New Jersey Fraud Accusation Against Residents
Three people have been charged with fraudulently collecting more than $44,000 in unemployment benefits, according to an announcement from New Jersey State Attorney General Anne Milgram. According to this news report, Luis Urbana, 30, of Lodi, Derrick R. Eaton, 42, of Paterson and Jessica Bonano, 42, were arrested and charged with deception, theft and falsification.
The indictments apparently came after labor investigators cross-matched employer wage information against unemployment benefit payments, reviewed payroll records and followed up on alerts from citizens. Third- and fourth-degree theft crimes, which all three individuals were charged with, carry a sentence of five years in state prison. These fraud crimes in New Jersey also come with a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Money laundering in New Jersey is a serious crime with serious consequences. Fraud is defined as an intentional deception or false statement that is meant to injure or make an individual or an entity suffer loss. A fraud is deception made for personal gain. The “injury” in a fraud case is depriving a person of property or money through deception. A New Jersey fraud conviction could result in lengthy jail or prison sentences and hefty financial penalties. A fraud conviction on your record could also seriously hurt your chances for future employment.
If you are facing an accusation of fraud in the state of New Jersey, you need to contact a New Jersey fraud defense attorney as soon as possible. Our experienced and skilled defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein may be able to get your charges dismissed before an indictment has been handed down so that you can preserve your job and your reputation. Contact us for a free consultation at (609) 240-0040.
