Wayne NJ Theft by Deception SuspectsPolice in Wayne New Jersey recently arrested two Mahwah residents accused of committing fraud by soliciting donations to a fake charity.

According to Wayne authorities, the suspects committed the fraud outside the Stop & Shop in the Preakness Shopping Center in Wayne, NJ.

The Wayne Police Department got a report of a man and a woman fraudulently soliciting donations to a fake veterans’ charity. A representative of the actual charity, Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, told police that the suspects were allowed to set up shop outside the grocery store by giving store employees false documents.

The real Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon charity is based in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. The charity helps wounded servicemen and servicewomen adjust to civilian life after the military.

The suspects, a 59-year-old male and a 57-year-old female, face criminal charges for wrongful impersonation and theft by deception.

After being arrested and charged, the suspects were taken to Wayne police headquarters. Once the suspects had been processed, they were released on summonses. They will be required to make appearances in Wayne Municipal Court to address the very serious criminal charges.

For more information about this case, see the NJ.com article, “N.J. Duo Accused of Fraudulently Posing as Veterans’ Charity.”