In Livingston Municipal Court this past week, a Bayshore, New York woman answered 40 charges in connection with depositing fraudulent checks in ATMs. According to court officials, Taylor Eppf, 26, was charged with 20 counts of forgery and 20 counts of theft by deception for depositing fraudulent checks into bank automatic teller machines between June 26 and 30,2022. All 20 checks were for amounts under $500.
The case was reviewed by the Essex County prosecutor’s office, which downgraded the charges to 40 disorderly persons grade charges of theft by deception.
With no prior record, Eppf entered into the conditional dismissal program for one year. She was assessed $750, plus $33 in court costs; $75 for the Safe Neighborhoods Fund; $50 for the Victims of Crimes Compensation Organization (VCCO); and a $75 conditional dismissal fee.
Shoplifting from TJ Maxx
In other court action, Nyasia Pencil ofNewark, 26, was charged on November 30,2021 with shoplifting $752.82 worth of clothing from TJ Maxx. The Essex County prosecutor reviewed the case, and downgraded the charge to a disorderly persons grade.
In Livingston Municipal Court, Pencil pled guilty to an amended charge of theft. She was sentenced to nine days in prison, with credit for nine days served, and fined $250, plus $33 in court costs; $75 for Safe Neighborhoods; and $50 for the VCCO.
Criminal Mischief
Adalid Trejo of Selden, New York, age 50, was charged on August 26, 2022 with criminal mischief for damaging donation bins and a mounted security camera by deliberately driving a large box truck into them, and then throwing garbage into the bins. He pled guilty to an amended charge of creating a disturbance. He was fined $250, plus $33 in court costs; $75 for Safe Neighborhoods; and $50 for the VCCO.
Soliciting Without a Permit A South Plainfield-based company, Momentum Solar, was charged February 6 with soliciting without a permit. Company officials pled guilty as charged, and the firm was fined $100, plus $33 in court costs.
Shoplifting from Macy’s
Thirty-three year old Jesus Salas-Avila of Miami, Florida, was charged November 20, 2022, with shoplifting $489.43 worth of Polo hats from Macy’s in the Livingston Mall, and with possession of shoplifting tools, for using a foil-lined bag in the crime.
Upon review by the Essex County prosecutor’s office, the shoplifting charge was downgraded to a disorderly persons grade. In Livingston Municipal Court, the shoplifting tools charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement, and Salas-Avila pled guilty to an amended charge of creating a disturbance. He was fined $750, plus $33 in court costs; $75 for Safe Neighborhoods; and $50 for the VCCO.
