NEWARK, N.J. – A Queens, New York, man today admitted
impersonating a federal agent, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Tornike Lubyk, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge
Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court to an information charging him with
one count of falsely impersonating an agent of the FBI.
According to documents filed in this case and statements
made in court:
Lubyk admitted that on July 8, 2019, during a traffic stop
by the Paramus Police Department, he falsely advised Paramus officers that he
was with the FBI’s C-22 organized crime squad based in the Manhattan field
office, and presented an apparent FBI badge, apparent FBI credentials, and an
apparent FBI security access card.
The charge of impersonating a federal officer carries a
maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or
twice the gross pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victim,
whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited FBI task force officers and
special agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W.
Ehrie, Newark Field Division; and special agents of U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the
direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian A. Michael, with the investigation
leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Paramus Police Department
for their work on the case.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Cassye Cole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Warren S. Sutnick Esq., Hackensack, New
Jersey
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