Con man with Burlington County victim given three-year sentence

The smooth talker who conned a Burlington County man out of $100,000 in a bogus gold investment heads to prison for three years.

Maurice "JR" Johnson, 62, with a last known address in Lithonia, Georgia, was sentenced for his guilty plea to a second-degree charge of theft by deception, according to New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino's office. He also was ordered to pay full restitution.

Johnson admitted promising the victim a return of $1,000,000 in 15 days through a bogus gold importing business, Landview Gold, LLC, and spending the money on himself instead..

He claimed that he was importing the precious metal from Ghana, producing fabricated documents including forms that appeared to be from Ghanian customs officials, and an invoice seemingly from a legitimate trading firm.

State investigators contacted the legitimate business, which confirmed that the invoice was forged.

The Edgewater Park victim wired $100,000 to Johnson on August 8, 2013, receiving nothing in return. It was several months, authorities said, before he reached the unavoidable conclusion that he'd been scammed.

Johnson met his repeated complaints with claims of delays attributable to Ghanian customs authorities, travel, and "closing" arrangements.

Investigators learned that Johnson pleaded guilty to a theft charge in Georgia in April 2015, earning 180 days behind bars and 10 years' probation for plying the Landview Gold ruse on another victim for $20,000.

Fraud suspicions can be reported the Attorney General's office through its web portal, or toll-free at 1-866-TIPS-4CJ.