New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

A 36-year-old South Bound Brook man has admitted to creating false identities to obtain credit cards. According to a news report in My Central Jersey, he was arrested in 2009 and is expected to face seven more years in prison when he is sentenced in March 2012. Officials say that the man found various illegal ways to obtain all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles to support his off-road recreational hobby. The report states that the case spans at least eight Garden State counties and three states and required collaboration between officials in Union County, Middlesex County, the FBI, and New York City.

Fraudulent use of credit cards is a serious offense. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6, "A person who makes or causes to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement in writing, knowing it to be false and with intent that it be relied on, respecting his identity or that of any other person, firm or corporation, or his financial condition or that of any other person, firm or corporation, for the purpose of procuring the issuance of a credit card is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree."

Fraud is a white-collar crime that could not only result in lengthy jail or prison terms, but also have serious ramifications professionally. A person who has been convicted or fraud may have a tough time finding gainful employment or even obtaining a professional license. Even a charge that does not result in a conviction can stain an individual's reputation and cast a shadow or doubt over his or her credibility.

The experienced Princeton fraud defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of handling cases involving white collar crimes. If you or a loved one is facing such serious allegations, please call our offices at (609) 240-0040 before discussing your case with the authorities.

A 35-year-old Newark police officer faces serious fraud and bribery charges following a federal indictment. According to The Star-Ledger, the officer and a 44-year-old man who is a former employee of Spencer Savings Bank, have been charged with taking out a fraudulent loan of $1.9 million. The incident allegedly occurred back in 2004 and it has cost the bank about $400,000. Authorities report that the police officer lied about his net worth in order to acquire the loan and he later wrote a check for $100,000 to the bank worker who gave him the loan. The officer has been suspended by his department since February, but he continues to be a member of the Newark Police Department.

It is illegal to obtain funds from a bank under false means. It is a crime to lie about the amount of funds you have, the amount of money you earn, or to falsify any details about your income or assets while applying for a loan. An individual may be charged with fraud in New Jersey even if they only made mistakes while filing for a mortgage, business loan, car loan, credit card, or health insurance.

Fraud is a serious crime that can result in incarceration and substantial fines. Anyone facing these kinds of allegations would have it in their best interests to seek legal guidance from a skilled Princeton fraud defense attorney. Your career and future may be at stake. The lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein have a history of fighting erroneous charges and having the penalties our clients face reduced or dismissed completely. If you are facing fraud charges in New Jersey, call our law offices at 609-240-0040 right away to find out how we can help.

A 39-year-old woman in Hudson County has been charged with welfare fraud. According to a news report in The Jersey Journal, the woman has been charged with using an altered pay stub to make it seem as if she qualified for welfare. The woman allegedly received almost $15,000 in welfare assistance for which she was technically not qualified. The most serious charge she faces is a third-degree offense, which could result in jail time. It is not clear if the woman, who does not have a criminal record, will be suspended from her job as a 911 operator because of the alleged offense.

There are many different forms of fraud in New Jersey that can lead to serious penalties. Car accident fraud is when someone receives treatment for a phony injury, overbills for treatment, or stages a car accident to receive compensation. Filing a fraudulent claim with a health insurance provider is a violation of the Health Care Claims Fraud Act. It is also illegal to use false information when applying for New Jersey auto insurance, Medicaid, disability benefits, unemployment benefits, and workers’ compensation.

The penalties for New Jersey fraud can range from fines with probation to jail time. The severity of the penalties will depend on the criminal history of the defendant and the amount of money involved in the fraud. It is crucial that anyone facing fraud charges in New Jersey seek legal guidance from a skilled attorney.

The experienced fraud defense lawyers in New Jersey at Lependorf & Silverstein understand the professional consequences of having a fraud conviction on your record. We know that the stakes are high in such cases. If you or a loved one has been accused of fraud in New Jersey, please contact us at 609-240-0040 to discuss your case at absolutely no cost.

An article featured on NJ.com reported that a Bordentown car dealer was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for running a bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering scheme. Police officials reported that the suspect accumulated a multi-million dollar debt through his fraudulent scheme.

The suspect routinely engaged in a fraudulent activity known as “check kiting” by allegedly writing a check on one account and then depositing that amount into another, despite providing that his accounts had insufficient funds. Assistant U.S. Attorneys argued that this case requires an unavoidable prison sentence. In addition to the prison term, the suspect was to serve five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay back $6,945,096 in restitution.

In New Jersey, bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering are federal crimes, however, this can occur on a state level as well. Depending on the alleged amount, writing bad checks 2C:21-5 [Check Fraud] is to be considered a serious offense and can lead to a possible jail sentence. If you or a loved one has been charged with forgery or fraudulent offense in New Jersey, you should take immediate action and hire an attorney to provide you with the benefit of a strong defense. The New Jersey criminal defense attorneys of Lependorf & Silverstein will advocate on your behalf against the serious charges that you’re facing. For your free legal consultation, contact our office at (609) 240-0040.

