Investigators Recover Rare Guitar in Midland Park Theft Probe

Guitar like the ones shown recovered, police say.

Three men have been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $50,000 worth of musical instruments – including a rare Eddie Van Halen Fender Guitar -- from a Midland Park music supply store, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said.

Jeronimo Frutero, a shipping supervisor at American Musical Supply and his friend Richard Rodriguez worked together to orchestrate the alleged scheme, according to the county prosecutor’s office.

Possing as a customer, Rodriguez purchased several inexpensive items online from the store.  Furtero then replaced the order with more expensive items, switched the shipping labels and had unsuspecting delivery workers package and ship the high-end music equipment, the prosecutor said.

“Rodriguez paid for the less expensive item and actually received items worth substantially more money," the prosecutor’s office said.

A third man, Michael Nuzzo, also allegedly ordered cheaper items online and actually received more expensive ones, Molinelli said.

The prosecutor's office said police discovered $55,000 worth of stolen items, including the Van Halen guitar, in Rodriguez's West Paterson home.

Only 100 such guitars were produced, according to the prosecutor's statement.

The case was handled by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s White Collar Crime Unit and the Midland Park Police Department.

All three men will appear in court Tuesday.

Full charges below:

Frutero, of Clifton, was charged with violation of 2C:20-7.1b; Fencing Stolen Property , a crime of the third degree.

Rodriguez, of West Paterson, was charged with violation of 2C:20-7a; Receiving Stolen Property, a crime of the third degree.

Nuzzo, of Montclair, was charged with violation of 2C:20-7a; Receiving Stolen Property, a crime of the third degree.