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SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman, Jr. announced the arrest of Carlos R. Escobar, age 38, of Jefferson Avenue, North Plainfield, New Jersey and Ciro A. Saenz-Puentes, age 44, Remson Avenue, New Brunswick in relation to the theft by deception of funds from a contracting firm in South Bound Brook by whom they were formerly employed.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that a matter was referred to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit regarding concerns involving the impropriety of funds, which was discovered by the owner of a contracting company where both Escobar and Saenz-Puentes were employed.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigation Unit and the South Bound Brook Police Department investigated this matter. As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Carlos R. Escobar and Ciro A. Saenz-Puentes stole blank checks belonging to their employer, forged the checks, and then cashed them for unauthorized purchases estimated at $65,156.02 during the period from September to December 2022.As a result of this investigation, on Friday, September 8, 2023, Carlos R. Escobar was arrested at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office without incident and charged with 3rd degree Theft by Deception, 3rd-degree Forgery, and 3rd degree Uttering a False Document. Defendant Escobar was processed and released pending a court hearing in this matter.
Also on Friday September 8, 2023, Ciro A. Saenz-Puentes was arrested at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office without incident and charged with 3rd degree Theft by Deception, 3rd degree Forgery, and 3rd degree Uttering a False Document. Defendant Saenz-Puentes was processed and released pending a court hearing in this matter. Prosecutor McDonald and Chief Roman request anyone with information relating to the theft to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the South Bound Brook Police Department at (732) 356-0087 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential. NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty
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