Serial Identity Thief Stole $74K From Bedminster Bank Account: Prosecutor

BEDMINSTER, NJ — A Jersey City man was found guilty of stealing a Mendham man's identity and more than $74,000 from his bank in Bedminster, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

Saeed Cousar, 42, of Jersey City was found guilty of third-degree theft by deception and third-degree identity theft, following a six day jury trial in Somerville.

In July 2013, a Mendham resident got his savings account statement from his bank in Bedminster and saw that more than $74,000 was missing from his account. He reported his identity and money stolen to authorities.

Following an investigation by the Bedminster Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit, Cousar was identified as a suspect and found to be connected to the theft based on a variety of records, including internet service provider, cellular telephone, bank, and utility records, Robertson said.

Cousar was found to have used the victim’s stolen information to open a fraudulent online banking and fraudulent checking accounts in the victim’s name, and then would transfer money from the victim’s legitimate savings account to the fraudulent accounts controlled, Robertson said.

In November 2013, a search warrant at Cousar's Jersey City home found papers containing the personal identifying information of dozens of people, Robertson said.

On April 24, 2017, a jury deliberated for about three hours before returning a guilty verdict. Following the conviction, Judge Edward M. Coleman revoked the defendant’s bail and remanded him to the Somerset County Jail.

Cousar is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, at which time he faces 10 years in prison with a five year period of parole ineligibility based on his extensive criminal history.

This isn't the first time Cousar has been convicted on similar crimes. His criminal history consists of 17 prior indictable and felony convictions including:

• third-degree computer criminal activity (Ocean County Ind. No. 13-02- 00494-I)
• third-degree identity theft (Morris County Ind. No. 10-12- 001265A)
• third-degree theft by deception (Essex County Ind. No. 08-09- 02665-I)
• third-degree issuing bad checks, third degree wrongful impersonation and third degree theft by deception (Hudson County Ind. Nos. 1000-05- 08, 1740-09- 08 and 336-02- 09)
• third-degree fraudulent use of a credit card (Bergen County Ind. No. 07-08- 1329-A)
• third-degree identity theft (Hudson County Ind. No. 160-2- 04Z)
• third-degree attempted theft by deception (Hudson County Acc. No. 337-01)
• third-degree theft by deception (Hudson County Ind. No. 842-98)
• second-degree receiving stolen property, third degree possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substance within 1000 feet of a school and third degree attempted theft by deception (Hudson County Ind. Nos. 1021-06- 03 and 1186-07- 04, and Acc. No. 896-8- 04)
• third-degree burglary and resisting arrest (Hudson County Ind. Nos. 126-94 and 125- 94)
• a June 24, 1997 felony conviction for uttering a forged instrument in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (File No. 97CRS004382-02)
• a July 18, 1995 felony conviction for uttering a forged instrument in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (File No. 95CRS022316)

(Image via Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: Saeed Cousar, 42, of Jersey City)

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