A former congressional staffer faces federal charges after allegedly orchestrating an elaborate hoax involving a reported attack at a New Jersey nature preserve that authorities say never happened.
Natalie Greene, 26, who worked for GOP Congressman Jeff Van Drew, was charged with conspiracy to convey false statements and hoaxes, along with making false statements to federal law enforcement.
The charges carry potential penalties of up to ten years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Greene called 911 from a walking trail, claiming three men had attacked her.
She reported that one assailant brandished a firearm and threatened to shoot her while mentioning her boss’s name.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they discovered Greene crying and restrained with zip ties on her hands, feet and neck.
Her body bore laceration marks across her face, neck, chest and shoulders.
Words including the derogatory phrase “Trump wh*re” and accusations of racism against Van Drew were written on her body.
Greene told an FBI agent that two men grabbed her and pulled up her shirt before restraining her on the ground.
She claimed one attacker struck her head before cutting and scraping her body, causing intense pain that made her scream.
According to her statement, another attacker claimed to have a gun and threatened to shoot her if she moved.
Greene said she never saw the weapon but felt something press against her stomach.
The investigation took a turn when police found additional black zip ties in Greene’s Maserati that same night. The ties appeared similar to those used to bind her.
The Daily Mail reported that federal investigators discovered that a co-conspirator had searched for “zip ties near me” on a cell phone.
After obtaining Greene’s phone, they found a Reddit profile following pages related to body modification and scarification.
Location data from Greene’s phone traced a route from a Pennsylvania tattoo parlor and body modification studio to the nature preserve where police found her.
The data also showed stops at her co-conspirator’s home in Ventnor and a Dunkin Donuts in Atlantic City.
Investigators located a Dollar General Store in the same town where Greene’s ally lived that sold zip ties matching those used in the incident and found in her vehicle.
The body modifications, including the derogatory words and accusations, were performed by a professional artist.
The artist told investigators that Greene paid $500 in cash for the work.
Greene, who served as constituent advocate director for Van Drew, provided the artist with photographs showing exactly what scarification patterns she wanted.
The images detailed cuts and scars for her face, neck, upper chest and shoulder areas.
The artist reported that Greene inquired about preventing excessive bleeding from the scarification procedure.
He took a photograph of Greene after completing the body modification work.
Officials uncovered missed calls and voicemails from the artist asking Greene to contact him through Instagram.
They also found consent forms, receipts, and a waiver Greene signed for the studio dated July 28.
US Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba, appointed by Trump, filed the charges against Greene, who is currently a Rutgers Law School student.
If convicted on both counts, Greene could face up to six years of supervised release in addition to prison time and fines.
Greene appeared in federal court on Wednesday for the first time and was released on $200,000 unsecured bond.
The Daily Mail reported that a spokesperson for Van Drew’s office confirmed that Greene no longer works for the Congressman.
