NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the charging of two New Jersey men, and the prior guilty plea of another, in a fraud scheme against a Jersey City condo complex owner, totaling $470,000.
Ranaldo Bennett, 40, from Jersey City, and Jonathan Smith, 56, from Montclair, face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Bennett had his court appearance before Judge Kiel on August 7, while Smith appeared before the same judge on Friday.
Previously, on July 6, Nathaniel Obedos, 56, also of Jersey City, admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams.
Public records reveal that Bennett and Smith, holding positions within the condo complex, conspired with Obedos from November 2018 to October 2020. They manipulated repair and maintenance contracts, driving inflated payments to Obedos’s company. The inflated invoices led to overpayments of approximately $1 million, with kickbacks totaling $460,000 to Bennett and $10,700 to Smith.
Obedos awaits sentencing on November 9. Both wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering charges can carry prison terms and substantial fines.