Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that an Ocean County man pleaded guilty today to evading more than $500,000 in state sales tax by fraudulently claiming exemptions on 120 luxury cars he purchased as part of an illegal business to acquire vehicles for overseas buyers. He claimed exemptions for 56 cars by falsely buying them in the name of a charity for children with cancer.
Carl F. Monto, 54, of Beachwood, pleaded guilty today to second-degree theft by deception and third-degree failure to pay tax before Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Jr. in Monmouth County. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Monto be sentenced to seven years in state prison. For purposes of restitution, he and his wife, Denise M. Monto, must forfeit $537,784 in assets seized from them by the state in August 2014 when both were arrested on theft charges.
The state has agreed not to oppose Denise Monto’s application to the Pre-Trial Intervention program. Judge Mellaci scheduled sentencing for Carl Monto for May 15. Carl Monto surrendered to custody today and was lodged in the Monmouth County Jail pending sentencing with bail set at $200,000 cash.
Acting Attorney General Hoffman and Director Honig noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free tip line 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities.