May 19, 11

NEWS / Atlantic County Man Charged with Receiving Stolen Property

TRENTON - Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that an Atlantic County man has been indicted for allegedly possessing a stolen vehicle with an altered vehicle identification number (VIN).

According to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor John Kennedy, Eduardo A. Gonzalez, 32, of Absecon, was charged with receiving stolen property and alteration of vehicle identification number, both in the third degree.

The Atlantic County Grand Jury indictment alleges that between Sept. 14, 2006 and Jan. 11, 2008, Gonzalez brought a 2004 Toyota Camry into New Jersey knowing that the vehicle had been stolen. It is further alleged that Gonzalez knew the VIN number of the 2004 Camry had been altered for an illegal purpose.

Detectives Richard Lane and Hector Montano, former Detective Barry Riley and Deputy Attorney General Geraldine D. Zidow were assigned to the investigation. Zidow presented the case to the Atlantic County grand jury. Acting Prosecutor Kennedy thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and 21st Century Insurance Company for their assistance in the investigation. NICB referred the matter to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.

The indictment, which was voted on May 11 but handed up today, is merely an accusation. 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.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases11/pr20110518a.html