The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of 11 individuals on May 3 who operated an identity theft ring that left more than 70 victims in mroe than 30 different towns with a loss of more than $150,000.
Thirteen police departments, including Englewood Police Department, took part in an identity theft task force in partnership with the "White Collar Crimes Units" of the prosecutor's office.
Throughout 2012 and 2013, police received complaints that unknown individuals had applied for credit accounts under victims' names for various institutions, including Comenity Bank, Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Saks 5th Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Kohl's, Lowe's, and Sears. The victims also received notice in the mail that "Authorized Buyers" were added to these new Hands free access.
Police were able to identify a connection between all the victims, who had recently refinanced or applied for mortgages at NJ Lenders Corporation, a mortgage brokerage company based in Little Falls. The company kept customer files in a Paterson warehouse called C. Marino Records, where warehouse employee and Paterson resident Kyle Davis would pick up records from NJ Lenders Corporation to store at the facility, said Molinelli.
The 48-year-old Davis would allegedly sell victim profiles for approximately $300 a piece to 32-year-old Paterson resident Shontera Jennings, said Molinelli. Jennings would then allegedly use the information to apply for credit card accounts and add "Authorized Buyers" to the accounts, which gave a "bust out crew," or the remaining nine individuals arrested, the ability to purchase items utilizing an "account look-up" method and a proof of identification.
"Account lookup" does not require the use of the physical card to purchase items and instead allows a buyer to purchase items just by showing identification that they are an authorized buyer. This method allowed the crew to buy items before a physical card was issued and the victim became aware of the fake account, said Molinelli.
"Shontera Jennings uses that float time in between when the authorization is given by Macy's for charges to be put onto that card to the time where [the victim] will get [the card]," said Molinelli.
The bust out crew, who would buy everything from pajamas and home goods, would sell these items on the streets of New York City. Since the items were sold on the streets, police were not able to track down the goods, said Molinelli.
The bust out crew, who would buy everything from pajamas and home goods, would sell these items on the streets of New York City. Since the items were sold on the streets, police were not able to track down the goods, said Molinelli.
"The bust out crew is pretty smart," said Molinelli. "They know what sells easily on the streets of New York."
Molinelli said knowledge of the identity theft cases were made possible by victims calling their local police departments. He urged members of the public to not just call their credit card companies when they experience a case of identity theft, but to let the police know so they can work on catching the perpetrators.
Austin Cunningham was known as a champion for Orangeburg, a dedicated man who did more than observe from the sideline. He became involved, from efforts to build a new hospital in the early 1980s to building better race relations across his decades here. He was a driving force behind the Community of Character campaign that others have modeled from Orangeburg County. He was an avid reader, always an individual with wide knowledge and an ability to articulate it.
A non-practicing attorney, Cunningham was a successful entrepreneur and businessman before his retirement focused him solely on public service. The death of the renaissance man in 2009 left a big void for Orangeburg. But he lives on through his many influences — and his writing. Excerpts from his “Nuts and bolts commencement address” are sound advice for those marching into the work world.
“My talks have evolved under four headings: your body; your mind; your money; your character. Your body: It’s the only one you’ll ever have. For the rest of your life, exercise three hours a week. Don’t regard it as time you can’t spare. You can be listening to educational audio tapes. Exercise brings with it vibrancy, vitality, energy, relaxation, serenity. It’s addictive. If you stop it, you miss it.
“For the rest of your life, eat and drink intelligently. If you do, you’ve had your last glass of sweetened tea. Tea is good for you. Drink it plain or stir in the zero-calorie alternative. You have to stir vigorously. Consider it exercise. Sugar contributes only empty, harmful calories. Don’t tell me it doesn’t taste as good. Get used to it! The good life is made up of adjustments. No alcohol in anything approaching excess. Of course no tobacco in any form. Never use fattening dairy products. Skim milk is the only milk for you and me. It has all of the good and none of the bad. Read the advice columns about taking care of your only body.
“Your mind: Read a newspaper every day, seven days a week. Not just the comics, sports, entertainment but the editorial page and news. It will, over five years, give you the equivalent of a college education. If you can’t afford one, run by the library. Change your TV viewing habits. Get accustomed to both C-Spans, Discovery, History, Travel channels. The more you know, the more you want to know. Your mind is precious, the more it’s stretched, the more efficient it gets. Memorize something daily. (Ask yourself. Are you ambitious? Do you really want to get ahead? If so, keep on reading.) Be more curious, more observant. Are you handicapped by walking through life with blinders on? Many young people are. Don’t sleepwalk your life away.
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