Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Daniel Gatson, Jr., 24, of Ridgefield, on fraud-related charges.
According to Prosecutor Musella, on Monday, April 19, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit received information from the Fairfax County, VA Police Department regarding a Bergen County resident who may be fraudulently receiving New Jersey unemployment benefits.
Prosecutor Musella said that the Fairfax County detectives discovered this information while conducting a shoplifting investigation in Fairfax, VA.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Gatson Jr. assumed the identity and filed for New Jersey unemployment benefits and defrauded the State of New Jersey.
According to Prosecutor Musella, he used the identity of another to fraudulently open accounts in their name. He transferred all the funds to accounts under his control and used the funds for his personal use.
Prosecutor Musella said that on Wednesday, September 1, Gaston Jr. was arrested and charged with insurance fraud, impersonation, theft by deception, money laundering and possession of fraudulent government documents.
He was transported to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.