20-Yr-Old Newark Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison For Auto Theft

Raymond Branch, a 20-year-old resident of Newark, New Jersey, has been sentenced to four years in prison for the theft of a 2017 black Maserati Ghibli. Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Chief of Detectives Robert McNally made the announcement of Branch's sentencing.

On August 15, 2021, the Mountain Lakes Police Department responded to a report of a stolen Maserati from a residence. The car was found later that morning in Newark, NJ. The subsequent investigation identified Branch as a suspect, with cellular phone records provided by Essex County authorities helping Mountain Lakes Police and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Unit to analyze Branch's activities on the morning of the theft.

Members of the Morris County Sheriff's Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) section processed the Maserati forensically, leading to the discovery of a latent fingerprint from the interior of the front driver door window that matched Raymond Branch.

Branch was arrested on April 5, 2022, and remained in custody pending trial. On August 2, 2022, Branch pled guilty to third-degree theft of a motor vehicle, leading to his sentencing on February 24, 2023, by the Honorable Noah Franzblau.

Prosecutor Carroll praised the investigation and prosecution of Branch, citing interagency cooperation and excellent police work by the Mountain Lakes Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigations, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Intelligence Unit. Senior Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan represented the State at sentencing.

Media inquiries regarding this press release should be addressed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab via email at mknab@co.morris.nj.us or by phone at 973-829-8159.