By: Richard L. Smith
An Elizabeth resident has been sentenced to prison after admitting to a years-long scheme that defrauded an elderly family friend out of more than $1.5 million, according to a statement released by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officials say Elijah Ray, 25, pleaded guilty in February to a single count of second-degree theft by deception.
On Friday, April 4, Union County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Parenti Jr. sentenced Ray to four years in state prison and ordered him to repay $1,597,257 in restitution to the victim.
The investigation, led by detectives from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit, uncovered that Ray orchestrated a complex and sustained fraud between January 2022 and August 2024.
During that time, he exploited the trust of a senior citizen—described as a longtime family acquaintance—by employing a wide range of deceptive tactics.
Authorities say Ray used forged documents, impersonated representatives of commercial driving schools, and made repeated false claims to mislead the victim.
The scheme involved more than 1,600 separate fraudulent transactions over a period of nearly three years.
Union County officials say the case stresses importance of safeguarding vulnerable members of the community, particularly seniors, from financial exploitation. 
Prosecutor William A. Daniel praised the diligent efforts of the investigative team in holding Ray accountable.