At Lyons & Associates, we believe that no one is above the law, including law enforcement itself. That principle is at the heart of a lawsuit recently filed by our attorney, Hon. Lara K. DiFabrizio, J.S.C. (Ret.), on behalf of Angela Mancini, a New Jersey mother and licensed professional counselor whose rights were allegedly violated during a high-profile criminal investigation.
The case, now pending in federal court, is about more than one woman’s arrest; it highlights the larger civil rights issues that arise when prosecutors and police use their authority in ways that trample individual freedoms.
The Real-Life Circumstances
Angela Mancini, 35, lives in Colts Neck with her husband and three young children. She is the daughter of Anthony and Doreen Acciardi, owners of Club 35, a Sayreville gentleman’s club that was under investigation for alleged prostitution and tax violations.
Mancini herself, however, was not involved in the family business. The only connection Ms. Mancini had with the club was her help in operating her brother’s ATM machines. Despite the complete lack of evidence showing Ms. Mancini was involved in any criminal activity, she was arrested, during a heavily armed raid of her home at 7 a.m. on June 14, 2022, while her three young children, then ages 4, 3, and four months, watched in terror. Police also arrested Ms. Mancini’s parents and brothers during coordinated raids at their respective homes.
Police handcuffed Mancini in her pajamas and took her to Middlesex County jail. She spent eight days confined to a cell without seeing a judge. Ms. Mancini was overwhelmed by “depression and desperation,” according to the lawsuit. She was charged with first-degree money laundering and second-degree conspiracy. Despite the lack of evidence against Ms. Mancini, Prosecutors indicted her with misleading and deceptive testimony and threatened heightened charges against her family members, if she moved to dismiss the charges against her.
Ultimately, all charges against Mancini were dropped and expunged in 2023. In her lawsuit, she argues she was a pawn used to pressure her family into pleading guilty. She is suing the Middlesex County Prosecutor and Sayreville Police for malicious prosecution, unlawful arrest, and deliberate misuse of government power.
Why This Case Matters: The Bigger Civil Rights Picture
Mancini’s story is not an isolated incident. It reflects systemic issues that civil rights lawyers routinely confront in New Jersey and nationwide. While law enforcement has an essential role in protecting communities, the Constitution places strict limits on how that power may be exercised.
Some of the key civil rights principles implicated here include:
Malicious Prosecution
Under federal and state law, individuals may sue when prosecutors or police initiate criminal charges without probable cause and for improper purposes. Malicious prosecution claims are a vital check on government power because they deter officials from using the criminal process as leverage or retaliation.
Unlawful Arrest and Excessive Force
Even when search warrants are valid, the manner of execution must be reasonable. Conducting a heavily armed raid at dawn in front of small children, handcuffing a compliant mother, and publicizing accusations later dropped can be challenged as unreasonable and damaging.
Due Process and Coercion
Threatening an arrestee with additional charges to pressure family members into plea deals raises serious due process concerns. Prosecutors must pursue justice, not use individuals as bargaining chips.
Collateral Damage to Careers and Reputations
Civil rights violations often extend beyond the immediate trauma of an arrest. Mancini’s counseling practice lost clients and staff, and her reputation was dragged “through the mud” in the press and on social media. Civil rights litigation helps restore not only legal standing but also personal and professional dignity.
How Lyons & Associates Protects Clients in Cases Like This
Civil rights cases against prosecutors, police departments, or government agencies are complex. Immunities, procedural hurdles, and public perceptions can make them difficult to pursue. But for individuals whose lives are upended by unjust actions, these cases are essential.
Our firm approaches such matters with thorough investigation, strategic litigation, and a relentless focus on accountability. In cases like Mancini’s, we:
- Analyze whether probable cause truly existed for the arrest
- Gather evidence of fabricated or exaggerated claims
- Document psychological, reputational, and financial harm
- Hold officials accountable under Section 1983 of the U.S. Code and New Jersey’s Civil Rights Act
We bring not just legal knowledge but also compassion for the people behind the cases. As Ms. Mancini’s situation demonstrates, civil rights violations can strike ordinary families, professionals, and parents—not just those accused of serious crimes.
Moving Forward
Angela Mancini’s lawsuit is still in its early stages, but it already raises fundamental questions about how far prosecutors and police may go in pursuing criminal cases. At Lyons & Associates, we believe these questions must be asked and answered—not just for Ms. Mancini, but for every citizen whose rights might be at risk.
Civil rights litigation does more than secure compensation. It sends a message that constitutional protections apply to everyone, regardless of their family connections or the notoriety of an investigation. Justice demands nothing less.
If you or a loved one believe your rights have been violated by wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, or abuse of prosecutorial power, our experienced civil rights attorneys are here to listen and act. We provide confidential consultations and work tirelessly to hold government actors accountable.
