Morris County man faces new charges in alleged lab-grown diamond deception case, police say
MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A Netcong man is facing new charges after an investigation into allegations that jewelry sold as natural diamonds was actually set with lab-grown stones, police said.
Police said a victim first reported a theft-by-deception and criminal simulation complaint on April 17, 2025. Investigators later determined that Justin T. Wentzel, 44, of Netcong, sold jewelry that was misrepresented as legitimate diamonds but was actually lab-grown diamonds accompanied by a fraudulent appraisal, authorities said.
Police said an additional victim came forward on Jan. 13, 2026, reporting the purchase of a ring that was represented as having real diamonds. An independent appraisal determined the ring contained lab-grown diamonds and was valued lower than the original appraisal provided at the time of sale, police said.
Authorities said Wentzel was contacted and came to police headquarters, where he was arrested without incident. He was charged with criminal simulation, falsifying or tampering with records, and theft by deception, police said. He was released pending a court hearing.
The new charges mark the latest development in a case that has resulted in multiple arrests and complaints, according to police. In 2025, authorities said Wentzel was arrested in separate investigations after victims reported purchasing jewelry that was later determined to contain lab-grown diamonds despite being represented and appraised as natural stones. Police previously said one complaint involved a ring purchased in March 2021 that was later found to contain a lab-grown diamond, and another complaint alleged three pieces of jewelry were sold with overstated values.
