Man Charged in $4.6M Scheme Targeting Williams-Sonoma and Logistics Company

Defendant allegedly conspired with insiders to overbill for fabricated trucking services, paying lavish kickbacks.

NORTH JERSEY – A 46-year-old man from Middlesex County has been charged with participating in a multi-year wire fraud conspiracy that defrauded Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and an unnamed national transportation and logistics company of more than $4.6 million, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. Jose Pena, of Monroe Township, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Allegations of Overbilling

According to court documents, Pena owned and operated a trucking firm subcontracted by a national logistics company, referred to as “Company-1.” The trucking firm was responsible for delivering Williams-Sonoma goods out of the company’s distribution center in Cranbury, New Jersey. Beginning in June 2018, Pena and co-conspirators at Williams-Sonoma and Company-1 allegedly inflated billing invoices, charging the victim companies more than $3.6 million for deliveries and services never performed.

In return, Pena paid lavish kickbacks to co-conspirators, including cash, checks, a sport utility vehicle, and a Rolex watch. After an internal audit uncovered the fraud, Williams-Sonoma and Company-1 ceased business ties with Pena—who then allegedly set up another trucking firm without disclosing his ownership. Through this new venture, Pena and others continued to overbill Williams-Sonoma until June 2024, netting almost $1 million in additional fraudulent proceeds.

Guilty Pleas by Co-Conspirators

• Raymond DeLeon, 38, of Ridgefield Park: Pleaded guilty on January 3, 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. DeLeon was an operations general manager at Company-1 and purportedly accepted over $200,000 in kickbacks to facilitate the fraudulent billing scheme.
• Cintia Elaxcar, 40, of Perth Amboy: Pleaded guilty on January 15, 2025 to the same conspiracy charge. Elaxcar, a billing and dispatch manager at Company-1, reportedly received $435,000 in illegal kickbacks.

Potential Penalties

The conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine—or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is higher. Pena remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Investigation and Prosecution

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the United States Secret Service, led by Special Agent in Charge Aaron Hatley, for the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Pena and his co-conspirators face significant prison time and restitution for the alleged scheme, which prosecutors say bilked two major companies out of millions of dollars.