Sterling J. Santamaria, Esq.

Sterling J. Santamaria, Esq. YOUR RIGHTS MATTER! NJ & NY Attorney

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Did you know that using a cell phone while driving in NY State can get you 5 points on your license? And that that’s on ...
10/06/2025

Did you know that using a cell phone while driving in NY State can get you 5 points on your license? And that that’s on top of major fines and fees, and the hiked up car insurance premium!?

The last guy I helped didn’t need to find out! He exercised his right to a lawyer and hired me! I quickly pointed out the glaring holes in the prosecutor’s case, leaving that prosecutor no choice but to play ball with me!

Rights matter!
Make them count!
Call me!

———————————

¿Sabía usted que usar un celular mientras maneja en el estado de Nueva York le puede dar 5 puntos a su licencia? ¿Y qué eso es encima de las multas y cargos judiciales, y el aumento a su seguro de carro?

¡La última persona que ayudé no tuvo que saberlo! ¡Él ejerció su derecho a un abogado y me contrató! ¡Yo rápidamente expuse las grandes debilidades en el caso del fiscal, dejándole sin ninguna otra opción que llegar a un acuerdo conmigo!

¡Los derechos importan!
¡Hágalos contar!
¡Llameme!

Instead of risking license suspensions, jail time, job loss, OR EVEN DEPORTATION, give me a call right away!En lugar de ...
10/03/2025

Instead of risking license suspensions, jail time, job loss, OR EVEN DEPORTATION, give me a call right away!

En lugar de arriesgar suspensión de licencia, cárcel, pérdida de trabajo, O HASTA LA DEPORTACIÓN, llámame inmediatamente!

Reflecting on a successful year so far! In two separate cases, I got the notoriously difficult Board of Immigration Appe...
09/25/2025

Reflecting on a successful year so far! In two separate cases, I got the notoriously difficult Board of Immigration Appeals to reverse the immigration judge for conduct that would never fly in a real courtroom!

That is why it is extremely important to fight your immigration case with an experienced lawyer. If you want to see the difference, give me a call!

Throughout my life, I had always felt like I was not a typical man. Growing up, I could never fully fit in with the boys...
02/03/2025

Throughout my life, I had always felt like I was not a typical man. Growing up, I could never fully fit in with the boys. In fact, my friend group often had mostly girls in it. There were signs that I either ignored or didn’t realize were signs.

Eventually, by the time I hit 30, things started to make sense. I could no longer ignore the signs. I could no longer ignore myself. So, I finally made the decision to begin my transition.

For years, I’ve been living stealthily, but no more. I cannot take the hiding anymore. And now that my country’s government is hellbent on erasing people like me from existence, I feel now is the time to make myself visible.

I am done hiding. We are not anomalies. God doesn’t shun us, contrary to what so many “Christians” say. We exist. It can be your neighbor. It can be your brother. It can be your uncle. It can even be your lawyer.

For those of you who will see this and be disgusted/disappointed, trying to cast judgment on me or promote any other hateful or ignorant rhetoric, do us both a favor and just unfollow me.

My client was in a desperate situation. He had lost his job and was about to be homeless again. Seeing no other option, ...
09/06/2024

My client was in a desperate situation. He had lost his job and was about to be homeless again. Seeing no other option, he robbed a bodega and used the money from the robbery to pay his rent. The prosecutor wanted to put him away for more than 20 years.

Then, I came in.

From the beginning, I spent countless hours going over all the evidence from the prosecutor. I found so many holes in the case that there was no way I was going to let my client take this lying down!

Today, I got him to walk away with just 5 years, with almost 1 year credited for time already served. What made all this possible, besides my efforts? He used his right to counsel and hired the best representation he could find, and the best he could afford!

Once again, RIGHTS MATTER! He made his count.

What a great week this has been, with two very happy clients!The first guy was facing felony charges that could have got...
06/14/2024

What a great week this has been, with two very happy clients!

