ANNANDALE NEW JERSEY AUCTIONEER ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH SWINDLING MONEY FROM LIVESTOCK COOPERATIVE
" Howard Hoffman Of Annandale, New Jersey Charged With Theft By Unlawful Taking, Filing A False Tax Return & Failure To Pay Tax."
November 7, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ.- On Wednesday, November 3, 2021 Warren County Prosecutor James L. Pfeiffer announced that Howard Hoffman, 66, of Annandale, New Jersey was Charged following an investigation of Theft of Cash from The Hackettstown Livestock Auction Cooperative.
Members of The Cooperative reported to The Warren County Prosecutor's Office that they were missing approximately $57,000. in cash payments due from customers for livestock purchased at auction between 2016 and 2017. They reported Mr. Hoffman as the Auction Master for The Cooperative and therefore responsible for taking payment from purchasers and depositing such payments in The Cooperatives Bank Accounts.
After a review of Cooperatives Financial Records, revealed a cash shortfall of $56,810. during 2016 and 2017. Further, a review of Mr. Hoffman's Bank Statements revealed $56,300. of cash deposits into his personal bank account through a variety of ATM's. Cash Deposits in the years prior to 2016 and after 2017 were discovered to be a small fraction of what was deposited during these two years.
Further in the investigation by The Warren County Prosecutor's Office with the assistance of The New Jersey Department of Treasury and Taxation Office Criminal Investigations Unit, it was determined that Mr. Hoffman failed to Pay Taxes on the $56,300. in ATM Deposits.
Therefore at the culmination of the investigation, Mr. Hoffman was formally Charged with One Count of Third Degree Theft by Unlawful Taking; One Count of Third Degree Filing a False Tax Return; and One Count of Third Degree Failure to Pay Tax.
Mr. Hoffman was processed on the Charges and released on a Summons pending future Court proceedings in Warren County Superior Court.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Outlined In This Publication Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER NOVEMBER 7, 2021: LAW, WARREN: