MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A Netcong man has been arrested for the second time this year after investigations found he allegedly sold lab-grown diamonds while misrepresenting them as natural, according to police.
Police said Justin T. Wentzel, 43, was arrested Oct. 2 at headquarters and charged with criminal simulation, falsifying or tampering with records, and theft by deception. He was released pending a court appearance.
The charges followed an Aug. 18 complaint from a victim who said she purchased a diamond ring from Wentzel in March 2021. The diamond was later determined to be lab-grown instead of natural, despite being appraised and sold as genuine. Investigators said Wentzel allegedly substituted the gem and overstated the ring’s value.
This was Wentzel’s second arrest in 2025. On June 17, another victim reported that Wentzel had sold them three pieces of jewelry while misrepresenting the authenticity of the gems and their value. Police said he allegedly sold lab-grown diamonds as genuine and overstated the jewelry’s worth by as much as $23,800.
Wentzel was first arrested on Aug. 7, when he voluntarily went to police headquarters. He was charged then with theft by deception, criminal simulation, and falsifying or tampering with records, and was released pending a court hearing.
