Monmouth County Man Charged In Nearly $150,000 Cell Phone Theft 

Sunday, July 27, 2025, 11:55 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

UNION BEACH, NJ.- On Friday, July 25, 2025, following an investigation, a 35-year-old Union Beach, New Jersey, man was taken and charged in connection with allegedly stealing more than 100 cellular phones from his employer, resulting in a loss of nearly $150,000.

     According to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, Norberto O. Matias, 35, of Union Beach, New Jersey, was taken into custody and formally charged with second-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking. Matias was processed on the charges and was released on a summons complaint, pending his first appearance, which has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, in Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold, New Jersey.

The Charge Is The Result Of An Investigation

     The charge stems from an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit, which was initiated by a report from Matias’s employer, a telecommunications company, regarding an alleged theft. During the investigation, Detectives determined that Matias, who worked as a business sales account manager for the company, had been fraudulently ordering iPhone 15s under multiple companies’ accounts, but having them shipped directly to his home in Union Beach, New Jersey.

Detectives Determine Matias Allegedly Stole 123 iPhones 15s

     A forensic examination of business and shipping records, and following conducted interviews of five of Matias’s clients, who indicated that they had never received the phones despite being charged for them, led to Matias being formally charged. Detectives concluded that a total of 123 cellular phones were stolen, which remain unrecovered, with a total value of just slightly over $141,000.

     If convicted at trial, Matias faces a sentence of between five and ten years in New Jersey State Prison. Additionally, Matias would be required to pay restitution.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”