Roughly two dozen city stores that purchase jewelry and other precious metal from consumers were busted for failing to use State certified or sealed tamper-proof scales among other alleged violations, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
The Cash-for-Gold crackdown spearheaded by the New Jersey State Office of Weights and Measures found a large number of violations at the 21 city stores among them shops failing to use State-certified or sealed tamper proof scales, stores failing to prominently post prices for various metals like gold and silver, failing to preserve serialized receipt with buyer, seller, and metal purchased information.
Authorities filed 2,459 summonses in the city’s municipal court against the 21 stores. The stores are not accused of criminal violation, but are charged with alleged civil matters, according to the attorney general’s office.
Each violation costs $500 to 1,000, authorities said.
State officials targeted businesses in urban centers. In Newark there were 29 stores with a total of 5,436 alleged violations. In Camden there were eight stores with a total of 711 alleged violations. In Irvington there were five stores with a total of 223 alleged violations. In Trenton five stores with a total of 966 alleged violations. And in Teaneck three stores with a total of 172 alleged violations.
Authorities mostly busted pawn shops and jewelry shops, but surprisingly in Paterson they found alleged cash-for-gold violation in non-jewelry stores such as at All Out Bail Bonds of Broadway, Sneaker Stadium of Market Street, Rossy Elsie of 21st Avenue, E & D Cashing of Market Street, La Casa Bonita of 21st Avenue, United Check Cashing of Madison Avenue, Golden Textile of 6th Avenue, and Belki’s Grocery on Union Avenue.
These businesses were unusual for buying gold from consumers. However, State law does not forbid sneaker shops, grocery stores, and other businesses from purchasing precious metal from consumers so long as the establishments are abiding by applicable rules.
“The fact that our officers confiscated the scales used in nearly half of these stores demonstrates the great need to ensure these consumers are not cheated,” Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said.
Hoffman said the State targeted shops throughout the state to make sure all New Jersey consumers were protected when selling their jewelry.
“With this crackdown, we’re making sure that we protect consumers living and working in urban communities, like Newark, Trenton, and Camden, from cash-for-gold businesses that are allegedly violating the law,” Consumer Affairs Acting Director Steve Lee said. “We will continue to conduct enforcement actions in, and bring our consumer education efforts to, New Jersey’s cities.”
The crackdowns in the six urban cities included local undercover weights and measure officers visiting the shops disguised as customers wishing to sell precious metals. Authorities said the operation was conducted in October and included surprise inspections at a majority of the stores.
In Paterson (21 stores with a total of 2,459 alleged violations):
1. Broadway Jewelry, 72 Broadway: Total of 545 alleged violations.
2. Khal’s Jewelry, 122 Market Street: Total of 398 alleged violations.
3. Holy Land Gifts & Fine Jewelry, 1143 Main Street: Total of 346 alleged violations.
4. Sneaker Stadium, 741 Market Street: Total of 261 alleged violations.
5. Itani Jewelers, 249-A Main Street: Total of 198 alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures officers also confiscated one scale from this location.
6. Rossy Elsie, 368 21st Avenue: Total of 159 alleged violations.
7. E & D Cashing, 213 Market Street: Total of 147 alleged violations.
8. La Casa Bonita, 444 21st Avenue: Total of 82 alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures officers also confiscated one scale from this location.
9. Fast Jewelry LLC, 263 Main Street: Total of 63 alleged violations.
10. VIP Jewelry, 185 Main Street: Total of 49 alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures also confiscated one scale from this location.
11. Cimoglu Jewelry 1141 Main Street: Total of 42 alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures also confiscated one scale from this location.
12. Binson Pawn Brokers, Inc., 178 Market Street: Total of 40 alleged violations.
13. All Out Bail Bonds, 94 Broadway: Total of 34 alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures also confiscated one scale from this location.
14. United Check Cashing, 430 Madison Avenue: Total of 29 alleged violations. Officers also confiscated one scale from this location.
15. Mira’s Jewelry, 227 Market Street: Total of 20 alleged violations.
16. Jewelry Express, 238 Main Street: Total of 14 alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures also confiscated one scale from this location.
17. George Jewelry, 282 Main Street: Total of nine alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures also confiscated one scale from this location.
18. Golden Textile, 239 Sixth Avenue: Total of eight alleged violations.
19. Belki’s Grocery/Bekli’s JM Gold, 356 Union Avenue: Total of six alleged violations. Officers also confiscated one scale from this location.
20. Gold Buyer Jewelry, 142 Washington Street: Total of four alleged violations.
21. Galaxie Jewelers, 207 Main Street: Total of three alleged violations. In addition, Weights and Measures also confiscated one scale from this location.