NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A man was arrested in connection with a million-dollar theft scheme from an older family friend in New Jersey, prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
Elijah Ray, 25 of Elizabeth, was charged with theft by deception, impersonation, forgery, and theft by unlawful taking, Prosecutor William A. Daniel said.
According to court documents, Ray allegedly engaged in the prolonged deceptive scheme between January 2022 and August 2024, targeting an "elderly" family friend.
Detectives found a series of fabricated documents, impersonation of commercial driving school representatives, and fraudulent statements, Ray allegedly defrauded the victim on at least 1,600 occasions, totaling over $1.6 million.
In addition to the scheme, Ray allegedly also stole and used the victim's ATM card and wrote checks against her account.
Ray was arrested on Monday at his Elizabeth residence without incident. He was transported to the Union County Jail pending a detention hearing.
"This arrest highlights the devastating impact of financial crimes, especially those targeting vulnerable individuals," Daniel said. "We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who exploit the trust of others for personal gain."
