WASHINGTON BOROUGH, N.J. (Warren County) — A Washington Borough man is accused of selling fraudulent New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission inspection stickers following a four-month investigation in Warren County, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
Thomas J. Luster Sr., 57, was arrested Thursday, Nov. 20. Investigators began probing the case after receiving information that counterfeit inspection stickers were allegedly being offered for sale. Luster was ultimately identified as the suspect, prosecutors said.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Luster is charged with four third-degree counts of forgery for selling fraudulently numbered and bar-coded inspection stickers; four third-degree counts of uttering a fraudulent document for offering forged stickers for sale; four fourth-degree counts of criminal simulation for selling inspection stickers that simulated documents issued by the state Motor Vehicle Commission; and four second-degree counts of false government documents for selling items that falsely appeared to be government-issued and could be used to verify a person’s identity.
Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum of five years, and fourth-degree crimes carry up to 18 months.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office and the Washington Township Police Department.
