Phony 'Bail Bond' Phone Scam Cost 9 Bergen County Victims 190K, Prosecutor Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Two people have been charged in a scheme in which they'd call people pretending to be a member of Bergen County law enforcement to try to scam them out of money, prosecutors said.

Yasen R. Delgado and Ahjainay N. Gawthney were charged in connection with the scam, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

At least nine victims ended up losing $190,000 in the scam, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say that beginning in January 2025, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence & Counterterrorism Unit reviewed incidents reported to local and county law enforcement involving scam telephone calls using technology that modified the caller ID information.

Residents said that callers would claim to be a Bergen County sheriff or "bail bondsman" representing the court.

The caller would tell victims that there was a warrant out for them for missing a court date or ignoring jury duty. Victims were told to meet the "official" in order to avoid jail time, and hand over large sums of money.

"Law enforcement does not demand payment over the phone or threaten arrest in this manner," prosecutors noted.

Investigators determined that at least nine people in the area lost $190,000 to the scam.

Detectives identified Delgado and Gawthney in the scam and got a search warrant for two residences in Paterson.

They found fentanyl, prescription legend drugs, drug packaging materials, stamps used for heroin packaging, cutting agents, empty glassine bags, electronic scales, drug paraphernalia, and cash, prosecutors said.

Detectives also found a loaded, unregistered handgun with illegal hollow-point ammunition belonging to Yasen Delgado, and a loaded, illegal assault rifle belonging Delareese Delgado, prosecutors said.

All three suspects were taken to Bergen County Jail to await their first appearances in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Yasen Delgado has been charged with theft by extortion and drug and weapons offenses. Gawthney has been charged with theft by extortion. Delareese Delgado was charged with weapons offenses, prosecutors said.