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Newark, NJ—The manager of a Jersey City, NJ jewelry store has admitted lying to federal agents during an investigation into a fraud conspiracy, says a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Khaled Hamade, 60, of Clifton, NJ, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of making false statements to federal agents. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Hamade was the manager of a jewelry store at the Newport Mall in Jersey City, NJ. In March 2019, he provided false information to federal agents who were investigating a fraud conspiracy against a financial institution. Hamade denied knowledge of the identities, and personal information, of numerous customers of his jewelry store who were believed to have engaged in the fraud. The count of providing false statements to which Hamade pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2021.

Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, and inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the supervision of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime/Gangs Unit.

The statement from the U.S. Department of Justice did not name either the jewelry store Hamade managed or the financial institution. 

Top image: Newport Centre Mall, Jersey City, NJ