For Immediate Release:
September 28, 2022

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces that ADRIANO AVERZANO (DOB: 8/02/1983; single; unemployed) of 10 Clinton Street, Apt. 4R, Brooklyn, NY was charged with money laundering, theft by deception, theft, identity theft and conspiracy. This is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love.

On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit received information from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office that a check issued by the County of Bergen to a Bergen County based non-profit organization in the approximate amount of $190,000 was intercepted. The check was never received by the intended payee and was deposited at a financial institution located in New York City.

The investigation revealed that on Saturday, June 4, 2022, ADRIANO AVERZANO and others conspired to open a fictitious bank account using the name of an identity theft victim and the business information of the Bergen County based non-profit organization. On Monday, June 6, 2022, AVERZANO deposited the stolen check made payable to the Bergen County based non-profit organization into the fraudulent account. AVERZANO and other conspirators subsequently withdrew funds and completed wire transfers to deplete the funds. This complex scheme covered three states and encompassed multiple shell entities.

On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, ADRIANO AVERZANO was charged with second-degree theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3(a); second-degree conspiracy to commit theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2(1)/2C:20-3(a); second-degree theft by deception, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4(a); second-degree conspiracy to commit theft by deception, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2(1)/2C:20-4(a); second-degree money laundering, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25b(2)(a); second-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2(1)/2C:21-25b(2)(a); fourth-degree identity theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17(3); and fourth-degree conspiracy to commit identity theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2(1)/2C:21-17(3). AVERZANO was released on his own recognizance pending a future Central Judicial Processing Court hearing.

Additional arrests stemming from this investigation are anticipated.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance in this investigation.