|
TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced
that nine Passaic County individuals were
charged today for their alleged roles in
a scheme that laundered more than $126,000
in checks stolen from mailboxes belonging
to Passaic County residents.
According
to Director Taylor, Raulin Lopez, 24; Enmanuel
Rodriguez, 26; and Willy Minaya, 23, all
from Paterson, were arrested today on complaint
warrants. An arrest warrant was also issued
for Sandy Rodriguez, 34, of Paterson. Santa
Rosario, 21; Vladimir Rosario, 46; Amauris
Monsanto, 41; Danys Rosario, 37; and Altagraci
Espinal, 50, who are all from Paterson,
were charged on complaint summonses. The
defendants were each charged with second-degree
conspiracy, second-degree money laundering,
second-and third-degree theft by deception,
and second- and third-degree receiving stolen
property.
It
is alleged that between November 2009 and
March 2010, the defendants conspired to
steal New Jersey state unemployment checks
from mailboxes of residents in Paterson
and to deposit the checks into bank accounts
that they had created at PNC Bank and/or
JP Morgan Chase Bank. A joint investigation
by the United States Postal Inspection Service
and the Division of Criminal Justice determined
that the defendants allegedly withdrew the
money from the bank accounts for their own,
personal use.
U.S.
Postal Inspector George P. Hemmer of the
United States Postal Inspection Service,
Division of Criminal Justice Sgt. Robert
Walker and Deputy Attorney General Marysol
Rosero coordinated the investigation. Attorney
General Dow thanked the United States Postal
Inspection Service, the New Jersey Department
of Labor and Workforce Development, the
PNC Bank and JP Morgan Bank for their assistance
in the investigation.
The
charges are merely accusations and the defendant
is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Because the charges are indictable offenses,
the allegations must be presented to a state
grand jury for potential indictment. 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.
### |
