Paterson Village

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Nathaniel Anderson, 59, a former Willingboro mayor and council member, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, while his associate Chrisone Anderson, 58, received eight months of home confinement. After Nathaniel's home was foreclosed for $350,000 in

October 2015, he executed a sales contract with Chrisone as the buyer that same day. Chrisone took out a $162,011 mortgage to purchase the property, and Nathaniel continued living there. The two made false statements on the mortgage application, claiming Nathaniel would no longer reside at the home, that Chrisone would use it as her primary residence, and that they had no previous business relationship.

A federal jury convicted them earlier this year on charges including bank fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The transaction caused the lender to lose more than $200,000, and both will be subject to three years of supervised release.

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🖋️ Reporting by Nicolas Fernandes

Two Sisters Overcome Addiction, Hardship to Graduate Together at Passaic County Community College
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Photo Credit: Gabriella Dragone

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By Gabriella Dragone

PATERSON, NJ - For sisters Danielle and Samantha Krumbein, graduating from Passaic County Community College (PCCC) was never just about earning degrees.

It was about proving to themselves, and to each other, that their past did not have to define their future.
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The sisters, who both overcame family struggles, addiction, financial hardship, and interrupted educational journeys, crossed the commencement stage during PCCC’s 54th commencement ceremonies at the Paterson campus gymnasium on May 20 and May 21.
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Danielle Krumbein graduated Thursday with Highest Honors, earning an Associate of Science degree in Human Services with a 3.99 GPA, while Samantha Krumbein graduated Wednesday with High Honors, earning an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing along with two nursing awards.
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“I think we finally did it,” Samantha told TAPinto Paterson. “We broke the cycles.”
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The sisters said they never imagined they would one day graduate together.

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“No, never,” Danielle said. “I remember sitting right there at her graduation in 2024 and applying on my phone to go back.”
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Danielle said watching her younger sister graduate inspired her to return to school after years of struggling with addiction, financial problems, and uncertainty about her future.
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“I saw she had turned into a different person,” Danielle said. “I kind of wanted that for myself.”
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Samantha, who dropped out of high school as a teenager before later earning her GED, said she initially doubted whether she could succeed academically, especially in nursing.
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“I was never a good student,” Samantha said. “Math and science were not my strong suit.”
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But after taking a nutrition course at PCCC, she discovered a passion for healthcare and science that ultimately led her into the nursing program.

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“I don’t know how I pulled it together,” she said. “There was a lot to catch up on.”
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Their journey was shaped by instability at home, they said, including their parents’ divorce, financial hardship and addiction struggles within the family.
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“There was a time when she didn’t even want to come home and see me,” Danielle said of her younger sister, recalling her own struggles with alcoholism before becoming sober.
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Danielle, now three years in recovery, said sobriety helped her rebuild her life and pursue a new path helping others. She currently works as a drug and alcohol counselor at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and plans to continue her education at Rider University on a full-tuition scholarship.
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Samantha recently accepted a position as an ICU nurse at Clara Maass Medical Center and plans to continue pursuing higher nursing degrees.
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The sisters credited one another for helping them persist through difficult moments in college, from financial struggles to emotional support during stressful semesters.
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“You really have to support each other,” Samantha said. “Even something as simple as bringing coffee when someone can’t afford it that week matters.”
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One of the most emotional moments came during the nursing pinning ceremony earlier this month, when Samantha asked Danielle to pin her as she entered the nursing profession.
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“She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Samantha said.
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During the commencement ceremonies Wednesday and Thursday, college officials celebrated more than 750 graduates from campuses in Paterson, Passaic, Wayne and Wanaque.
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“This is a huge accomplishment,” Student Leader Jazmin Cortes told graduates Wednesday evening. “The challenges, the setbacks, when you feel unsure, those are the moments that shape you.”
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Interim President of PCCC Dr. Jacqueline Kineavy said 48% of graduates plan to continue their education at four-year colleges and universities. The graduating class included early college students earning associate degrees before high school diplomas, adult learners returning to school later in life and students from dozens of countries.
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The youngest graduate was 17 years old, while the oldest began attending the college in 1993, Dr. Kineavy said.
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Speakers throughout the ceremony also paid tribute to longtime college president Steven Rose, who died earlier this year after leading the institution for three decades.
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“We stand here this evening as living proof of Dr. Rose’s vision,” valedictorian Thomas Melani told graduates Wednesday.
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Melani, who graduated with an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts-Humanities, reflected on overcoming challenges associated with autism, ADHD and dropping out of high school twice before earning his GED and enrolling at PCCC.
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“Like so many of us here today, my path toward graduation was not as linear or smooth as I had hoped,” Melani said.
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Vice Chair of the PCCC Board of Trustees Joel Ramirez told graduates their stories represented resilience and perseverance.
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“You earned this moment,” Ramirez said. “Tonight we celebrate not only what you have completed, but what is still ahead.”
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For the Krumbein sisters, graduation represented more than academic achievement.
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“It’s more than I feel like could be put into words,” Danielle said. “We never thought we would be here.”
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Now, after years of setbacks, recovery and rebuilding, the sisters say they are finally beginning a new chapter together.
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“In food insecurity, addiction, poverty, all those things, you can feel stuck,” Danielle said. “Education changed everything for us.”

Two Sisters Overcome Addiction, Hardship to Graduate Together at Passaic County Community College May 20-21 at PCCC Paterson, sisters Danielle & Samantha Krumbein overcame addiction & hardship to graduate. Click for their inspiring journey.