CAMDEN, N.J. — A woman from New Jersey is facing serious charges after allegedly faking a violent assault and misleading authorities about the ordeal. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey has confirmed that Natalie Greene, a 26-year-old from Ocean City, is charged with conspiracy to provide false statements and making false statements to law enforcement officials.
Greene appeared in federal court on November 19, where she was released after posting a $200,000 unsecured bond. The charges stem from an incident on July 23, when a person connected to Greene dialed 911, claiming that the two had been attacked by a group of men at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township. The caller asserted that the assailants referred to Greene’s employment with a federal official during the supposed attack.
Emergency responders found Greene lying in a wooded area, with her hands and feet bound by zip ties. She sustained multiple cuts and bruises to her face, neck, chest, and shoulders, and disturbing phrases such as “TRUMP WH***” and “[Federal Official 1] IS RACIST” were written on her body.
During initial questioning, Greene described a harrowing scenario in which her attackers restrained her while making threats against her life. She later repeated these claims to an FBI agent. However, investigators uncovered evidence that contradicted Greene’s account, revealing that she had allegedly paid a body modification expert to inflict her injuries. In addition, police discovered zip ties in Greene’s vehicle and found that the cellphone of her accomplice had been used to search for local stores selling zip ties.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba praised the collaboration of various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, for their efforts in resolving the case.
Each of the charges Greene is facing carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison, along with a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release following incarceration. As the investigation continues, authorities have not disclosed the identity of the federal official allegedly involved in the incident, nor have they revealed the name of Greene’s alleged accomplice.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about the misuse of law enforcement resources and the challenges posed by fabricated criminal narratives.