New Jersey man charged with Identity Theft and Mortgage Fraud

Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow announced that former Linden, New Jersey resident John Melchionna has been indicted on thirteen separate counts related to identity theft and mortgage fraud.

John Melchionna, age 42 was arrested on charges that were filed on January 25th relating to identity theft and mortgage fraud after a lengthy investigation by the Linden Police Department Detective, Mark Case and the prosecutor’s office.

Mr. Melchionna according to the indictment stole a business associate’s identity and purchased real estate in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Mr. Melchionna was able to obtain over two hundred seventy thousand dollars in loans before he was detected. Mr. Mechionna also charged approximately three hundred thousand dollars in credit card charges under the associates name between 2006 and 2008.

The associate in this case was unaware that his identity had been stolen as the credit card statements and correspondence were directed to an investment property that the associate owned in Linden, New Jersey. The associate had given Mr. Melchionna the responsibility to collect rents from the investment property on his behalf. Mr. Melchionna used that responsibility to defraud his business associate and intercept mail coming to the investment property address.

The associate sought out the Linden Police when he ran a credit check on himself in December of 2008. The credit check revealed several mortgages and credit cards taken in the associate’s name that he knew nothing about.

Mr. Melchionna is also under indictment for using another friend’s identity and credit to obtain a forty thousand dollar loan from The Hamilton Group. The New York based lender discovered the fraud when it attempted to contact the company listed on the invoices Mr. Melchionna had supplied and requesting payment. The company did not exist.