Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated October 2026 Short answer In New Jersey, a payment-app, wire or unemployment fraud case is usually charged as theft by deception under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4, graded by the total obtained: more than $500 is third degree (3 to 5 years), and $75,000 or more is second degree (5 […]
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Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated October 2026 What is a shoplifting civil demand letter, and do I have to pay it? Short answer: It is a written demand from a store, or from a recovery company working for the store, for money under N.J.S.A. 2A:61C-1. You do not have to pay it, […]
Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated October 2026 Short answer In New Jersey, a judge must order restitution when a theft or fraud victim suffered a loss and you are able, or will be given a fair opportunity, to pay (N.J.S.A. 2C:44-2(b)). The amount is set to give the victim the fullest compensation […]
Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated October 2026 Short answer: Taking a package that a carrier delivered to a residential property is a third-degree crime in New Jersey, three to five years and up to $15,000, as long as the package is worth less than $75,000 or its value is unknown. The charge […]
Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated October 2026 Short answer: New Jersey has no separate “online marketplace fraud” crime. A seller who takes money and sends nothing, a buyer who pays with a bad check or a payment the buyer later reverses, and a person who posts a fake listing are charged with […]
Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated October 2026 Short answer Yes, most theft and fraud convictions in New Jersey can be expunged. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:52-2, the usual wait for an indictable conviction is five years, or four with a showing of “compelling circumstances.” Theft, shoplifting, forgery, credit card fraud, identity theft, insurance fraud […]
Reviewed by William A. Proetta, Esq. · Updated October 2026 Short answer New Jersey has no criminal offense called “catalytic converter theft.” The taking is charged as theft of movable property under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3 and graded by value under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2(b): less than $200 is a disorderly persons offense, $200 to $500 is fourth degree, […]
Facing a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) is always concerning. But when a medical condition affects how you appear, act, and perform during roadside testing, or respond to chemical tests, you may wonder whether you have any good options for fighting the DUI charges. The good news is that there is an established […]
If you are involved in a domestic violence case in New Jersey, you may be wondering whether text messages can be used as evidence. The answer is yes. Courts can allow text messages (including deleted text messages) into evidence in domestic violence trials, but only if they are relevant to the case and the party […]
A DUI arrest can be a jarring situation. Getting stopped by police and pulled out of your vehicle can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, leading some drivers to do things that could potentially harm their legal rights. Some of the most common mistakes after a DUI arrest lead to drivers implicating themselves or jeopardizing […]