A Delaware man is being charged with an interstate ring of theft crimes. The alleged jewelry thief is being charged with stealing diamonds and rings from local New Jersey jewelry stores. He’s being charged with five counts of interstate transportation of stolen goods between March 2020 and February 2021.
Each theft allegedly consisted of the defendant entering a jewelry store and asking if he could check out a few engagement rings. Once the defendant had possession of the rings or other jewelry, he ran off with them. The jewelry theft crime spree included multiple New Jersey cities including Blackwood, Clifton, Marlton, Hainesport, and Haddon Heights.
The value of all jewelry stolen exceeds thousands of dollars. The jewelry stolen from one of the first stores is estimated to be valued at over $75,000. The value of goods stolen from the jewelry store in Hainesport, New Jersey, is valued at over $12,500. One of the highest values of stolen goods occurred during a theft in Haddon Heights, with an estimated value of over $98,000.
Local police have ample evidence as most of the jewelry stores had video footage of the defendant taking the jewelry and running out the door. Local police have also tracked the defendant’s smartphone, which was pinned in the location of each of the hit spots at the time of the theft.
New Jersey police successfully arrested the defendant on February 10, 2021, when someone spotted his vehicle in a hotel parking lot. Upon his arrest, police interviewed the defendant, who admitted his guilt. In addition to the admission of stealing the expensive jewelry, the defendant also admitted to transporting the stolen jewelry to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for sale. The defendant will make his way through the Trenton, New Jersey, legal system. If charged, he may be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000 per interstate transportation.
Theft Charges in New Jersey
Theft of expensive jewelry in New Jersey is typically charged as grand theft. Grand theft covers the theft of any item that exceeds petty theft. It may include the theft of any stolen goods over $200. The consequences of theft charges in New Jersey vary, depending on the total value of the stolen goods. A person charged with petty theft or a disorderly persons offense could receive up to six months in jail time and fines up to $1000. A person convicted of a fourth-degree theft charge could be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison and fines up to $10,000. A third-degree theft offense may lead to between three to five years in prison and fines of up to $15,000.
A second-degree theft charge comes with between five to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000. Some theft occurrences may be charged as a first-degree crime, which means between 10-20 years in prison and fines of up to $200,000. Regardless of which category of charges you’re dealing with, it’s always a good idea to reach out to a criminal defense lawyer.
Contact an Experienced Trenton Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Theft Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with grand theft in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at The Davis Law Firm, LLC have successfully represented clients charged with theft in Trenton, Princeton, East Windsor, West Windsor, Hopewell, and throughout New Jersey. Call (609) 498-7722 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 2653 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
Disorderly conduct consists of any improper behavior, such as fighting, threats of violence, or creating a dangerous atmosphere.
