A company president is accused of sending hundreds of fake invoices to a Pennsylvania supply company.
A Union County grand jury indicted the president of a dental supply company on charages of fraudulently obtaining more than $1 million in products from another company. (NJ.com file photo) ELIZABETH -- A 42-year-old president of a dental supply company faces indictment on a string of fraud charges alleging he wrote fake invoices to get more than $1 million in products from another company.
A Union County grand jury returned indictments against Frank Clavelli, of Monroe Township, Middlesex County, on charges of theft by deception, and misconduct by a corporate official - both second-degree offenses - said acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park.
She said Clavelli was also indicted on fourth-degree charges of engaging in deceptive business practices, and forgery.
Park said the Special Prosecutions Unit in her office spent two years investigating Clavelli and his company, Tristate Dental Supplies & Equipment, formerly headquartered in Cranford and currently headquartered in Monroe Township.
Clavelli allegedly fabricated invoices, making out reports himself of purchases from a Dentsply Sirona, a York, Pa. manufacturer, the prosecutor said. Clavelli allegedly claimed that other companies were making purchases
Tristate received more than $1 million in products from Dentsply Sirona before the scheme was finally uncovered, authorities said.
Second degree crimes carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison upon conviction.
Clavelli's attorney, Donald DiGoia, called the case a dispute between the two companies. He said Clavelli "has been a respectful business man for decades. He denies he committed any theft."
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