Three that are part of a contracting business based out of the Jersey City Heights were arrested after being paid $200,000 for work they never performed, authorities said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Viral Patel, 38, and Priyanka Patel, 33, both of Jersey City, along with Pratik Patel, 35, of Ramsey, are each charged with one count of theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
Viral Patel and Priyanka Patel, who are married according to public records, were arrested on Wednesday, December 20th 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, whose relation, if any, was not immediately clear, was arrested yesterday 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, who lists their address as 23 Thorne St. in the Heights, for approximately $200,000.
The invoice was paid but none of the contract work was performed by the defendants, according to the HCPO.
Throw the book at these scoundrels! Seize their assets so the victims can get reimbursed!