TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Division
of Criminal Justice Director Stephen J.
Taylor announced that an Essex County man
has been charged with allegedly attempting
to steal automobiles from a storage lot
of the Port Authority of New York &
New Jersey.
According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald
Chillemi, Fredrick Phillips, 36, of Newark,
was charged with third-degree conspiracy
to commit burglary and theft, third-degree
attempted theft of moveable property, and
third-degree burglary.
The Essex County grand jury indictment alleges
that on April 13, 2010, Phillips illegally
entered the Auto Terminal of the Port Authority
of New York & New Jersey, located at
861 Doremus Avenue in Newark, in an attempt
to remove a 2010 Cadillac CTS valued at
$43,000 and a 2010 Dodge Challenger valued
at $28,125 in order to sell them to another
person. Phillip’s co-defendant, Dwan
Matto, 31, also of Newark, was sentenced
on May 27 to three years in state prison
following his guilty plea to an accusation
charging him with third-degree attempted
theft by unlawful taking.
Detective Jarek Pyrzanowski and Deputy Attorneys
General Nicole Rizzolo and Suzanne McElwreath
were assigned to the investigation. McElwreath
presented the case to the Essex County grand
jury. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Chillemi thanked the Port Authority of New
York & New Jersey Police Department
and the CSX Transportation Police Department
for their assistance in the investigation.
The
indictment was voted on July 25 and was
handed up in court today. The indictment
is merely an accusation and the defendant
is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of five years in state prison and a criminal
fine of $15,000.
Acting
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi noted
that some important cases have started with
anonymous tips. People who have information
about insurance 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 a reward to be
paid to an eligible person who provides
information that leads to an arrest, prosecution
and conviction for insurance fraud.
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