Story by Ethan
On March 27th, 2025, the arrest of Bhavna Anand, age 39, was announced by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. Bhavna Anand was charged with two counts of second-degree theft by deception, two counts of second-degree impersonation, and two counts of third-degree impersonation. The arrest and charges against Bhavna Anand were a result of an investigation launched by Chief Matthew Finck of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, in March 2024, their Financial Crimes Unit was contacted by the Lodi Police Department about an alleged case of theft. A joint investigation was promptly launched, and after several months detectives identified Bhavna Anand for stealing approximately $787,556.00. Allegedly Bhavna Anand took and impersonated the identity of at least three separate acquaintances on several different occasions from January 2017 to December 2024. Bhavna Anand would use personal information and identification to access bank accounts, investment accounts, and insurance accounts, before transferring the stolen money into a separate bank account she had ownership of. Bhavna Anand was alleged to have also abused her position as a freelance travel agent to steal approximately $109,000 from 82 victims by selling travel arrangements and deals that were never carried out. Bhanva Anand had also previously assumed the identity of an acquaintance while borrowing their vehicle when she was pulled over by Lodi police for a traffic violation. Bhavna Anand was located and arrested on March 26th, 2025, in Saddle Brook, New Jersey.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Bhavna Anand are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
