TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced
that six Essex County residents were charged
today in a 20-count state grand jury indictment
for their roles in a multi-county automobile
and motorcycle theft ring.
According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza
Dagli, the defendants were charged as follows:
-
Demond Conley, 36, of
Irvington, was charged with second degree
leader of an auto theft network; three
counts of third-degree fencing; two counts
of second-degree fencing; third-degree
conspiracy; second-degree conspiracy;
second-degree eluding; and second degree
aggravated assault.
-
Terrence Simonson, 29,
of Newark, was charged with second degree
conspiracy; second-degree fencing, second-degree
eluding; second-degree aggravated assault;
and second-degree hindering apprehension.
-
Demetrius Ross, 34, of
Newark, was charged with two counts of
second-degree theft by unlawful taking;
two counts of second-degree receipt of
stolen property; third-degree theft by
unlawful taking; third-degree receipt
of stolen property; and second-degree
fencing.
-
Josef T. Allen, 23, of
Irvington, was charged with third-degree
conspiracy; and third-degree fencing.
-
Kelli Coleman, 40, of
Newark, was charged with third-degree
conspiracy; and second-degree insurance
fraud; and
- "John
Doe" (also known as "J.P."),
age and address unknown, was charged with
third-degree fencing.
On Nov. 10, 2009, detectives from the Office
of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor and officers
from the Essex/Union Auto Theft Task Force
arrested the six defendants in Newark.
The indictment alleges that between Aug.
11 and Nov. 10, 2009, Conley conspired with
others as an organizer of a scheme to unlawfully
distribute or transport stolen high-end
automobiles and motorcycles in New Jersey.
It is alleged that Conley was in possession
of and trafficked in a stolen 2008 BMW 750
Alpina valued at approximately $105,000,
and a 2006 Chrysler 300 valued at approximately
$19,500, knowing that the vehicles had been
stolen.
Conley, Allen and Coleman allegedly conspired
to sell a stolen 2007 Cadillac Escalade,
valued at approximately $37,000, to an undercover
detective. Coleman allegedly submitted an
affidavit of theft to Keystone Insurance
Company/Mid-Atlantic AAA for the alleged
theft of the Escalade, even though she knew
the vehicle had not been stolen from her.
It is alleged that Coleman filed a fraudulent
police report with the Irvington Police
Department claiming that she last saw the
Escalade at 12 noon on Sept. 16 and discovered
it missing at approximately 1:30p.m., when,
in fact, the vehicle had been sold to an
undercover detective on Sept. 15, 2009.
The indictment alleges that in November
2009, Ross conspired with Conley to steal
a 2009 Nissan 370Z valued at $35,000 and
a 2008 BMW 750 valued at $85,000. Conley
allegedly organized the sale of the two
vehicles. It is also alleged that in November
2009, Ross stole or took unlawful control
of a 2009 BMW M5 valued at $95,000, a 2009
Nissan 370Z valued at $35,000 and a 2008
BMW 750 valued at $85,000. Conley, Ross
and Simonson allegedly organized and planned
sales of the Nissan and the BMW 750, knowing
that they had been stolen.
It is further alleged that Conley and “J.P.”
knowingly trafficked in stolen automobiles
and motorcycles valued at approximately
$13,000.
According to the indictment, on Nov. 10,
2009, when law enforcement officers of the
Essex/Union Auto Theft Task Force attempted
to stop two motor vehicles driven by Conley
and Simonson in the parking lot of a fast
food restaurant in Irvington, the two men
allegedly fled and attempted to cause serious
bodily injury to the officers by ramming
police vehicles.
Detectives Jarek Pyrzanowski and Wendy Berg,
and Deputy Attorney General John J. Higgins
were assigned to the investigation into
this case. Higgins presented the case to
the state grand jury. Acting Prosecutor
Dagli thanked the DCJ Central Gangs &
Narcotics Squad, Essex/Union Auto Theft
Task Force and Keystone Insurance/Midlantic
AAA Insurance Company for their assistance
in the investigation.
The indictment is merely an accusation and
the defendants are presumed innocent proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in state prison and
a criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in state prison and a criminal fine
of $15,000. Coleman may also face civil
insurance fraud fines.
Acting Fraud Prosecutor Dagli 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.
The
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor was
established by the Automobile Insurance
Cost Reduction Act of 1998. The office is
the centralized state agency that investigates
and prosecutes both civil and criminal insurance
fraud, as well as Medicaid fraud.
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