|
TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram and
Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni
announced that a Hudson County man pleaded
guilty today to stealing roadside construction
equipment from seven counties throughout New
Jersey. The equipment belonged to various
construction companies performing work on
state highways.
According
to Director Gramiccioni, David DeJesus, 59,
of Hoboken, pleaded guilty before Superior
Court Judge James E. Isman in Atlantic County
to 14 counts of third-degree receiving stolen
property. Under the terms of the plea agreement,
the state will recommend that DeJesus be sentenced
to 10 years in state prison, with 48 months
of parole ineligibility. Judge Isman scheduled
sentencing for July 10.
In
pleading guilty, DeJesus admitted that between
December 2005 and September 2008, he stole
construction equipment in seven counties:
Atlantic, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Monmouth,
Passaic and Union. DeJesus admitted that he
stole trailer-mounted welders and generators,
including generators with lights that warn
motorists of construction work, from various
highways including the New Jersey Turnpike
and the Garden State Parkway. The total value
of the stolen equipment exceeded $300,000.
DeJesus
was initially arrested on April 5, 2008 by
the New Jersey State Police after he was seen
improperly towing a piece of the equipment.
An investigation by the State Police and the
Division of Criminal Justice, conducted in
cooperation with county and local law enforcement
agencies, revealed that the construction equipment
would be fenced at locations in New Jersey
and New York, and then loaded into overseas
cargo containers bound for destinations in
South America.
The
investigation was led for the New Jersey State
Police by Detective Sgt. Donald A. Johnstone,
assisted by Troopers Troy Hedberg, Kenneth
Hoppe, Christopher Stafyleras and Joel Trella.
Deputy Attorney General Philip S. Aronow represented
the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs &
Organized Crime Bureau at the guilty plea
hearing.
Attorney
General Milgram thanked the Atlantic, Essex,
Gloucester, Hudson, Monmouth, Passaic and
Union County Prosecutors’ Offices for
their assistance in the investigation. She
also thanked the Absecon and Kearny Police
Departments for their assistance.
#
# # |
