Paterson man charged for phony bail telephone scam

Dinesh Patel

PATERSON, NJ – Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the arrest of Raymond Jacquez, age 26 of Paterson, New Jersey, for one count of Conspiracy to commit Theft by Deception in the Third Degree, one count of Conspiracy to commit Impersonation in the Second Degree, and one count of Insurance Fraud in Second Degree. The arrest was made by the Financial Crimes/ Insurance Fraud Unit of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.


Jaquez is alleged to be the leader of a network that committed telephone bail scams in Florida, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington State. Victims received telephone calls from someone claiming to be a relative who was arrested, or a lawyer working for the relative. The victims were urgently asked to wire money to a bank account in Paterson, New Jersey to post bail for the relative. The scam resulted in numerous senior citizens wiring tens of thousands of dollars to bank accounts controlled by Jaquez and his co-conspirators.

The victims later found out that the story was fictitious and their relative was not in jail. In an unrelated scheme, Jaquez is also charged with making a fraudulent insurance claim in connection with an automobile accident.

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These investigations remain active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes available. Senior citizens are cautioned not to send money to unknown third parties without checking directly with relatives.



The second degree charges have a sentencing range from five to ten years in prison. The third degree charges have a sentencing range between three to five years in prison.



The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about these incidents to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org.


A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


For media inquiries concerning this case, contact Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jay W. McCann of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 837-7616 or jmccann@passaiccountynj.org.

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