TRENTON – Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson announced that a Mercer County man was charged Wednesday with receiving stolen checks and for allegedly using a corporate bank account to receive the stolen funds.

Wayne Bessant, 40, of Hamilton, N.J., was indicted on second-degree receiving stolen property and second-degree misconduct by a corporate official. The indictment was handed up by a state grand jury on November 3, 2021.

Between August 9, 2019 and September 16, 2019, Bessant allegedly received twenty-three stolen checks. Bessant was also charged with second-degree misconduct by a corporate official for allegedly using the company, New Tech Restoration LLC, to receive more than $75,000 in stolen funds.   

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Deputy Attorney General Jennifer L. Menjivar presented the case to the State Grand Jury for the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor under the supervision of Bureau Chief DAG Cheryl Maccaroni, and Assistant Bureau Chief Crystal Callahan of the Private Insurance Fraud Bureau. Sergeant Wendy Berg and Detective Matthew Armstrong investigated the case under the Supervision of Lieutenant Kelly Howard.

Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Thompson noted that many cases have started with anonymous tips. People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the website at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution, and conviction for insurance fraud.

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