Elizabeth Man Sentenced For $1.5 Million Theft Scheme
Thursday, April 10, 2025, 9:15 A.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
ELIZABETH, NJ.- Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel reported that last Friday, a 25-year-old Elizabeth, New Jersey, man was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison for bilking an elderly family friend out of over $1.5 million during a nearly three-year theft scheme.
On Friday, April 4, 2025, Elijah Ray, 25, of Elizabeth, appeared in Union County Superior Court and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Parenti, Jr., to four years in State Prison for his February 26, 2025, guilty plea to one count of second-degree Theft by Deception. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Parenti ordered Ray to pay $1,597,257.00 in restitution to his victim.
The guilty plea and Friday’s sentence stem from an investigation conducted by Detectives of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit. During the investigation, Detectives determined that Ray had engaged in a nearly three-year deceptive scheme beginning in January 2022 through August 2024, targeting an elderly family friend.
Detectives uncovered that Ray, through a series of fabricated documents, impersonation of commercial driving school representatives, and fraudulent statements, defrauded the senior citizen on at least 1,600 occasions, totaling over $1,5 million.
“This sentence highlights the devastating impact of financial especially those targeting vulnerable victims,” said Prosecutor Daniel. “I want to commend Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit Sergeant Alex Lopez and Detective Jessica Tattoli for their meticulous investigation. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who exploit the trust of others for personal gain.”
