| TRENTON
– Attorney General Zulima V. Farber
and Director of Criminal Justice Gregory
A. Paw announced the indictment today of
a records clerk supervisor in the Newark
Bureau of Vital Statistics who is charged
with selling false birth certificates to
individuals seeking to apply for U.S. passports
and other forms of official identification.
The indictment returned today by a state
grand jury charges Juanita Riddick, 52,
of Maple Avenue, Irvington, with second-degree
conspiracy, second-degree sale of a simulated
document, third-degree sale of a simulated
document, second-degree official misconduct,
second-degree bribery in official and political
matters, and second-degree engaging in a
pattern of official misconduct.
“This
type of official misconduct involving document
fraud is particularly egregious because
it undermines public safety and security,”
said Attorney General Farber. “This
defendant is charged with selling phony
birth certificates that were turning up
in applications for U.S. passports in states
as far away as Texas and Illinois.”
According to Director Paw, the Division
of Criminal Justice investigation revealed
that Riddick sold approximately 30 false
birth certificates from the Newark Bureau
of Vital Statistics, and typically was given
between $500 and $600 for each certificate.
False Newark birth certificates allegedly
issued by Riddick turned up in New Jersey
and several other states in connection with
fraudulent applications for U.S. passports
or other official identification, Paw said.
Connecticut, Maryland, Illinois and Texas
each reported recovering multiple false
Newark birth certificates that the investigation
revealed originated with Riddick.
Deputy Attorney General Christopher Romanyshyn
presented the case to the grand jury. State
investigator Ho Shin conducted the investigation.
The indictment was handed up to Superior
Court Judge Neil H. Shuster in Mercer Courty.
The indictment is merely an accusation and
the defendant is presumed innocent until
proven guilty.
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