Former Newark City Hall Employee Sentenced for Producing Fake Birth Certificates

A former Newark City Hall employee was sentenced in Newark federal court for producing fraudulent birth certificates, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.

Cory Cooke, 45, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty to producing the phony birth certficates and was sentenced to three years of probation on Monday, Feb. 23.

Prior to his sentencing, Cooke worked for the City of Newark’s Office of Vital Statistics and was responsible for issuing official New Jersey birth certificates. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cooke produced four fraudulent birth certificates from August 2013 to October 2013, using four different individuals’ personal identifying information, which he acquired from a conspirator. Cooke then gave the phony documents to the conspirator, who then sold them, the attorney’s office said.

In addition to probation, Cooke was also ordered to spend six months in a halfway house and serve 200 hours of community service, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

For more information, visit the United States Attorney’s Office website.