Monica Ciardi is out of jail — but her battle to reclaim her children and clear her name is just beginning.
According to court and corrections records, Ciardi was released from Essex County, New Jersey, lockup on Friday, March 21, 2025. She had been jailed since October 2024 in pretrial detention after facing a stack of felony charges that could carry 33 years in prison.
Gagged and Shackled: Protective Mom Monica Ciardi and her children
Ciardi was prosecuted after a bitter custody fight with her ex-husband, John Uanis, a police shooting instructor in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
Uanis, the complaining witness, accused Ciardi of making false reports to law enforcement and threatening judges involved in their family court case.
Ciardi said Uanis was the abuser.
This wasn’t Monica’s first stint in the hoosegow. An earlier detention stemmed from a 2023 Facebook post prosecutors claimed was a terroristic threat against Judge Peter Bogaard and Judge Mary DeMarzo. Supporters say Ciardi was quoting the judges’ threats to take her children away if she didn’t comply with family court orders.
Gagged and Shackled: A Monica Ciardi Facebook Post from 2023
The post, missing quotation marks, triggered her first arrest. She was released in January 2024.
“She was locked up for quoting what the judges actually said,” Weigel said. “It was a setup — pure retaliation.”
Faced with mounting charges and the threat of decades behind bars, Ciardi accepted a plea deal last week. She pleaded guilty to a third-degree charge and was released with no additional jail time.
However, the deal reportedly includes a “non-disparagement” clause—effectively gagging her from discussing the case or the players involved.
“We don’t know exactly what ‘non-disparagement’ means in this deal,” Weigel said. “Monica told me she can’t say anything more.”
Gagged and Shackled: Attorney Casey Breslow
Her attorney, Casey Breslow, a seasoned New Jersey defense lawyer and former Essex County prosecutor, brokered the deal. According to sources, Ciardi was warned to consider leaving Mendham and New Jersey entirely — with police reportedly vowing they “still want her bad.”
The collateral consequences of Monica Ciardi’s felony conviction could be devastating. Under New Jersey law and national standards, a criminal conviction — especially a felony — can severely restrict a parent’s custody and visitation rights. Courts may view the conviction as evidence that a parent is unfit or unable to provide a safe environment for their children.
Monica now faces the grim reality that her ex-husband, John Uanis, could use the felony plea to permanently block her from seeing her two youngest daughters until they turn 18.
Beyond family court, Monica may also face lifelong barriers to employment, housing, and access to public benefits, all because of a conviction stemming from a custody battle critics say was weaponized against her.
We asked Attorney Breslow about these and a host of other issues. We received no response as of press time. Here is what we asked:
From: Richard Luthmann <richard.luthmann@protonmail.com>
Date: On Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Subject: Monica Ciardi Criminal Case and Plea Agreement
To: cbbreslow@gmail.com <cbbreslow@gmail.com>, cbreslow@aol.com <cbreslow@aol.com>, cbreslow@cs.com <cbreslow@cs.com>, cbreslow@gmail.com <cbreslow@gmail.com>, cbreslow@msn.com <cbreslow@msn.com>
CC: Michael Volpe <mvolpe998@gmail.com>, RALafontaine <RALafontaine@protonmail.com>, Rick LaRivière <RickLaRiviere@proton.me>, Modern Thomas Nast <mthomasnast@protonmail.com>, frankiepressman@protonmail.com <frankiepressman@protonmail.com>
Dear Attorney Breslow,
We are investigative reporters reaching out for comment and clarification regarding your representation of Monica Ciardi in her recent criminal case in Essex County, New Jersey. We are reporting on the matter and would like to provide our readers with the most accurate and detailed information. Please see the following questions for your response:
Plea Agreement Terms and Negotiation
1. Can you confirm the exact charge Ms. Ciardi pleaded guilty to and whether it is classified as a felony or misdemeanor?
2. Was Ms. Ciardi fully advised of the specific collateral consequences of pleading guilty, particularly as it relates to child custody and parental rights?
3. What is the scope of the “non-disparagement” clause in Ms. Ciardi’s plea agreement? What actions or speech does it restrict?
4.Which party insisted on the non-disparagement provision — the Court, the prosecution, or another party?
5. Does the clause apply to private conversations or is it limited to public statements and social media?
6. Was a transcript or recording made of the plea hearing where the Court confirmed Ms. Ciardi’s understanding of this term?
7. Was Ms. Ciardi provided a written explanation of all potential collateral consequences, including effects on employment, housing, voting rights, or firearm possession?
8. Did Ms. Ciardi enter an Alford plea or fully admit guilt as part of the agreement?
9. Were any conditions placed on her release beyond the plea — such as probation, supervision, mandatory relocation, or child contact restrictions?
Child Custody and Family Court Impact
10. Has the family court or guardian ad litem been notified of Ms. Ciardi’s criminal plea? If so, what was their response?
11. In your legal opinion, how will this conviction impact Ms. Ciardi’s pending family court case and custody rights?
12. Has Mr. John Uanis or his legal team taken steps to terminate Ms. Ciardi’s parental rights or modify custody based on this conviction?
13. Can this plea now be used in family court to argue that Ms. Ciardi is a danger to her children?
Police and Prosecutorial Conduct
14. Was Ms. Ciardi pressured into the plea under threat of facing continued incarceration, poor pre-trial lock-up conditions, and decades in prison if she went to trial?
15. Did the police or prosecution communicate that Ms. Ciardi should leave Mendham or New Jersey?
16. Did you consider motions alleging prosecutorial misconduct or retaliatory prosecution?
17. Were Ms. Ciardi’s protected family court speech or filings used as evidence to support the criminal charges?
Appeal and Post-Conviction Remedies
18. Does Ms. Ciardi retain the right to appeal her plea deal or sentence?
19. What remedies are available if new evidence of fraud or misconduct by Mr. Uanis or state actors emerges?
20. Is Ms. Ciardi eligible for expungement, and when could she apply?
21. Can she seek post-conviction relief if she did not fully understand the consequences of the plea?
Ongoing Safety and Public Statement
22. Has Ms. Ciardi reported receiving threats or harassment from law enforcement or third parties since her release?
23. Is there any legal or official recommendation that Ms. Ciardi leave Mendham or New Jersey as part of her release terms?
24. Can Ms. Ciardi legally speak about her case or advocate for family court reform without violating the plea?
25. What is your plan moving forward to protect Ms. Ciardi’s rights in family court and beyond?
Please let us know if you can comment on any or all of these questions. We aim to accurately represent your client’s legal situation and your role. We intend to go to press soon. If we receive your responses after press time, we will incorporate them into a follow-up.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Regards,
Richard Luthmann
Writer, Journalist, and Commentator
“Monica may never see her two youngest daughters again until they’re 18,” Weigel said. “John Uanis might have already won.”
Gagged and Shackled: Monica Ciardi chose life for her children. Now, New Jersey has effectively silenced Ciardi and permanently removed her from their lives.
Weigel raised serious concerns about whether Ciardi fully understood the collateral consequences of her plea deal.
“This case reeks of prosecutorial misconduct,” he said. “If more fraud comes out, this plea might not stick.”
Despite her release, Ciardi faces an uphill battle. The family court case continues, and the shadow of her felony conviction looms large. Weigel promised the Family Court Fraud Warrior Project would not back down.
“This is just the start,” he said. “We’re coming for every corrupt judge, lawyer, and cop who did this.”
According to Weigel, a major media outlet is now investigating the case.
“We’re going to expose everything,” he vowed. “We fight on until every kid is back where they belong.”
What has David Wegal done to the woman in his group? He’s on blast on tic toc and Facebook.