Terrance Givens, 32, East Orange, New Jersey, was charged with one count of theft by deception (second degree.) According to Criminal Justice Director Grammicioni, Givens lied about his employment history on a mortgage application in 2005. Specifically, he falsely listed his employer as Wall Designs, Inc. of Newark, a business founded by a relative that, for all intents and purposes, never existed.
In addition to misrepresenting his employment history to the New Century Mortgage Company, Givens allegedly submitted false W-2 forms for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 showing annual wages of between $67,000 and $72,000. On the basis of the false information he provided, Givens was approved for, and received, a $200,000 mortgage loan which subsequently went into foreclosure.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a penalty of between five-and-10 years in prison and fines ranging from $150,000-to-$500,000 per offense.
