FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 2024

ADDITIONAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST DEFENDANTS IN THEFT INVESTIGATION

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

Additional charges have been filed against three individuals following an ongoing theft by deception investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit.

Viral Patel, 38, of Jersey City, Priyanka Patel, 33, of Jersey City, and Pratik Patel, 35, of Ramsey, are each charged with six counts of Theft by Deception in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4 and six counts of Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and 2C:20-4. All three defendants were arrested on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City and released on a summons complaint.

The defendants were first arrested in December 2023 on theft charges amounting to approximately $200,000. As part of an ongoing investigation, six additional victims were identified. The victims received and paid invoices for Janvi Hotel Supply LLC for contract work that was not performed or went unfinished. One victim provided supplies to Janvi Hotel Supply LLC and never received payment. The total theft from the six victims amounted to more than $440,000.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Special Investigations Unit with the investigation and arrests. The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)