Fort Lee Con Man Sentenced In ID Theft Scheme

FORT LEE, NJ — A former borough resident was sentenced to eight years in state prison for stealing more than $317,000 from the state by filing false unemployment and disability benefits, authorities announced.

Jose Crespo, 52, of New Castle, Delaware, pleaded guilty in April 2017 to second-degree theft.

Crespo and his wife created shell companies and used victims' stolen identities to file the fraudulent claims, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said.

Crespo must serve three years of the sentence before he is eligible for parole, Grewal said. He must also pay back the $317,000 in restitution.

Two co-defendants, including Crespon's wife Marilyn 50, were previously sentenced.

Marilyn Crespo pleaded guilty to second-degree theft and was sentenced to the Drug Court Program. However, if she fails to meet the requirements of that program, she will be sentenced to five years in prison.

Jose Crespo's friend, Craig Mallone, 62, pleaded guilty to third-degree theft by deception. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail and three years of probation.

“Prolific con artists like Crespo are a costly drain on the unemployment insurance trust fund, which is a vital safety net for hardworking New Jerseyans who lose their jobs through no fault of their own,” said Attorney General Grewal. “The New Jersey Department of Labor has enhanced its resources to detect this type of fraud, and we’ll continue to partner with them and the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure that these offenders face justice.”

The State Labor Department’s ongoing anti-fraud initiative has saved taxpayers $950 million to date.

“The Labor Department continues to aggressively pursue cases of suspected fraud by working closely with the Department of Law and Public Safety and the U.S. Department of Labor to ensure that anyone who fraudulently collects or attempts to collect unemployment or temporary disability benefits is charged and prosecuted,” said acting Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “Our investigators are equipped with the technology and tools to detect suspicious claims activity.”

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Photos: Jose and Marilyn Crespo/New Jersey Attorney General's Office