The saying “fake it till you make it” doesn’t apply to death certificates, especially when a glaring typo exposes the entire charade. Robert Berger, a 25-year-old from Huntington, New York, learned this the hard way when his attempt to evade jail time backfired spectacularly due to a misspelled word. He now faces up to four additional years in prison, adding to his existing sentences for possession of a stolen Lexus and attempted grand larceny of a truck.
This bizarre tale began with Berger’s impending sentencing for the theft-related charges. Facing a year in jail last October, he decided to take a drastic, albeit ill-conceived, route: faking his own death. He fled New York, allegedly enlisting his fiancée to deliver a counterfeit death certificate to his lawyer, aiming to convince the court and prosecutors of his demise.
The Fatal Flaw: A Misspelled “Registry”
The forged document, purportedly from the New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics and Registry, appeared official at first glance. However, a glaring error doomed Berger’s plan: “Registry” was misspelled as “Regsitry.” This typo, along with inconsistencies in font type and size, immediately raised red flags for prosecutors. Their suspicions were confirmed when the actual New Jersey Department of Health, Vital Statistics and Registry verified the certificate’s fraudulent nature.
“Dead” Man Walking: Arrest in Pennsylvania
While Berger was presumed dead in New York, he was very much alive, though not exactly thriving, in Pennsylvania. He was arrested in suburban Philadelphia on charges including providing a false identity to law enforcement and theft from a Catholic college, earning him another jail sentence of up to a year.
Unbelievable Lengths to Avoid Accountability
Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas expressed astonishment at Berger’s audacious attempt, stating, “It will never cease to amaze me the lengths some people will go to to avoid being held accountable on criminal charges.”
Berger, arraigned via video due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pleaded not guilty to offering a false instrument for filing. A judge set bail at a nominal $1 but remanded him to custody due to his pending cases.
His former lawyer, who submitted the flawed death certificate, claimed to be an unwitting pawn in the scheme. A public defender has since taken over Berger’s case.
Echoes of Past Legal Frauds
Berger’s case recalls a similar incident from 2014 involving Kenneth Goldstein, a former Coast Guard petty officer who impersonated a military lawyer. Goldstein’s charade crumbled during a Long Island court appearance when his non-legal rambling exposed his fraudulent credentials.
Crime Doesn’t Pay: A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
District Attorney Singas emphasized the futility of such deceptive tactics: “You’re gonna get caught. We say it all the time. Crime doesn’t pay. We’ll catch up with you eventually. In this case, it’s never a good idea to submit phony documents to the district attorney.”
Berger’s case serves as a stark reminder that attempting to deceive the legal system is a risky gamble with potentially severe consequences. His misspelled escape route ultimately led him further into legal trouble, demonstrating that even the most elaborate schemes can unravel due to the smallest of errors. He now awaits his next court date, facing the reality that his attempt to avoid justice only exacerbated his legal predicament.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale of Deception and its Downfall
Robert Berger’s story is a cautionary tale highlighting the consequences of attempting to manipulate the legal system. His poorly executed plan, marred by a simple spelling error, underscores the futility of such deceptive tactics. Instead of escaping justice, Berger now faces additional prison time, demonstrating that honesty, even in the face of legal challenges, is always the best policy. This case serves as a reminder that the long arm of the law, aided by keen-eyed prosecutors and a healthy dose of irony, will ultimately prevail.
