MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – A property manager of an apartment complex in Somerset County has been charged with pocketing rent payments and security deposits from 2019 to 2022, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
In August of 2022, the Special Investigations Unit of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office was notified of a report of suspected theft by deception on the part of the property manager of an apartment complex located in Montgomery Township, McDonald said.
As a result of this investigation, it was determined that for over a two-year period, Yessica Gonzalez, 44, of Ewing Township had been renting out apartments in the complex on her own and collecting monthly rent and security deposits from tenants which she kept for herself, McDonald said.
Gonzalez also forged the owner of the apartment complex’s name on lease documents without the owner’s consent or knowledge, McDonald said.
Yessica Gonzalez was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 27 by members of the Special Investigations Unit at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office when she surrendered to authorities without incident, McDonald said.
Gonzalez was charged with second-degree theft (over $75,000) by deception and fourth-degree forgery. She was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, McDonald said.
Anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Special Investigations Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Montgomery Township Police Department at 908-359-3222 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
