Georgia con artist to be sentenced for scamming Jersey victim

An admitted con man from Georgia who pleaded guilty for fleecing a Burlington County victim for $100,000 can expect a three-year stretch in a New Jersey prison.

Maurice "JR" Johnson, 62, accepted a guilty plea to a second-degree theft-by deception charge, in exchange for the state recommendation of a three-year term, according to the office of acting New Jersey Attorney General Robert Lougy.

Johnson will be required to repay the Edgewater Park victim in full. Until his July 22 sentencing date, Johnson remains in the Burlington County Jail.

According to the report by state investigators, Johnson promised a million-dollar return wthin 15 days of the investment into a sham business, Landview Gold, LLC. Johnson claimed to be importing gold from Ghana, and produced documents that seemed to be authorized by Ghanian customs officials along with an invoice that appeared to be a transaction between his firm and a legitimate company, authorities said, adding that the document was a forgery.

The victim wired $100,000 to Johnson on August 8, 2013 and never saw any return, and realized within several months that he had been taken, investigators said.

Johnson reportedly brushed off repeated calls with explanations of customs delays, travel, and closing arrangements. Johnson admitted using the money for personal expenses.

Georgia authorities arrested Johnson in April 2015 for allegedly using the same scam to con a George=ia resident out of $20,000. He pleaded guilty there and was given 180 days in jail and 10 years' probation, investigators said.

Click here to report suspected fraud confidentially to the Attorney General's office, or use their phone-based tip line, 1-866-TIPS-4CJ.