October 31, 2008
New Jersey prosecutors have won indictments against 13 people accused of consumer and Internet fraud.
Among those indicted was Robert J. Kennedy, 51, of Browns Mills. He is accused of thief by failure to making required disposition of property received and elements of computer theft, authorities said.
According to Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi, between Sept. 2004 and March 2007, Kennedy allegedly used online auctions to take approximately 450 people across the country for items such as DVDs, a TV stand, a garden bench and pillows that were never delivered.
"Honest, hardworking people who want to spend their savings on home improvements or anything else should not have to worry about being preyed upon by scammers and thieves posing as legitimate business people," Bernardi said.
Bernardi vowed to continue aggressive prosecution against anyone who accepts money for goods or services and fails to deliver them.
In New Jersey, the maximum criminal penalties for a second degree crime are a period of imprisonment for 10 years and a fine if $150,000, for a third degree crime they are a period of imprisonment for 5 years and a fine of $15,000, and for a fourth degree crime they are a period of imprisonment for 18 months and a fine of $10,000.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Burlington County Office of Consumer Affairs at (609) 265-5054.
