Experienced New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyers

Superior Court: The alleged victim reported his credit card stolen after seeing unauthorized charges on his billing statement. The Police reviewed the store’s records and found that on one of those occasions the Client used the stolen credit card and his own shopper rewards card. Based on the shopper reward card information, the police were able to identify the person using the stolen credit card as the client. He was positively identified on security camera footage leaving the store shortly after the stolen card was used. The client was arrested and after being read his Miranda Warnings, he gave a full confession. He was charged with NJSA 2C:20-7(a) Possession of Stolen Property ($500.00 to $75,000.00 value), a third-degree criminal offense and NJSA 2C:21-6(h) Fraudulent Use of Credit Card, a third-degree criminal offense. Each was punishable by up to five (5) years in State Prison and a fine of up to $35,000.00. Result: We appeared at the Pre-Indictment Conference in Superior Court and were able to convince the prosecutor to downgrade the charges to Disorderly Persons offenses and remand them to Municipal Court. The charge of NJSA 2C:20-7(a) was downgraded to a value under $200.00, a disorderly persons offense and the charge of NJSA 2C:21-6h was amended to NJSA 2C:20-4, also a disorderly persons offense. We then appeared with the client in Municipal Court and were able to have the Client diverted into the Conditional Dismissal program with a guilty plea to 2C:20-7(a) Possession of Stolen Property (value under $200.00). which was dismissed after the successful completion of one (1) year of probation. The amended charge of NJSA 2C:20-4, was dismissed. The criminal charge was dismissed after the successful completion of one (1) year of probation in the Conditional Discharge program. Client paid $355.00 in fines and penalties. Six months after the successful completion of the Conditional Dismissal Program, the Client is eligible for an expungement of the record.