A Weehawken man has been charged with a year-long scheme involving theft and fraudulent payments through a local development business, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Thursday, June 5, 2025, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit arrested Jose Espinoza, 40, following an investigation into various theft reports. Prosecutor Esther Suarez reported that Espinoza was arrested at the Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and brought to the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where he awaits his initial court appearance.
Espinoza is charged with various offenses, including one count of second-degree theft by deception, nine counts of third-degree theft by deception, ten counts of third-degree fraudulent checks/electronic funds transfers, and one count of second-degree fraudulent checks/electronic funds transfer.
Investigators claim that between July 2023 and June 2024, Espinoza utilized his company, Move the Needle LLC, to collect money from ten people and one business for services that were never provided. He is also accused of sending bogus checks to five individuals and one firm. The overall cash loss is reported to be more than $100,000.