Passaic County Men Charged In Identity Theft, Car Parts Scheme

PASSAIC COUNTY, N.J. — Two Passaic men were arrested in connection with an identity theft and credit card fraud scheme, said Passaic County Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik.

Robert Vinales, 38, of Passaic, allegedly purchased credit card information and used it to try and purchase nearly $20,000 in car parts online, Berdnik said.

Vinales used several fake addresses and a fake name to get the parts; an accomplice, Bright Rembert, 47, is accused of helping Vinales.

Berdnik said that on Aug. 11, Vinales met Rembert at 23 Barbour Street. Vinales then allegedly directed Rembert to accept the packages, who then brought them to Vinales, Berdnik said. The two men were then arrested, the sheriff said.

Vinales was charged with identity theft, trafficking in personal identifying information, fraudulent use of credit cards; Rembert was charged with conspiracy to aide in the fraudulent use of credit cards, authorities said.

Vinales was transported to the Passaic County Jail to await bail. Rembert was released on his own recognizance, Berdnik said.

Detectives from the Passaic County Internet Crime Unit and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit are running the ongoing investigation, Berdnik said. More charges may be filed.

"I want to commend the detectives from both the prosecutor's and sheriff's office for conducting this investigation," Berdnik said in a statement. "Identity theft fraud cases are complicated in nature, and the Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit greatly assisted in this investigation and subsequent arrests."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photos: Robert Vinales and Bright Rembert — Passaic County Sheriff's Office