New Jersey Man Charged with SSN Misuse

Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office White Collar Crime Unit, along with members of the Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshal’s Service, N.J. Division of Parole, Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Removal Operations, Social Security Administration and Ramsey Police Department arrested Dwayne Jerome McNish, age 35, residing in Ramsey, New Jersey.

McNish, who is in the United States as a result of overstaying a visa from Jamaica, is charged with stealing the identity of Aric Taylor, a resident of Massachusetts. McNish illegally bought a copy of Taylor’s birth certificate, and then fraudulently obtained a United States Passport, Social Security Card and New Jersey Driver’s License in Taylor’s name.

In 2003, McNish was arrested under Taylor’s identity and pled guilty to possessing a handgun. He was sentenced under the name of Aric Taylor by the Superior Court in Paterson, New Jersey for the weapon offense. McNish lied to the Court about his identity and furnished false documents to probation officers. McNish was serving time on parole as Aric Taylor when arrested by authorities on June 5, 2012.

McNish is charged with the Use of Stolen Identity to Obtain a Government Document (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17.2), a crime of the second degree; Perjury (N.J.S.A. 2C:28-1), a crime of the third degree; and Contempt (N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9(a)), a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by five to ten years in State Prison. A crime of the third degree is punishable by three to five years in State Prison. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by up to eighteen months in State Prison.

Passaic County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jay W. McCann is prosecuting the case against McNish. If you have any questions, please contact Chief Assistant Prosecutor McCann at (973) 837-7616 or jmccann@passaiccountynj.org.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.