Laura Keith & Thomas Caso

401 W 53rd street 2C

New York, NY 10019
646.584.6537
Laura@showroomsouth.com

The Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey

The Division of Criminal Justice
25 Market Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08611

April 10, 2023

SUBJECT: FAMILY DOG THEFT

Criminal Complaints in Support of Probable Cause
1. Sonia Choi – Theft by Deception N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4(a)
2. Sonia Choi – Forgery and Related Offense N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1a (2)
3. David Grippi – Possession of Known Stolen Property N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7(a)
Additional:
4. Sonia Choi – False Police Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities with intent to
incriminate N.J.S.A. 2C:28-4

To:
The Office of The Attorney General, Honorable Mathew J. Platkin
Director of the Division of Criminal Justice, Pearl Minato
Chief of Detectives of the Division of Criminal Justice, Weldon A. Powell

Good morning,

I am writing to you today looking for help.

I am reporting the theft and related crimes, of my 2 year old Weimaraner dog, named Cash.
We have been fighting for his return every day since we initially reported the crime to the
Matawan Police Department on February 28, 2022. My boyfriend and co-owner of our
dog, Thomas Caso, and I have raised Cash since he was 8 weeks old, invested in his
formative years, and as you can imagine - he is considered our family member. This
unimaginable situation we have been faced with and the struggle we have been through to
get him safely returned home has only seemed to escalate over the past year. I am
respectfully requesting this is given urgent attention.
The breeder of our dog solicited “boarding” to us disguised as a friendly offer. We
eventually agreed for her to watch him, when we had plans to go out of town, and
additionally take him to a training facility that she had recommended. When the discussed
time came to pick him up, all communication with her stopped. This is when we went to
the Matawan Police, given it was where we had dropped him off with her. A fully detailed
account is included in our attached affidavits.

The false claims given in the denial response to the crimes stated in the police report were
taken as true and never investigated or fact checked , although the MPD had documents
including paid vet records in their possession that would give verification to these lies. The
Matawan Police have called this an “ownership dispute” giving great difficulties to pursue
through the Courts. The following violations were initially submitted by Thomas Caso
given that it was his signature that is being disputed on the alleged claim of a “surrender of
ownership”. Thomas Caso and myself have repeatedly reported we did not in any way
surrender ownership of our dog as claimed.

1. Sonia Choi – Theft by Deception N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4(a)

2. Sonia Choi – Forgery and Related Offense N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1a(2)
3. David Grippi – Possession of Known Stolen Property N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7(a)
These charges were never investigated at all and were denied unknown to us. These
individuals have since repeated these same easily proven lies in several law suits and
complaints in different jurisdictions across New Jersey -seemingly as an attempt to
criminalize us and stop any investigation on the theft crimes. The following was submitted
by myself to the Matawan Borough Court on 11/28/2022 with additional evidence we had
uncovered including lies in their own statements submitted and sworn as truth to the
courts. See attached FAMILYDOGTHEFT.PDF

FAMILY DOG THEFT – THIRD DEGREE CRIME

CERTIFICATIONS IN SUPPORT OF PROBABLE CAUSE
1. Complaint Information Form and Certification in Support of Probable Cause for:
a. Sonia Choi – Theft by Deception N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4(a)
b. Sonia Choi – Forgery and Related Offense N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1a(2)
c. David Grippi – Possession of Known Stolen Property N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7(a)
2. Parties Involved
3. Introduction: Letter to Matawan Borough Municipal Court, details on complaint, and
continued Litigation Abuse
4. Supplemental Submission by Thomas Caso
5. Notarized Affidavit by Laura Michelle Keith (exhibits + irreparable harm)
6. Notarized Affidavit by Thomas Caso
7. Expert Report by Forensic Handwriting Specialist - concluded forgery
8. Veterinarian Records indicating ongoing level of care provided
9. VIOLATIONS
__________________________

We eventually received a Probable Cause Pre Trial Hearing Date for Feb. 8th, 2023, then
last minute rescheduled until further notice. I have additionally requested an urgent
Hearing on this matter to Your Honor Judge Celli, given the severity of Irreparable Harm at
stake. This attachment is also included.

***** I have also recently received an additional second Expert Document Examination
Report ****
- concluding the same findings: A strong indication of a simulated forgery.
This has also been submitted to the Matawan Borough Court. The credentials of the Expert
Examiner are included in the attached report, detailing his 43 years of experience including
14 years in Criminal Investigation for Document Examinations with the Maryland State
Police, the Maryland Attorney General's Office, and any Law Enforcement Agencies in the
State of Maryland. This Expert has additionally offered to testify in person if needed.

Both Expert examination reports are included. We were just recently given advice from a
friend to seek help through the Office of the Attorney General, and I now wish I would have
much sooner. We haven’t known which way to turn given the Matawan Police have been so
uncooperative to take any sort of action, along with releasing several OPRA requests on our
reported theft. This first led us to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office in October
2022, who recommended an Internal Affairs report. This was unable to provide us with any
further resolution. Legal representation has been astronomically unaffordable, with
$20,000 up front retainer fees. ProBono offices say they do not do dog theft cases. I have
been approved for the NJ Legal Aid - given I have not been able to work at all since this all
started. They are able to give light guidance and help.

I feel we have taken every necessary step to safely order the return of our dog. It all seems
so very clear, yet we’ve had such a hard time voicing the truth. The emotional & mental toll
it has taken on us has been extremely traumatic and overwhelming. I am hoping and
praying for this to reach the right hands in order for a criminal investigation to take place.
The man in possession of our dog has made it very clear the return of our beloved and
deeply missed puppy, Cash will take a Court order.
Please contact us for anything further you may need, we will be available at your
convenience.

Respectfully,

Laura Keith & Thomas Caso