Bergen County, New Jersey, Man Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Failing To Register As A Sex Offender

NEWARK, N.J. – A Teaneck, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender when he moved to New Jersey in the fall of 2013, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Richard Joseph, a/k/a “Richard Beltre,” a/k/a “Joseph Richards,” a/k/a “Aaron Joseph,” 43, who is classified as a Tier III sex offender in New York, was previously convicted of one count of failing to register or update a registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). Joseph was convicted following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton, who imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

SORNA requires that all sex offenders who, among other things, travel in interstate or foreign commerce, must register as a sex offender and keep that registration current in each jurisdiction where the sex offender resides.

According to documents filed in this case and the factual stipulations presented at trial:

Joseph was required to register as a sex offender due to his 2002 conviction in New York for rape in the third degree. He first registered as a sex offender in New York using the alias “Richard J. Beltre” in 2006 and knew that he was required to register as a sex offender every time he changed his address. However, when Joseph was released from the custody of the N.Y. State Department Correctional Services in 2013, he failed to report as directed by the N.Y. State Division of Parole and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was eventually arrested on Oct. 11, 2013, having lived in Bergen County since Sept. 7, 2013. During that time, Joseph failed to register as a sex offender in New Jersey.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Joseph to serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos, Jr., and the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force with the investigation leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara F. Merin and Jane H. Yoon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Timothy Donohue Esq., West Orange, New Jersey