A former Division of Youth and Family Services worker was sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to New Jersey tax fraud, according to The Associated Press. Because of the man’s occupation, he was able to gain access to clients’ personal information which he used to file false tax returns. The article reports that the man and an accomplice received over $800,000 in tax refund checks. The man was sentenced on Monday in Trenton to pay $620,000 in restitution in addition to his 41-month jail sentence.

Fraud of any kind is illegal and can ruin the reputation of an individual or business. There are a number of different types of fraud and if you or someone you love is suspected of committing this type of white collar crime, it would be a good idea to consult with an experienced Princeton fraud defense attorney. Heavy penalties such as fines and jail time pale in comparison to the damage that the reputation of an individual or business who is accused of fraud can suffer.

If you or someone you know is accused of fraud, contact the New Jersey white collar crime lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein today. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys understand the complex laws that surround New Jersey fraud charges and can ensure that your rights are not violated in a court of law. With nearly twenty years of experience per lawyer, the legal team at Lependforf & Silverstein has successfully handled numerous fraud cases and acquired favorable outcomes for our clients. To learn more about how we can help you and your situation, call (609) 240-0040 today.

A 51-year-old Newark woman pleaded guilty to a third-degree charge of receiving stolen property. She admitted to being involved in a conspiracy with a former employee of the City of Newark to steal from the federally funded WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition program through fraudulent vouchers. According to a jacksonnjonline.com article, the state will suggest that the woman be sentenced to a term of probation under her plea agreement. Her sentencing is set for March 3, 2010.

The article also discusses that an ongoing investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau determined that between December 1, 2005, and January 31, 2007, over $1 million was to be issued in fake vouchers by the accused individuals. The investigation started when the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the Newark Department of Health and Human Services warned the Division of Criminal Justice about suspected voucher thefts from the Newark WIC Program. As a consequence, the former WIC employee was sentenced in 2009 to eight years in state prison for second-degree official misconduct for his part in the scheme.

Continue reading "Newark Woman Arrested for Defrauding WIC Nutrition Program" »

A Fair Haven financial adviser is facing charges for federal wire fraud in New Jersey for allegedly cheating his clients out of more than $7 million according to this report. Prosecutors investigating the case claim that Maxwell Smith promised his investors returns of up to 9 percent on investments in health care facilities. They claim that Smith deposited investors’ funds into his own bank account instead of investing them and used some of the funds to pay interest to his clients.

A New Jersey judge recently froze Smith’s assets after a lawsuit was filed by a Hanover man who claimed he had lost $9 million in the alleged investment scheme. Smith remains free after posting a $1 million bail, but faces up to 20 years in a New Jersey state prison if convicted on the wire fraud charges.

A wire fraud conviction can result in more than a lengthy prison sentence. Those convicted of wire fraud also face steep fines, probation, the loss of professional licenses, the inability to obtain certain types of jobs, and a permanent mark on their record. Frequently, people under investigation for wire fraud and other white collar crimes know that they are under investigation before any charges are formally filed. If you or someone you care for believes they are under investigation or about to be arrested for a white collar crime, it is very important to contact the skilled New Jersey white collar crime lawyers at criminal defense law firm Lependorf & Silverstein as soon as possible.

By being proactive, you enable their New Jersey white collar crime attorneys to launch an immediate investigation into the charges and begin building a vigorous defense against the charges. To schedule a free consultation with experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorneys, call criminal defense law firm Lependorf & Silverstein today at 609-240-0040.

An Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, man has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for an accounting fraud scandal, which apparently artificially propped up the stock price of insurer American International Group Inc. According to this news report, Christopher Garand, who served as a senior vice president at Gen Re, was also fined $150,000 and will be under two years of supervised release after the term ends for his role in the case. The 61-year-old Garand is one of five former executives convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges in February 2008.

Being charged with fraud in New Jersey can be a complicated criminal offense. Criminal fraud charges can be brought either against individuals or a business. The penalties for fraud, as seen in this particular case, can range from heavy fines and probation to lengthy prison terms. The stigma attached to a fraud charge or a white collar crime can destroy a business' or an individual's reputation.

If you find out that you are being investigated for fraud, it is very important that you call a reputed and experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The aggressive and skilled attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein take a proactive approach to fraud cases and can sometimes get your case dismissed even before you are indicted. Our goal is to save your most valuable business asset – your reputation – before it gets tarnished and dragged through the court system. If you have been accused of a white collar crime in New Jersey, please contact Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation.

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.

Continue reading "New Jersey Fraud Accusation Against Residents" »