The first guy was facing felony charges that could have gotten him deported. Not only was the case dismissed, but I got the judge to seal the complaint as well!

The second guy was fighting some major demons when he was arrested. He stopped reporting to his probation officer over 20 years ago. In his own words: had he stayed in NJ, he wouldn’t be alive today. After I showed how much he has turned his life around and what a model citizen he is now, the judge didn’t hesitate to just give him a pass and let him continue on his righteous path!

These two guys had one thing in common: they exercised their right to counsel and got the best they could find!

RIGHTS MATTER

Sometimes, it’s about patience and playing the long game. And boy, did we win big! Let’s end this week in the way it sta...
05/03/2024

Sometimes, it’s about patience and playing the long game. And boy, did we win big! Let’s end this week in the way it started: with the best news!

One client was facing deportation after some of his employees, wanting to oust him, accused him of forcibly fondling them. The case looked open and shut—a slam dunk for the prosecutor. After months and months of putting in the work and challenging everything I could, our client walked away with just pleading to ordinances for disturbing the peace!

My other client got caught trying to sneak drugs into a plane so she could sell them overseas. She was looking at 15 years in prison. She walked away with just probation for a year!

If you want to your investment to pay off in the long term, you have to hire me! It’s your right! And rights matter!

No probable cause found! Charges were dismissed on the first appearance! Most lawyers forget to address the crucial step...
02/07/2024

No probable cause found! Charges were dismissed on the first appearance!

Most lawyers forget to address the crucial step in a criminal case where a judge still has be satisfied that there is reason to believe that (1) a crime was committed, and (2) the client did it. Today, I asserted my client’s RIGHT to challenge that determination and got the case dismissed on the very first appearance. There were hugs all around!

Reach out if you’re looking for a lawyer who’s willing to even throw in the kitchen sink for you!

Once again, remember: rights matter!

Another successful morning! The immigration court dismissed my client’s deportation case after 10 years of this case han...
02/05/2024

Another successful morning! The immigration court dismissed my client’s deportation case after 10 years of this case hanging over him!

The court, and the government, agreed that my client was not a priority for immigration enforcement and decided to close out his case. He risked losing his green card and being sent back to his home country over a misunderstanding. Now, after exercising his right to have counsel represent him, he has a chance to apply for his citizenship and not have to worry about being deported afterwards!

Give me a call if you or a loved one is in danger of losing immigration status! Remember: rights matter!

Imagine the following: two different police departments are investigating you for a crime. Both departments then charge ...
01/27/2024

Imagine the following: two different police departments are investigating you for a crime. Both departments then charge you for the same crime. You plead out in one of the cases, but the other department wants to keep prosecuting you.

But THEY CAN’T. Under the Constitution, no person can be tried twice for the same offense. It’s called double jeopardy. New York and New Jersey have similar laws prohibiting more than one prosecution for the same thing. I got a judge today to agree with me on that point and to dismiss my client’s case.

So, if you’re in a similar situation, make sure to argue that! And if that doesn’t work, reach out to me!

Remember: rights matter!

I admit I didn’t see this quote until a tried to find some inspirational quote from Dr. King so that I could post it tod...
01/15/2024

I admit I didn’t see this quote until a tried to find some inspirational quote from Dr. King so that I could post it today in honor of MLK Day. However, this quote truly speaks to me as a lawyer.

When I take on a case, I go in understanding that I am the last line of defense between a person being unjustly tried and the devastating consequences that can ensue. Consequences like the breakup of a family and years lost to prison because of an overzealous cop or prosecutor.

That is why I am never silent when one of my clients is being treated unfairly. And I will not start now!

Rights matter. Respect matters. Compassion matters. Fairness matters. When I start seeing the system disregard these things just for the sake of getting you or your friend or relative convicted, you can be sure that I will be there to speak up!

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Newark, NJ

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Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

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+19084900909

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