TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced
that two New Jersey men and a resident of
Ghana have been indicted for their alleged
roles in a multi-county automobile theft
ring.
According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza
Dagli, the following defendants were charged
Friday (Aug. 27) in a Union County grand
jury indictment:
-
Richard Atuahene, 48,
of Hillside, and Michael Nana
Prempeh, age unknown, whose last
known address is Accra, Ghana, were charged
with conspiracy, receiving stolen property
and fencing, all in the second degree,
as well as third-degree hindering apprehension
or prosecution of self.
-
Tyja Evans, 34, of Watchung,
was charged with second-degree conspiracy
and third-degree receiving stolen property.
The Union County indictment alleges that
between March 10 and April 28, 2010, Atuahene,
Prempeh, and Evans engaged in a conspiracy
to ship two stolen automobiles to the Republic
of Ghana: a 2010 BMW 650 convertible valued
at approximately $96,620, stolen from Bavarian
Motor Works in Jersey City; and a 2009 Toyota
Venza, valued at approximately $23,000,
stolen from a resident of Brooklyn, New
York. As part of the conspiracy, it is alleged
that Atuahene and Prempeh attempted to ship
the two stolen automobiles using fraudulent
titles for each and provided false statements
to law enforcement. It is also alleged that
Evans participated in the conspiracy by
moving one of the stolen vehicles in anticipation
of it being placed in a container for shipment
overseas.
The
indictment alleges that both Prempeh and
Atuahene provided false statements to a
New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice
detective. It is further alleged that Prempeh
mailed the fraudulent original motor vehicle
title to the 2010 BMW 650 convertible to
the detective and promised but did not mail
the second original fraudulent motor vehicle
title to the 2009 Toyota Venza. These acts
are alleged to have been committed to hinder
both Atuahene’s and Prempeh’s
apprehension and prosecution.
The
indictment also alleges that Evans knowingly
brought into New Jersey the stolen 2009
Toyota Venza, and drove it in Hillside,
New Jersey in preparation for the vehicle
being put in a container for shipment to
the Republic of Ghana, knowing that the
vehicle had been stolen.
It is further alleged that Atuahene and
Prempeh knowingly organized and trafficked
in stolen property, specifically, the BMW
and Toyota, which were being shipped overseas
to be sold in Ghana, while they knew both
vehicles had been stolen.
The
investigation began when the Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey Police Department
uncovered the alleged fraud and notified
the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
The case will be venued in Union County
where the defendants will be ordered to
appear in Court to answer the charges on
a date to be determined.
Detective Jarek Pyrzanowski and Deputy Attorney
General John J. Higgins were assigned to
the investigation into this case. Higgins
presented the case to the Union County grand
jury. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Dagli thanked the NYPD, New Jersey State
Police, the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey Police Department and the NICB
for their assistance in the investigation.
The indictment is merely an accusation.
The defendant is presumed to be innocent
unless and until proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt. 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 state
prison and a criminal fine of $15,000. \
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