Washington Man Arrested for Selling Fake Car Inspection Stickers

THOMAS J. LUSTER SR.
WASHINGTON, NEW JERSEY
AGE: 57

On Thursday, November 20, 2025, following a four month long investigation into the sale and distribution of fraudulent New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission inspection stickers, within Warren County, Thomas J. Luster was arrested. Officers initiated the investigation after receiving information regarding counterfeit motor vehicle inspection stickers being offered for sale. Luster was identified as the suspect in this investigation.

Luster was charged with the below offenses.

1. (4 counts) Forgery, specifically by selling fraudulently numbered and bar coded NJ Motor Vehicle Commission inspection stickers, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1a(2), a crime of the third degree;
2. (4 counts) Utter a Fraudulent Document, specifically by offering for sale a NJ Motor Vehicle Commission inspection sticker knowing to be forged, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1a(3), a crime of the third degree;
3. (4 counts) Criminal Simulation, specifically by offering for sale and selling a knowingly fraudulent NJ Motor Vehicle Commission inspection sticker which simulates a document issued by a governmental agency (NJMVC), in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2, a crime of the fourth degree,
4. (4 counts) False Government Documents, specifically by knowingly offering for sale and selling a document that falsely purports to be a document issued by a governmental agency (NJMVC) and which could be used as a means of verifying a person’s identity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1a, a crime of the second degree.

Second degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of ten (10) years in New Jersey State Prison, while third degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five (5) years in the New Jersey State Prison and fourth degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of eighteen (18) months in the New Jersey State Prison. The charges are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This joint investigation was conducted by the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Washington Township Police Department.