What to Know
- Blake Clay has been convicted of theft and official misconduct for using counterfeit bar codes to pay lower prices for collectibles
- The Union County Police Department suspended Clay without pay after he was charged in May 2016 and will soon be fired
- Prosecutors say he ran the scheme at multiple stores in 2016, with the total value of the thefts amounting to more than $600
A police officer accused of using counterfeit bar codes to pay significantly lower prices for collectibles he bought at stores while in his police uniform has been convicted of theft and official misconduct.
Blake Clay faces up to five years in state prison when he's sentenced Nov. 15. The convictions were announced Friday by Union County prosecutors.
The 36-year-old Rahway resident served with the Union County Police Department but was suspended without pay after being charged in May 2016. A county spokesman said Clay will soon be fired.
Prosecutors say Clay ran the scheme at multiple stores in 2016, with the total value of the thefts amounting to more than $600. For example, Clay paid between $1.50 and $4.50 for products that should have cost between $15.99 and $39.99.
