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NEWARK
– Attorney General Anne Milgram today
announced that David Szuchman, an experienced
attorney who has successfully prosecuted
criminal and white collar cases on both
the state and federal level, has taken over
leadership of the 600-employee State Division
of Consumer Affairs.
Consumer
Affairs enforces laws and regulations designed
to protect New Jersey’s residents
in the marketplace. The areas within the
jurisdiction of Consumer Affairs include
the purchase, lease and repair of automobiles,
identity theft, telemarketing scams and
home improvement repairs and renovations.
Consumer Affairs also licenses and oversees
more than 500,000 professionals working
in 80 fields that range from physicians
to plumbers.
“I’m
humbled to be given the opportunity to lead
an agency that touches the lives of New
Jersey’s citizens in so many ways,”
Szuchman said. “We will be proactive
in alerting the public to the latest scams
and frauds that con artists attempt to perpetrate
against them. And we will seek out, find
and take action against those who break
our consumer protection laws for their own
enrichment.”
Szuchman,
36, has been an assistant attorney general
in the New York Attorney General’s
Office, a trial attorney in the criminal
division of the U.S. Justice Department,
and an assistant district attorney in the
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
His work includes investigating and prosecuting
bid-rigging, money laundering, identity
theft and mortgage fraud cases.
“David has demonstrated zeal in going
after criminals who tried to steal taxpayer
dollars as well as those who committed crimes
against individuals. He has no tolerance
for those who attempt to con consumers out
of their hard-earned dollars and I know
he will be a tireless advocate for the people
of New Jersey,” Attorney General Milgram
said.
Szuchman
graduated from the University of Vermont
in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in
political science, and received a law degree
in 1997 from Hofstra University School of
Law in Hempstead, Long Island. He is married
and has two young sons.
Szuchman succeeds Larry DeMarzo, who has
been serving as acting director since September
2007. DeMarzo returns to his duties overseeing
the professional licensing boards.
“I
want to commend Larry DeMarzo for his superb
leadership over the past months,”
Attorney General Milgram said. “Larry
led Consumer Affairs as it implemented several
initiatives, including the online prescription
drug price registry and our ongoing effort
to upgrade the licensing boards. He performed
his responsibilities with professionalism,
dedication, and expertise. The Division
is stronger as a result of his leadership.’’
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