Fake Medical Bills, Eviction Notices: Woman Sentenced In Union County Fraud Scheme

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A 43-year-old woman from Elizabeth was sentenced after she and a partner fraudulently "drained" a family friend's savings, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said.

On Jan. 9, Crystal Williams was given five years of probation with 364 days in jail and an order to pay restitution of $128,838.50 to the victim, additional mandatory fines, and penalties.

Williams pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2025 to one count of second-degree theft by deception.

"This sentencing addresses a predatory scheme targeting a vulnerable senior citizen," prosecutors said, "with the victim's age, over 60, serving as an aggravating factor."

Between 2022 and 2024, Williams and her co-conspirator Damien Hall "systematically drained" the savings funds of someone who had been known to them for decades as a family friend.

The two used a barrage of fabricated details, forged court orders for evictions, fake medical bills for a child's surgery, and fake invoices for job trainings to gain the victim's trust.

Hall also pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2025, but to one count of third-degree forgery. His negotiated plea includes probation with restitution payments to the victim and 364 days in jail when sentencing occurs on Feb. 13.

Williams will be jailed on Dec. 8, 2028 in order to allow her to make the payments she owes towards restitution before beginning her prison term.

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