Former Fair Haven furniture dealer William Neumann faces seven years in state prison after pleading guilty yesterday to defrauding customers out of $330,000 for goods that were never delivered, the Monmouth County Prosecutor‘s office says.
Under the terms of a plea deal, Neumann, 62, of Leonardo, also copped to a tax charge that carries a concurrent five-year sentence.
This is how the matter was describer in a press release from the prosecutor:
Neumann also represented to his customers that he was an authorized dealer for several furniture distributors throughout the United States. The investigation further revealed that Neumann was never an authorized dealer for these businesses.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin stated, “The crimes which Neumann has now admitted his guilt to were the result of a cooperative investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Fair Haven Police Department, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Working together, eighty one individuals who were victimized by Neumann’s criminal conduct were identified. The proposed term of imprisonment is intended to punish Neumann for his actions. The payment of restitution is intended to begin to compensate the many victims for their losses.”
Here’s the full release: Download 030909
Neumann is scheduled to be sentenced June 19 by Superior Court Judge Ira Kreizman in Freehold. Meantime, Neumann is out on $150,000 bail.