Old Tappan man charged with stalking and cyber-harassment

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella recently announced the arrest of 29-year old Daniel G. Pfeiffer, an unmarried salesman from Old Tappan, New Jersey, on charges of Stalking, Invasion of Privacy, Impersonation, Cyber-Harassment, and Contempt of a Stalking Restraining Order.

The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Cyber Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.

During the month of April 2019, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit received information concerning at least one, but as many as three, fictitious social media accounts on dating and romance websites/applications in the likeness of a 29-year-old victim.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the investigation revealed that Pfeiffer used the Internet to create these accounts, impersonate the victim, and engage with strangers in such a way that encouraged them to contact the victim.

In at least one case, Pfeiffer allegedly sent nude and/or sexually explicit images depicting the victim to a stranger via text message, and arranged a sexual encounter while posing as the victim.

Pfeiffer was arrested on May 29, 2019 and charged with one count of Stalking, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10C, a third degree crime; Invasion of Privacy, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9C, a third degree crime; Impersonation, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17A(1), a fourth degree crime; Cyber-Harassment, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1(A)2, a third degree crime; and Contempt of a Stalking Restraining Order, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9A, a fourth degree crime. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in court.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.