Former South Jersey Marine Who Posed As Law Enforcement, Faked Documents Convicted

CAMDEN, NJ — A 33-year-old former U.S. Marine faked military documents to get relief from credit card payments and pretended to be a federal officer agent, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said.

Nicholas Cabral, of Sewell, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, one count of counterfeiting and using an official court seal, and one count of impersonating a federal officer to conduct an unlawful search.

From November 2011 to May 30, 2014, Cabral was a member of the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged as a private first class.

His departure was due to a disability that he had before his time in the military, officials said. He never returned to service as either an active-duty or reserve member.

After his discharge and before July 4, 2019, Cabral used the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to get financial firms to change his credit rates and give him relief from payments and fees.

The SCRA postpones or suspends certain civil obligations to allow service members to work to relieve burdens on their families that include credit card debt, mortgage payments, taxes, eviction and termination from housing, and trials.

The eligibility applies to all active-duty service members while on active duty.

Cabral mailed fake and fraudulent military orders that he showed as signed by a military official from the Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy.

In those items, he represented himself as a current captain or lieutenant in the Army and then a captain in the Marines who was called for active duty for at least 180 days, authorities said.

Between July 2019 and November 2022, Cabral sent at least nine of these orders to different financial firms to receive benefits.

At least one business granted his request and returned fees that were connected to his account, adjusted his Annual Percentage Rate, suspended all annual fees, late fees, returned-payment fees, cash advance fees, and authorized user card fees.

His minimum monthly payment was also adjusted to $0 for the duration of his fake deployment.

In September 2024, Cabral sent fake court orders based on civil complaints to financial firms that said they failed to appear in court for a hearing.

The fake orders "made findings of facts" that he was an active-duty member of the Armed Forces and he was to be covered under the SCRA.

They also required the firms to delete any negative marks on Cabral's credit report and show that he was in compliance and made payments on time.

The fraudulent papers had the forged signature of the Honorable Kevin McCarthy, authorities said.

Cabral never worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Services as an inspector.

On Dec. 10, 2025, he called the Washington Township Police Department non-emergency line and said he noticed that the front door of a home in Sewell was open.

An officer then went to the home.

Cabral also responded while driving a marked "Homeland Security Police" Dodge Charger with overhead emergency lights activated.

He was wearing a gold-colored badge and had a semi-automatic handgun in a holster on his belt, officials added.

A Washington Township Police Department officer asked if he was a Homeland Security officer, to which Cabral responded, "Homeland, yeah."

The car belonged to his wife, a federal officer, who was out-of-state on assignment at the time.

Cabral later took his gun out, which he had a legal permit to carry, and went into the home while shouting, "police department."

He also admitted to driving the "Homeland Security" vehicle during other situations without permission.

The bank fraud charge carries a maximum of 30 years in jail and a statutory maximum fine equal to the greatest of $1,000,000 or twice the gross amount of gain or loss, whichever is higher.

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The Seals of Court charge carries a maximum of five years behind bars. The conviction for impersonating a federal law enforcement officer to conduct a search carries a statutory maximum sentence of three years in jail.

Both also bring a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the violations, whichever is higher.

Cabral is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10.

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