Bergen Co. Resident Tapped To Head State Financial Crimes Unit

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Bergen County resident, who served as a prosecutor for more than 10 years, has been tapped to serve as leader of a newly created office within the New Jersey Criminal Justice Division that will focus on prosecuting financial crimes, according to authorities.

Assistant Attorney General Pablo Quiñones will lead the Office of Securities Fraud and Financial Crimes Prosecutions to hold accountable those who commit financial crimes, and seek to recover funds for victims, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said Thursday.

“We’re putting fraudsters and wrongdoers on notice," Platkin said. “I am thrilled that a seasoned prosecutor like Pablo Quiñones is leading this effort, and his experience prosecuting financial crimes makes him a perfect fit for this new role.”

Quiñones served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section at the U.S. Department of Justice. He also operated a private law practice serving the Greater New York Area, the AG's office said in a news release.

“I am both honored and excited by the opportunity to lead the Attorney General’s important effort,” Quiñones said. “I look forward to helping to ensure that those who dare to defraud New Jersey businesses and individuals of their hard-earned financial resources are held accountable without fear or favor.”

Among the financial crimes, the state attorney general said, that the new office will investigate and prosecute include:

• Securities, commodities, and investment fraud;
• Investment advisor fraud,
• Market manipulation;
• Schemes to defraud or deceive;
• Ponzi and pyramid schemes;
• Commercial bribery and disloyalty;
• Money laundering; and
• Corporate and white-collar crimes, including those committed by corporate executives, officers, and board members.