State Police have arrested Lester Morales, 34, of Little Ferry, N.J. for the theft of more than $1 million of unpaid tolls and administrative fees during a 13-month period.
Authorities said after a two-month investigation, detectives from the Troop “D” Criminal Investigations Office discovered that Morales, owner of EAB Transport LLC/ Do it Right Trucking, conducted operations with a delinquent E-Z Pass account.
The company, located in Jersey City, had approximately 100 trucks going through tolls more than 100 times per day.
As a result of the investigation, troopers learned that Morales was at Newark Airport about to board a flight to Aruba.
State Police detectives notified Port Authority Police, who located and arrested him at Newark Airport on Thursday, January 12.
Morales was charged with theft of services and lodged at the Middlesex County Jail without bail.
This case will be prosecuted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
"Lester Morales was responsible for operating his company, Do it Right Trucking, but unfortunately he was doing it wrong by racking up more than $1 million in unpaid tolls and administrative fees," said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. "Our detectives will work closely with our partners from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and New Jersey Turnpike Authority to ensure justice is served."
“Repeat offenders are committing serious fraud and pose an additional burden on taxpayers and the motorists who do pay their fair share of the costs to maintain and patrol the state’s highways and bridges,” said Andrew C. Carey, Middlesex County Prosecutor.
“People who cheat the system shift the burden of paying for the operation and maintenance of the Turnpike and Parkway to the honest toll-paying motorists who use those roads every day,” said Joseph W. Mrozek, New Jersey Turnpike Authority Executive Director. “I applaud the efforts of the State Police, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Turnpike Authority staff to bring the owner of this company to justice.”
Charges are mere accusations and the accused is considered innocent until proven guilty.