Former Newark official sentenced for producing fraudulent birth certificates

NEWARK, N.J. – A former Newark City Hall employee was sentenced Monday to three years of probation for producing fraudulent New Jersey birth certificates. The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Cory Cooke, 45, of Newark, pleaded guilty on Nov. 21, 2014, in federal court to one count of producing false identification documents.

According to court documents, Cooke was previously employed by the City of Newark at its Office of Vital Statistics. Cooke was responsible for issuing official New Jersey birth certificates. From August 2013 to October 2013, Cooke produced four fraudulent New Jersey birth certificates using four different individuals’ personal identifying information, which Cooke had acquired from a conspirator. After producing the fraudulent New Jersey birth certificates, Cooke gave the documents to his conspirator, who subsequently sold them.

As part of his sentence, Cooke was ordered to spend six months at a residential re-entry center and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.