A New Jersey woman named Natalie Greene was accused by federal authorities of staging a fake violent assault with a firearm.
A press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, which was issued on November 20, accuses Greene, 26, of Ocean City, of allegedly "conspiring and falsely reporting to law enforcement that she had been violently assaulted with a firearm due to her employment with a federal official."
The indictment describes a bizarre alleged hoax and even contains graphic photos showing cuts all over Greene's body.
Greene "was charged with one count of conspiracy to convey false statements and hoaxes and one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement," the DOJ's release says.
The photos in the indictment include one allegedly showing Greene lying on the ground.
Federal authorities allege that, late at night on July 23, 2025, "Greene’s co-conspirator called 911 and reported that she and Greene had been attacked by three men when they were out walking on a trail at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township."
Greene faces 10 years in prison if convicted. According to The Hill, Greene previously worked for U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.). The indictment alleges that phrases carved into Greene's body made it look like she was targeted for her conservative beliefs, with one referencing the president. The co-conspirator allegedly told authorities the supposed suspects "were like calling her like racist, calling her a wh*re."
“We are deeply saddened by today’s news, and while Natalie is no longer associated with the Congressman’s government office, our thoughts and prayers are with her,” said Paxton Antonucci, a spokesperson for Van Drew’s office, to The Hill. “We hope she’s getting the care she needs.”
"According to the co-conspirator, during the attack, the men had called Greene by name and had specifically referenced her employment with Federal Official 1, an official whose identity is known to the Government," the government's release says.
"When law enforcement officers located Greene, she was lying in a wooded area just off the trail, with her hands and feet bound together with black zip ties," alleges the release.
"Greene’s shirt was pulled over her head and was also tied with a black zip tie. Greene had numerous lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder." Greene was crying and had various phrases written on her stomach and back, according to the release.
According to authorities, Greene is accused of telling police that the attackers threatened to shoot her, cut her, and wrote on her body.
However, federal officials allege that it was all a hoax.
"The investigation revealed that Greene had not, in fact, been attacked by three men at gunpoint on July 23. Instead, Greene had paid a body modification/scarification artist to deliberately cut the lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder, based on a pattern that she had provided beforehand," alleges the release.
'Law enforcement officers recovered black zip ties in Greene’s car on the night of the alleged attack, similar to the zip ties that had been used to bind Greene’s arms and feet. Also, the investigation revealed that, two days prior to the alleged attack, the cellphone of Greene’s co-conspirator had been used to search 'zip ties near me,'" states the release.