New Jersey Staged Accident Ring Leader Pleads Guilty

The leader of a ring that staged two car accidents in northern New Jersey has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft by deception.

Acting state Attorney General John Hoffman says 46-year-old Olivares Liberato-Cohen, of Passaic, entered his plea Monday. Liberato-Cohen faces a five-year state prison term when he’s sentenced Feb. 6, and he and his co-conspirators will have to pay $179,210 in restitution.

Liberato-Cohen admitted that he was the lead organizer of two staged automobile accidents that occurred in 2010. State authorities say he recruited the participants, directed how the accidents would occur and told those involved where they should go for treatment.

Authorities say Liberato-Cohen is also facing charges from a separate indictment that alleges his planning of another staged car accident in 2009.