Liquor License Suspension Linked to Owners Charges of Kidnapping & Sexual Assault

Attorney General Platkin seeks to suspend the licenses of four Trenton establishments following serious criminal charges of aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping against owner Gerald Araya.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is seeking the indefinite suspension of liquor licenses for four Trenton establishments owned by Gerald Araya. The establishments include Mill Hill Restaurant and Lounge, El Catador Lounge and Restaurant, Dubai Restaurant and Lounge, and Trenton Social. The action follows Araya's arrest on June 19, 2024, on charges including first-degree aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping.

“We have an obligation to ensure that licensed establishments are not used in the furtherance of crime, and to protect against activity in the alcoholic beverage industry that jeopardizes the public health, safety, or welfare,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The criminal conduct alleged to have occurred by the licensee directly involves the very restaurants and bars that he has been granted the privilege to serve alcoholic beverages in. Today’s action seeks to suspend those licenses to prevent any further harm or victimization at those locations.”

The Order to Show Cause (OTSC) filed by ABC Interim Director Kirstin L. Krueger calls for a hearing to determine why the licenses should not be suspended. The Enforcement Bureau of ABC, which prosecutes violations of ABC laws, contends that these venues were used in connection with the alleged criminal activities, posing a threat to public safety.

The four licenses are:

• License number 1111-33-137-007 for Mill Hill Restaurant and Lounge, located at 300-302 South Broad Street
• License number 1111-33-124-009 for El Catador Lounge and Restaurant, located at 965 New York Avenue
• License number 1111-33-219-015 for Dubai Restaurant and Lounge, located at 931 New York Avenue
• License number 1111-33-078-007 for Trenton Social, located at 449 South Broad Street

The allegations against Araya include six counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of first-degree kidnapping, six counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the prosecution.

Under New Jersey law, the sale of alcohol is a privilege, and the state has a duty to protect the public from potential harm associated with the operation of these licenses. The ABC's move to suspend the licenses aims to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare.

The charges against Araya are accusations, and he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.