Salvatore Gramaglia, 52, Warren, New Jersey and Paula Benhayon, 56, Union, New Jersey were arrested and charged with Theft By Deception, Impersonation, two counts of Simulated Documents, two counts of Forgery and two counts of Uttering a Forged Instrument.

According to authorities, in November 2005, an attorney for Mrs. Maria Gramaglia learned that her marital home was refinanced by her husband without her knowledge or consent while they were involved in divorce proceedings. Mrs. Gramaglia's lawyer notified the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and an investigation was undertaken. The investigation revealed that Salvatore Gramaglia had signed mortgage papers and a settlement statement before a notary at his place of business and told the notary to go to his home so his 'wife' could also sign the same papers. When the notary went to the Gramaglia home he met Paula Benhayon who represented herself as Mrs. Maria Gramaglia. Benhayon signed the same documents in the presence of the notary that defendant Salvatore Gramaglia had previously signed. Benhayon also provided photocopies of a driver's license and passport that contained Mrs. Gramaglia's information but defendant Benhayon's photograph. As a result, a $795,000.00 mortgage was obtained from the Argent Mortgage Co.

Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said that approximately $300,000.00 of that money went to pay debts owed by one of defendant Salvatore Gramaglia's Companies, A & G Fine Foods of Middlesex, New Jersey. The investigation is continuing.

Salvatore Gramaglia's bail was set at $ 50,000.00 cash and defendant Benhayon's bail was set at $ 50,000.00 cash.