A Florida man is accused of using a fraudulent Department of Justice seal while falsely representing himself as a federal prosecutor in letters to a luxury car company with corporate offices in New Jersey, federal prosecutors said.
Paul Richard Johnson, 55, of Miami, was charged by complaint with fraudulent use of a government seal. He made his initial appearance in Newark federal court after being arrested last week in Miami, prosecutors said.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson had never been employed by the Justice Department. Prosecutors said he began corresponding with the automobile manufacturer around July 2024 to resolve a dispute involving an unpaid lease, which had been referred to collections and led to negative credit report entries…