STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Janine Mulé, an Annadale resident, looks after her 91-year-old father, Nicholas Mattia.
One day in October 2024, she was sorting through her dad’s mail when she came upon a ticket. While many on Staten Island have been caught by speed cameras going just a little too fast, something didn’t add up.
Mattia, a Rossville resident, rarely drives his car, using it predominantly to take a trip to Walgreens or church. And strangely, she noticed, although the license plates on the ticket matched up, the vehicle make did not.
Hundreds of tickets
“When I first got the first ticket I went to Motor Vehicle because I just assumed it was Motor Vehicle’s screw up, because there were two of the same plates out there, so that’s what I thought,” Mulé said. “I went and they verified that only his (Hyundai) Sonata was attached to that plate and they were kind of baffled as to what to do next.”
Mulé continued to carry on with her life, but soon enough, more and more tickets began to come in the mail.
In response, Mulé would write on the tickets that they were not associated to her father’s vehicle and send them back.
From the left, Chief of RCDA’s Detective Investigators Squad Investigator David Nilsen, DA’s office Press Secretary James Clinton, Borough President Vito Fossella, Janine Mulé, Deputy Chief Mike Dimino and Senior Investigator David Casey announce justice for a Staten Island family victimized by license plate fraud on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Janine Mulé stood up for her 91-year-old father who was the victim.(Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
“I wouldn’t pay, because I knew I would never get that money back and I knew it wasn’t us,” she added.
Eventually, Mulé was referred to the police in January.
Within weeks she says authorities found the vehicle responsible for racking up fees under Mattia’s name. As it turns out, the suspect in this case had allegedly used blue tape to turn an F on their plate into an E.
Mulé told the Advance/SILive.com that police removed the tape and “it was quiet for a little bit” before the suspect returned to the same ways.
“I just assumed that at some point these letters were going to catch up and they were going to know that it wasn’t my dad, but it didn’t really matter because my father’s car got booted even with his new plate,” Mulé noted. “Because the old plate — even though it was surrendered — they’re connected still, to him.”
In search of some assistance, Mulé contacted Borough President Vito Fossella’s office via social media sometime in late July/early August. Within hours she received a response and since then, detectives have been on the case.
Borough President Vito Fossella and District Attorney McMahon’s office announce justice for a Staten Island family victimized by license plate fraud on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Janine Mulé stood up for her 91-year-old father who was the victim.(Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
In all, Mulé believes she has received “hundreds” of tickets in the mail tallying up to thousands of dollars.
Fortunately for Mulé, officials have been able to identify the suspect in this case and she will not be held responsible for paying these unwarranted tickets and fees.
Officials are on the case
It was announced during a press conference at Borough Hall in St. George on Friday that investigators know who is responsible for racking up these fees and, in turn, victimizing this Staten Island family.
“Thank God my dad has me, because if there’s another senior citizen out there who doesn’t have anybody, who would help him?” Mulé told reporters.
Fossella highlighted the efforts of investigators and the office of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in assisting Mulé. In particular, Fossella thanked Chief of the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Detective Investigators Squad David Nilsen, Deputy Chief Mike Dimino and Senior Investigator David Casey.
“It’s not a victimless crime,” Fossella said. “Just think of all the stress and the pressure this family was put through because of some dirtbag…there will be justice.”
James Clinton, press secretary for the Richmond County District Attorney’s office, at the podium as Borough President Vito Fossella announces justice for a Staten Island family victimized by license plate fraud on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. Janine Mulé stood up for her 91-year-old father who was the victim.(Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
James Clinton, press secretary for the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, explained that there is an open and active investigation into this matter and a suspect has been identified. However, as it is an active investigation, the office could not provide further information on the individual.
“Before I close, I want to be very clear that ghost plates, altered plates, toll violators, they will be held accountable on Staten Island,” he added. “As the borough president said, this is not a victimless crime; it will not be tolerated in our borough. And frankly, it’s an insult to the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding, toll-paying Staten Islanders. And those who fly flagrantly in the face of our laws are going to be held accountable and our office will not relent in our pursuit of justice for those victims and the people of Staten Island.”
Clinton highlighted the advocacy of Fossella and McMahon for pushing to implement license plate readers, which played a major role in assisting investigators.
Nilsen urged residents who may be receiving summonses not associated to their vehicle to report it at their local police precinct.
“When a police report was made for Janine’s dad on the stolen plate, it triggers the NYPD to put in an alarm on that plate,” he said. “And because the alarm was put on the plate, we were able to identify who the person was who altered their plate.”
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