FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Friday, December 22, 2023

THREE CHARGED WITH THEFT BY DECEPTION

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit has arrested three individuals following a theft by deception investigation.

Viral Patel, 38, of Jersey City, Priyanka Patel, 33, of Jersey City, and Pratik Patel, 35, of Ramsey, are each charged with one count of Theft by Deception in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4, a crime of the second degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Theft in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and 2C:20-4, a crime of the second degree. Viral Patel and Priyanka Patel were arrested on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and at a residence in Jersey City, respectively, and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending their first court appearances. Pratik Patel was arrested on Thursday December 21, 2023, at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.

The investigation found that the three defendants were hired to perform contract work at a business owner’s three properties in March of 2023. The business owner received an invoice from Janvi Hotel Supply LLC for approximately $200,000. The invoice was paid but none of the contract work was performed by the defendants.