TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced
that a Warren County man has been indicted
on charges that he knowingly possessed and
registered a stolen vehicle.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Louis R. Perez, 36, who is currently
in state prison on unrelated charges, was
charged with second-degree receiving stolen
property, third-degree possession of a motor
vehicle with an altered vehicle identification
number (VIN), and third-degree tampering with
public records or information.
The
Passaic County grand jury indictment alleges
that on Sept. 21, 2006, Perez was in possession
of a stolen 2006 Land Rover Range Rover. The
indictment alleges that Perez knew that the
Range Rover, which was valued at more than
$80,000, had been stolen. The indictment further
alleges that the Range Rover’s VIN number
had been altered and that Perez presented
false documents to the Motor Vehicle Commission
when attempting to register the vehicle. The
Motor Vehicle Commission uncovered the alleged
fraud and referred the matter to the Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor for further
investigation.
Detective
Nicholas Olenick, Detective Scott Caponi and
Deputy Attorney General Dennis Kwasnik were
assigned to the investigation. Kwasnik presented
the case to the Passaic County grand jury.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanked the
Motor Vehicle Commission for its assistance
in this investigation.
The indictment was voted on June 8 but handed
up yesterday. The indictment is merely an
accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent
until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes
carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state
prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while
crimes of the third degree carry a maximum
sentence of five years in prison and a fine
of $15,000. Perez may also face civil insurance
fraud fines.
#
# # |