In the following press release Bergen County (NJ) Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced the arrest of Michael P. Rumore, [pictured below] 328 Travers Place, Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071, on November 6, 2009.

The charges are the result of an investigation by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office White Collar Crime Unit, under the direction of Chief Steven Cucciniello.

[Editor note: Rumore pleaded guilty in January 2009 to similar charges brought by the New Jersey Attorney General. Read more..]

Members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office White Collar Crime Unit received information from the victim that Mr. Rumore had handled a real estate closing, while in his capacity as an attorney, on June 28, 2007. Mr. Rumore had presented an altered HUD-1 Statement to the victim, who was the seller of the real estate in this transaction. Mr. Rumore had altered the selling price of the home to reflect an amount which was much greater than the contracted price and had also listed several contractors who allegedly had done work for the seller and were owed money. This HUD-1 Statement reflected an amount, which was much lower than the amount of funds that the seller should have received. Mr. Rumore presented a much different HUD-1 Statement to the mortgage company, which indicated a higher amount of money due to the seller and did not list the previous contractors. Mr. Rumore took the additional proceeds from this transaction and used the funds, which were in excess of $75,000.00, for his personal use.

Michael P. Rumore was charged with violation of 2C:20-4(a) Theft By Deception, a crime of the second degree and 2C:20-9 Theft by Failing to Make Proper Disposition of Property Acquired, a crime of the second degree.

Prosecutor Molinelli states that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.