An East Orange Businessman has been jailed on charges that he accepted money from customers to ship furniture and other items to Jamaica in the West Indies, and instead kept the money and furniture for himself.

Orange Police Director Charles Cobbertt identified the suspect as Joseph Walker, 36, the operator of Sealandair Shipping Inc. on South Harrison Street, East Orange.

Walker, who lives in Plainsboro, was arrested by East Orange police on a complaint that he failed to return a $4,000 truck he rented from a rental firm in Orange, Cobbertt said.

The suspect, charged with theft of services and theft by deception, was being held in jail while authorities "conduct an ongoing investigation" into how many people paid Walker money to ship things that never were delivered, he added.

Cobbertt said the police already have found $6,150 worth of furniture - originally bound for Jamaica - inside a Bayonne warehouse where Walker rented space.

---

“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

Explore more of the inspiring stories of Charles C. Cobbertt.