders. They operated knowing that prior litigation had already been dismissed with prejudice.
On April 5, 2026, Steven Soto filed a First Amended Verified Complaint in United States District Court, District of New Jersey, seeking accountability for six years of alleged civil rights violations, civil conspiracy, malicious prosecution, financial fraud, and suppression of religious liberty.
This site documents the public record of that case.
360 Bogert Road, River Edge, NJ 07661
H&O Capital Funding / 340 Bogert Funding LLC
Steven Soto Lawfully Installed as Pastor
Soto is lawfully installed as pastor of River Edge Church (Reformed Church of Cherry Hill & Newbridge). He holds lawful authority over the church's religious operations, governance, and property at 360 Bogert Road, River Edge, NJ.
Enterprise Formed — COVID-19 Pandemic Period
During the COVID-19 pandemic, defendants form an association-in-fact enterprise to remove Soto from his position and seize control of church operations and property. Gregory Dunlap acts as central organizer, recruiting others into the conspiracy.
First False Police Report
Defendant Rodney Haveman files a false police report against Soto. Criminal proceedings are initiated without probable cause. The matter is ultimately dismissed with prejudice in Soto's favor.
Police Called During Active Worship Service
Defendants cause police to be summoned to an active church service. Soto is falsely accused of trespassing on his own church property. Police presence disrupts worship and causes fear among congregants. Soto provides proof of authority — the accusing parties are directed to leave.
Malicious Prosecution Case — Dismissed With Prejudice
Prior litigation seeking to challenge Soto's authority and church governance is dismissed with prejudice by certified court order. No court ever adjudicates ownership of church property in defendants' favor. Marshall Dennehey attorney Howard Mankoff prosecuted this case — and continued litigating after the dismissal anyway.
Illegal Surveillance Cameras Installed
Defendants cause surveillance cameras to be installed within the church property without lawful authority — extending into areas used for religious activity. Justin F. Johnson, Esq. (Marshall Dennehey shareholder) coordinates the installation. Soto removes the unauthorized equipment.
False Criminal Complaint — Arrest of Pastor
Defendant Denise Kehoe files a false criminal complaint. Soto is arrested, prosecuted, and wrongfully convicted. Defendant Donny Banerji supports the false claims. Law enforcement is weaponized through false representations coordinated with defendants — including Detective Renita Sanchez.
Quit Claim Deed Attack — Judge Demands Dismissal
Marshall Dennehey's Howard Mankoff litigates a case targeting Soto's church property deed. The presiding judge demands dismissal. Mankoff continues litigation anyway — despite knowing New Jersey law prohibits relitigating claims dismissed with prejudice.
Financial Obstruction — Closing Halted / Right to Redeem Refused
Defendants interfere with financial operations. Payoff information is refused. Property title is artificially clouded. A real estate closing is halted. The right to redeem is refused. The manufactured foreclosure case SWC-F-004225-24 continues under Marshall Dennehey's direction — with Mankoff again falsely claiming defendants own Soto's church building.
Federal Lawsuit Filed — First Amended Verified Complaint
Steven Soto files a First Amended Verified Complaint in U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. Case No. 2:26-cv-02813-MEF-MAH. Jury trial demanded. This site goes live.
— First Amended Verified Complaint, ¶ 2
False Police Reporting
Defendants filed multiple false police reports against Soto — manufacturing criminal proceedings without probable cause. Criminal charges were later dismissed in Soto's favor. The enterprise continued regardless.
Illegal Surveillance
Surveillance cameras were installed inside church property — including the sanctuary — without lawful authority. When Soto removed the unauthorized equipment, defendants used the incident to manufacture additional criminal charges against him.
Fraud on the Court
After prior litigation was dismissed with prejudice, Marshall Dennehey's attorneys — knowing this bar exists under New Jersey law — continued filing new cases making the same claims. The complaint alleges this constitutes intentional fraud on the court.
Suppression of Religious Liberty
Defendants summoned police to active worship services, disrupting religious assembly. Congregants were intimidated. First Amendment-protected activity was suppressed through coordinated state action enabled by defendants' false representations to law enforcement.
Financial Extortion & Foreclosure Manufacturing
Defendants blocked refinancing, refused payoff statements, imposed escalating fees, slandered title, stripped equity, and manufactured a foreclosure case (SWC-F-004225-24) — designed to force default and strip Soto of his church property through economic pressure.
Civil Conspiracy
Defendants formed and operated an association-in-fact enterprise with defined roles, structured relationships, and a shared objective: remove Soto by any means necessary. The enterprise operated continuously from 2020 to the present.
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COUNT I
42 U.S.C. § 1983 — Civil Rights Violations
Violation of First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights through state action. Defendants weaponized law enforcement using false representations to deprive Soto of constitutional rights. -
COUNT II
42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) — Civil Rights Conspiracy
Defendants conspired to deprive Soto of equal protection of the laws — coordinating through an association-in-fact enterprise with a shared unlawful objective. -
COUNT III
18 U.S.C. § 248 — FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances)
Interference with access to a place of religious worship through force, threats of force, and physical obstruction — including summoning police to disrupt active worship services. -
COUNT IV
Civil Conspiracy
A multi-year coordinated scheme involving defined roles, relationships, and a shared objective to remove Soto and seize control of church property and governance. -
COUNT V
Malicious Prosecution
Criminal proceedings initiated without probable cause in furtherance of the enterprise's objectives. Case BER-C-000153-20 dismissed with prejudice. Defendants persisted. -
COUNT VI
Tortious Interference / Slander of Title
Defendants artificially clouded the title to Soto's church property, blocked legitimate financial transactions, and interfered with property rights to manufacture default and facilitate an extortionate foreclosure.
Have Information? Know Something?
If you have direct knowledge of misconduct by Marshall Dennehey, the Reformed Church in America, or any named defendant in this matter — we want to hear from you.
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The information on this site documents allegations made in a verified complaint filed in federal court (Case No. 2:26-cv-02813-MEF-MAH, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey). All allegations are alleged, not adjudicated. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. This site is published as a matter of public record and constitutionally protected free speech. Statements of opinion are identified as such. The site operator is the party to the referenced litigation.