MONROE TWP., N.J. — A 35-year-old man from Jersey City has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses after allegedly impersonating a federal law enforcement officer to extort tens of thousands of dollars from a Monroe Township woman, authorities said.
According to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Monroe Police Chief Griffin Banos, the suspect, Hrushikesh Sankhe, contacted a 69-year-old woman on June 13, falsely claiming she was under investigation for a drug-related package intercepted at the Texas-Mexico border.
The impersonator demanded $60,000 in cash to prevent her arrest. The victim complied and handed over the money in person. Investigators later learned that Sankhe continued to demand additional funds, seeking an extra $50,000.
Suspect arrested during second extortion attempt
On June 26, Sankhe returned to Monroe Township to collect the second payment. He was located inside his vehicle and arrested by members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and Monroe Township Police.
Sankhe is charged with two counts of second-degree theft by extortion, second-degree impersonation, second-degree conspiracy to financial facilitation of criminal activity, and fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Detective Zachary Olesinski at 732-745-4454.
