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TRENTON
- Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw today announced
that five Burlington County men have been
charged for their roles in a $500,000 motorcycle
theft gang.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, the defendants were charged via a
39-count state grand jury indictment with
second-degree conspiracy to commit racketeering
and second-degree racketeering. In addition,
the defendants were individually charged
with:
- Kyle
Bunn, 28, of Willingboro. Also
charged with two counts each of theft
by unlawful taking, fencing, altered VIN
(all third-degree); as well as one count
each of motor vehicle title offense and
receiving stolen property (both third-degree).
- Ronald
Crosland,
29, of Willingboro. Also charged with
third degree attempted theft by unlawful
taking; and five counts each of theft
by unlawful taking and fencing (all third-degree).
-
Jamar Doggett,
26, of Willingboro. Also charged with
four counts of third-degree theft by unlawful
taking; five counts of third-degree fencing;
and third-degree receiving stolen property.
-
Jaesen Hensley, 25, of
Pemberton. Also charged with second-degree
conspiracy to commit racketeering; second-degree
racketeering; two counts each of fencing
and altered VIN (both third-degree); third
degree motor vehicle title offenses; and
third-degree receiving stolen property;
- John
White, 22, of Willingboro. Also
charged with theft by unlawful taking;
receiving stolen property; fencing; altered
VIN; and motor vehicle title offense (all
third-degree).
According
to Paw, the indictment alleges that during
2003 through May of 2005, the defendants
participated in a racketeering and related
crimes enterprise which operated primarily
in Atlantic, Burlington and Mercer Counties.
It is alleged that the defendants would
“scout” motorcycles and all
terrain vehicles (ATV’s) in order
to identify motorcycles and ATV’s
which could be stolen, usually as they were
parked near the homes of their owners.
The
motorcycles and ATV’s would allegedly
be stolen by various members of the conspiracy.
After being stolen, some of the vehicles
would be “retagged” or “stamped.”
Retagging or stamping occurs when the vehicle
identification number (VIN) is changed so
that the motorcycle or ATV cannot be identified
as having been stolen. This facilitates
its resale.
The
criminal enterprise focused on theft of
Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda motorcycles.
In addition, Crosland was charged with theft
of a 1997 Dodge van which allegedly the
enterprise used to transport the stolen
motorcycles. In total, as part of the joint
New Jersey State Police and Office of the
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor investigation,
approximately 65 motorcycles or ATV’s
which had been stolen, have been recovered
with a total value in excess of $500,000.
On May 4, 2005, approximately 17 persons
were arrested in Burlington and Mercer Counties
as part of the motorcycle theft gang. Bunn,
Crosland, Doggett, and White were arrested
at that time.
As
part of the ongoing investigation, fourteen
defendants have pled guilty to charges.
One of the defendants, Torray Murphy, 30,
of Willingboro, was sentenced to five years
in state prison. Another defendant, Johnnie
Kennedy, 26, Wagner Youth Correctional Facility,
Bordentown, was sentenced to nine months
in state prison.
State
Police Det. Sgt. 1st Class, Anthony Martin,
Det. Sgt., Mark Wilhelm, State Investigators
Thomas Tiernan, Christina Fiscella, Administrative
Analyst Terri Drumm and Deputy Attorney
General Christine A. Hoffman were assigned
to the investigation. Hoffman represented
the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
before the state grand jury.
“New
Jersey has some of the highest motor vehicle
insurance rates in the country,” Prosecutor
Brown said. “Persons participating
in conspiracies to steal vehicles contribute
to sky-rocketing insurance rates for all
New Jersey citizens. We will continue the
investigation and prosecute these cases
in court.”
The
indictment, which was handed up late in
the afternoon on March 20 to Superior Court
Judge Linda Feinberg in Mercer County, is
merely an accusation and the defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The cases will be heard in Burlington County
where the defendants will be ordered to
appear in court to answer the charges on
a date to be determined. Crimes of the second-degree
carry a maximum punishment of 10 years in
state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000,
while third-degree crimes carry a maximum
punishment of five years in state prison
and a criminal fine of $15,000.
Prosecutor
Brown noted that some important cases have
started with anonymous tips. People who
are concerned about insurance cheating and
have information about a fraud can report
it anonymously by calling the toll-free
hotline 1-877-55-FRAUD
or visiting the Web site www.NJInsuranceFraud.org.
State regulations permit an award to be
paid to an eligible person who provides
information that leads to an arrest, prosecution
and conviction for insurance fraud.
>> Bunn
et. al Indictment (1.17mb pdf) plug-in
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