Two men have been accused of renting about $200,000 worth of construction equipment and then reselling the equipment, officials with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Jovon Smith, 23, of East Orange and Christopher Ellen, 32, of Passaic were each charged with second-degree leading an organized retail theft enterprise, fencing stolen property and theft by deception, the office said.
Smith was also charged with 38 counts of third-degree theft by deception while Ellen was charged with 26 counts of third-degree theft by deception, authorities said.
Smith and Ellen are accused of renting construction equipment at home improvement stores across New Jersey using multiple identities and then reselling them through an online marketplace, investigators said.
Authorities said the pair targeted high-value equipment.
Investigators searched a rental vehicle associated with both Smith and Ellen and recovered three floor sanders, about $3,000 in cash and documents and credit cards connected with the scheme, officials said.
Detectives discovered a pattern of 38 separate thefts across 12 counties and 28 municipalities, officials said.
Both men were being held in the Essex County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.
Attorneys for the men did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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