BORDENTOWN Desperate times call for desperate measures.

As New Jersey businesses struggle to make it during the lockdown, a township pizzeria owner charged with intentionally coughing on a supermarket employee and telling her he had the coronavirus called the cops on The Trentonian for reporting on his creative new way of profiting off the pandemic.

George Falcone, 50, of Freehold, was selling face masks for $4 a pop at his township pizzeria, The Trentonian learned.

A customer who visited the pizzeria last week provided photos showing a box of black masks behind the counter, near the checkout register of Rosario's Pizza.

The customer recognized Falcone from seeing his mugshot in newspaper stories detailing his alleged cough-law conduct. The casedrew national attention.

"I saw the masks next to the pizza and said, 'This is f**king crazy.'" the customer said. "How comical and hypocritical that he's coughing on an employee, allegedly, when people are dying from this, and now he's selling masks to make a profit. That's wild."

Rosario's Pizza was selling face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After confirming he was selling the masks and they were going like hot cakes, Falcone later called the cops onThe Trentonianfor contacting him to ask about his decision to sell the masks.

He refused to say whether he had reservations about selling the masks in light of his felony charges and soon hung up the phone.

"We are no longer selling them. I ran out. Why are you asking me this? What does this have to do with your question about face masks here?" the pizzeria owner said. "I'm going to ask you not to ask any more questions about that, and I will refer you to my attorney, and you can talk to him."

The pizzeria owner was charged last month with third-degree terroristic threats and fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law by the office of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

When his office announced the charges against the pizzeria owner, Grewal said, These are extremely difficult times in which all of us are called upon to be considerate of each other not to engage in intimidation and spread fear, as alleged in this case."

Gov. Phil Murphy later blasted Falcone at a news briefing calling him and those putting people at risk during the outbreak a bunch of "knuckleheads."

Falcone was charged with coughing on a worker during a March 22 visit to a Wegmans in Manalapan.

The employee asked the pizzeria owner to move back because he was too close to her and a food display. That's when, authorities said, Falcone leaned in close to the worker to cough and allegedly laugh, telling her he was infected with the virus.

The pizzeria owner, who may be experiencing flagging sales amid the pandemic, then allegedly told two workers that they were lucky to have jobs, authorities said.

Falcone was also hit with a disorderly persons offense for harassment. He could face up to seven years in the slammer and $26,000 in fines if convicted of all charges.

Wife Silvana defended her husband in a Facebook post March 24 and thanked customers for continuing to support the family-run restaurant, which has been open more than four decades.

We are confident that when the evidence comes out it will prove what we already know, that my husband did not do what they are saying he did in the media, she wrote.

The AG's office didn't immediately respond to request for a status update on the case.

And Falcone wasn't having it, hanging up the phone as a reporter attempted to get his attorney's contact info.

Rosario's Pizza was selling face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When The Trentonian called back, Falcone threatened to get the cops involved.

"I am going to call the police the next time you call me, Isaac, and have you charged with harassment," he said, hanging up again without providing his attorney's info.

Being more than fair to the pizzeria owner, the newspaper attempted once more to get his legal beagle's number to reach out for comment.

No one answered the phone at the pizzeria. But minutes later, The Trentonianwas contacted by a Bordentown Township Police detective.

"Apparently, he's calling saying you're repeatedly calling his business and somewhat harassing him, so I just wanted to call to let you know he called us, and he doesn't want to have any further communication with you," the detective said.

Ironically, harassment is the same charge Falcone faces.

The detective said he wouldn't pursue charges as long as the newspaper ceased contact with Falcone.

"As long as it doesn't continue, then there won't be any legal recourse," the detective said. "You do your story without his input. If you continue to call him, it becomes harassment. He doesn't have to speak to you. He doesn't have to speak to us. Everyone has a Fifth Amendment right, the right to remain silent as well."

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Bordentown pizzeria owner accused of coughing on grocery worker calls cops on Trentonian for asking why he's selling masks - The Trentonian