Police Say Secaucus Couple Ran $1.1M Senior Citizen Scam From Home

SECAUCUS, NJ — In early February 2024, the United States Postal Service reported to Secaucus Police that they intercepted a package containing approximately $52,000 in money orders.

U.S. Postal Police were given permission from the victim to open the box. The package was addressed to an Edna Place house in Secaucus.

Postal workers were suspicious because numerous similar packages had previously been delivered to the same Edna Place address. The post office notified Secaucus Police, and Secaucus Police Detective Division launched an investigation, which was spearheaded by Detective Sean Egan.

Hakeem Lee, 30, and Majda Hodzic-Lee, 42, are a husband and wife who live at the Edna Place address in Secaucus.

Police allege that during the course of 2023, numerous victims from across the United States were scammed out of over $2.2 million dollars, collectively. The scammers would contact victims, many of whom were elderly, by phone and tell them they won the Publishers Clearing House Lottery and would receive a variety of winnings, including vehicles and large sums of cash.

However, the victims were told they first had to send cash, money orders and/or gift cards for taxes, fees and late IRS payments.

After Secaucus Police scoured their bank records, it was discovered that $1.1 million in currency passed through individual bank accounts belonging to both Akeem Lee and his wife, said police. Secaucus Police allege this money was sent from the Publishers Clearing House Lottery scam victims.

Additionally, money was transferred to separate accounts for businesses they owned, such as Oxi Nation, a trucking company, and European Sparkle, a cleaning company. Additionally, banking records showed large amounts of money was sent to businesses suspected to belong to co-conspirators in Florida, Canada, Jamaica and Japan.

On Thursday, Secaucus Police detectives arrested the married couple. Also, a court-authorized search of their Edna Place home, their 2019 Range Rover and 2013 Mercedes Benz was conducted. During the searches, a large amount of banking documents, computers and cell phones were seized.

Lee and Hodzic-Lee were each charged with Money Laundering [2C:21-25], Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception [2C:5-2a(1)/2C:20-4] and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering [2C:5-2a(1)/2C:21-25]. The were released on a summons to appear back in court.

Secaucus Police Detectives have been in touch with police agencies from others states and additional charges may be filed and/or additional arrests maybe made.

“This case is a representative example of the determination put forth by members of the Secaucus Police Department in the pursuit of justice for the innocent victims who were scammed,” said Miller. “These elaborate scams provide sources of income for criminals and it is extremely gratifying to make them answer for their crimes. I want to thank the United States Postal Police for their participation in this investigation.”

Related: Det. Egan Crucial In Solving 2022 Gas Station Robbery In Secaucus (March 2023)