Newton Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for International Business E-Mail Scam

A man from Sussex County, Robert Herburger Jr., was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to receiving stolen funds amounting to over $1.2 million in an international business email compromise scheme. The sentence, handed down by state Superior Court Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz, includes a 12-month period of parole ineligibility.

Herburger, a 64-year-old resident of Newton, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, as well as unlawful possession of an assault rifle and certain persons not to possess weapons. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin emphasized that colluding with scammers is illegal and will not be tolerated in the state, highlighting the serious consequences for those who cheat the business community.

In business email compromise (BEC) scams, fraudsters deceive companies by sending fake emails as a trusted source to trick employees into making payments for services not rendered or sharing sensitive information. Herburger confessed to creating fake businesses to open bank accounts and receive money stolen through these scams. He received over $1.2 million stolen in various BEC schemes between November 2017 and July 2018, primarily targeting US businesses.

During the investigations, it was discovered that Herburger wired the stolen funds to foreign bank accounts after receiving them in accounts under his control. Ten businesses, including law firms, retailers, financial services providers, and private businesses, suffered financial losses due to Herburger’s actions.

In addition to the fraud charges, Herburger was found to be in possession of an assault rifle illegally and admitted that he was prohibited from owning firearms due to his criminal history. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Michael Burke, with the investigation conducted by the Division of Criminal Justice detectives.

It is vital to ensure that white-collar criminals face justice and that the victims of such crimes recover what they’ve lost. The case highlights the state’s commitment to cracking down on fraud and supporting businesses affected by such criminal activities. Defense Attorney Matthew J. Troiano represented Herburger during the legal proceedings.