NEWARK, N.J. – A Staten Island, New York, man has admitted
robbing a New Jersey business owner in February 2019, defrauding eight New
Jersey businesses from July 2016 through January 2019, and defrauding and
stealing the identities of three women, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced
today.
Raymond Scura, 30, pleaded guilty before Judge Claire C.
Cecchi in Newark federal court on Dec. 9, 2019, to an information charging him
with wire fraud affecting a financial institution, aggravated identity theft,
and Hobbs Act robbery.
According to the documents filed in this case and statements
made in court:
Scura used bad checks and stolen credit cards to obtain
goods and services, such as a country club membership, limousine services,
luxury hotel expenses, exotic car rentals, and a Rolex watch, in order to
appear wealthy and obtain the confidence of his victims, often targeting women.
Once he convinced his victims of his purported wealth, he would then steal
their identities and accounts to make additional purchases. As a result of his
fraud and aggravated identity theft offenses, Scura caused losses to individuals
and businesses in excess of $250,000
In February 2019, Scura was a customer of an internet-based
business owned and operated by a New Jersey man. To pay for the services of the
business, Scura wrote at least one fraudulent check to the victim. When the victim
insisted on cash payment, Scura drove with the business owner to a bank, where
Scura brandished a gun, threatened to kill the victim, and demanded that the
victim deposit a fraudulent check for $10,000 into the victim’s bank account
and then withdraw $10,000. The victim did as Scura directed and then gave Scura
the $10,000.
The Hobbs Act robbery charge carries a statutory maximum of
20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the
offense. The wire fraud affecting a financial institution charge carries a
statutory maximum of 30 years in prison, and the aggravated identity theft
charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, which must
be served consecutively to any other sentenced imposed. Sentencing is scheduled
for April 1, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, and
members of the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief of
Police Mark Minichini, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He
also thanked the Summit Police Department, the Union County Prosecutor’s
Office, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Evesham Police
Department for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Christopher Amore of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit and Elaine Lou of the
U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
Defense counsel: Saverio Viggiano Esq., Assistant Federal
Public Defender, Newark
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