NJ Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to 52 Counts of Bad Checks

Acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin says a Somerset County man has been sentenced for issuing numerous bad checks.

38-year-old Alfred Balak-Labracio of Bernardsville was sentenced on Friday to 364 days in county jail. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to 49 counts of third-degree bad checks and three counts of fourth-degree bad checks.

In pleading guilty, Labracio admitted to issuing 49 bad checks totaling more than $166,088 to Mercedes Benz Financial Services, BMW Financial Services, and General Motors Financial between September 29, 2017 and September 5, 2018 and another 3 checks totaling more than $1,814 to Progressive Insurance, Geico Insurance, and BMW Financial Services between August 17, 2017 and October 18, 2017. In waiving indictment by trial, Labracio admitted to issuing or passing a check or similar sight order for the payment of money, knowing that it would not be honored by the drawee.

Labracio was charged as a result of an investigation by the Private Insurance Fraud Bureau of the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor and the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force.

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Platkin said in a statement,

Writing bad checks is a crime with serious consequences. Let this sentence serve as a clear message to all. New Jersey has no tolerance for swindlers who defraud businesses and others through check fraud scams.

Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson says many cases have started with anonymous tips. If you have information about insurance cheating or fraud, you can report it anonymously by calling (877) 55-FRAUD.