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Peter
C. Harvey, Attorney General |
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January 12, 2004 FORMER
HAINESPORT MAYOR PLEADS GUILTY TO OFFICIAL
Investigation Uncovers $339,000 In Embezzled Funds
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MT. HOLLY — Attorney General Peter C. Harvey today announced that an ongoing corruption investigation has resulted in the former elected mayor of Hainesport, Burlington County, pleading guilty in criminal court to official misconduct for his role in diverting more than $339,000 in township monies to a secret "Mayor's Fund." The corruption investigation, which previously resulted in the former Hainesport municipal finance officer pleading guilty to similar charges in December, is being coordinated by the Attorney General's Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau. "We are continuing to aggressively investigate and prosecute public corruption cases whether the acts are committed by elected or appointed officials," Attorney General Harvey said. "The significant results obtained through this investigation represent the efforts of a reinvigorated anti-corruption priority by the Division of Criminal Justice and the Special Prosecutions Bureau. With the addition of experienced investigators, financial accountants and seasoned Deputy Attorney's General, we are now better positioned to root out public corruption anywhere in New Jersey." According
to Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice, a criminal
Accusation filed by the Special Prosecutions Bureau charged Ronald
Corn, 57, Marne Highway, Hainesport, Burlington County, with one count
of official misconduct. In pleading guilty to the charge of second
degree official misconduct before Burlington County Superior Court
Judge Thomas S. Smith, Corn admitted his role in diverting public
monies into a secret account and using the funds for his own personal
use. Corn faces up to ten years in state prison, a fine of up to $150,000,
and payment of restitution in an amount determined by the Court. Additionally,
Corn will be barred from holding future public office or employment
"In pleading guilty to official misconduct, this defendant admitted to diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars in municipal funds for personal use by himself and others. The outcome of this prosecution serves the public interest and the interests of justice," said Director McKoy. The Accusation alleges that from Nov. 1, 2000 through Aug. 31, 2003, Corn, a former elected mayor of Hainesport Township, diverted more than $339,000 from various township accounts into a special "Mayor's Fund." The investigation by the Special Prosecutions Bureau, in conjunction with independent audits conducted by Hainesport Township, determined that funds from municipal accounts including the Counsel on Affordable Housing (COAH), the Public Assistance Fund, and recreation, capital improvement and sewer fund monies were diverted to the "Mayor's Fund. The embezzled funds were then used by Corn and others for personal expenses. Public records indicate that Ronald Corn was an elected Hainesport Township Committeeman from 1989 to 1995 when he was elected Mayor. Corn served as Mayor from 1995 to April, 2001, when he was appointed to a full-time position as the Hainesport Director of Public Works. Corn was suspended from the Public Works position on Aug. 31, 2003. On Dec. 30, 2003, the Division of Criminal Justice charged Kristine Wisnewski, 32, Maple Lane, Hainesport, Burlington County, with one count of second degree official misconduct. In pleading guilty, Wisnewski, the former Hainesport municipal Finance Officer, admitted her role in the scheme to divert public monies to the "Mayor's Fund." Wisnewski faces up to ten years in state prison, a fine of up to $150,000 and restitution. Wisnewski, a Hainesport Township public employee since 1994, was arrested by New Jersey State Police detectives assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau on Sept. 2. Wisnewski resigned her public position in August, 2003. Wisnewski is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2004, by Burlington County Superior Court Judge Marvin E. Schlosser. Director McKoy noted that the Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau has secured criminal indictments, guilty pleas and state prison sentences in a series of corruption cases, including: • State v. Maureen Milan - Vice-president and general manager of New Jersey Transit (NJT) was indicted by State Grand Jury in February, 2003. Milan pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting and receiving $1,600 worth of Broadway tickets from a vendor that had a contract with the transit agency. Sentenced to three years in state prison. The Milan investigation was jointly conducted by the Attorney General's Office of Government Integrity and the Division of Criminal Justice; • State v. Mark Neisser, Henry Chudzinski, William Vukoder and JCA Associates - The president and two senior corporate executives of the Burlington County-based engineering firm of JCA Associates pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns in order to conceal illegal campaign contributions made to a Gloucester County political campaign committee. Under terms of the Accusation and guilty pleas, the corporate officers face criminal sanctions, must resign their positions with JCA and fully cooperate with ongoing criminal investigations being conducted by the Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau. A civil settlement reached with JCA Associates requires the company to accept responsibility for the offenses committed by its officers, pay a $100,000 civil penalty and establish an election law compliance program; • State v. William Hampton - Gloucester County man pleaded guilty to an Accusation which charged theft by unlawful taking for stealing nearly $360,000 from employer JCA Associates; • State v. William Mullanaphy and Joseph Allegra - Former Captain in the Passaic County Sheriff's Office and former head of the Passaic County Police Benevolent Association #197 (PBA) were each charged via a State Grand Jury indictment with coordinating and implementing a covert operation that illegally entered and disabled an Internet computer web site critical of a former Passaic County Sheriff and the management of the Passaic County Sheriff's Office; • State v. Daniel Pineda and David Gadomski - Parsons Inspection & Maintenance Corporation employees assigned to the Kilmer Vehicle Inspection Facility located in Edison, Middlesex County, were charged via a State Grand Jury indictment returned on Oct. 28,l 2003. Both defendants subsequently pleaded guilty to charges they solicited cash bribes from motorists in exchange for ignoring vehicle deficiencies and to allow "failed" vehicles to "pass" the inspection process; • State v. Frank D'Agosta - Jersey City Police Officer pleaded guilty to official misconduct charges, admitting that he abused his office by extorting cash payments from an illegal gambling syndicate in exchange for protecting the gambling enterprise from arrest and prosecution. The Accusation charged that D'Agosta extorted more than $10,000 in protection money from the operators of at least one illegal gambling enterprise conducting business in Jersey City. In announcing the Accusation charing former Mayor Corn, Attorney General Harvey noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free "Corruption Tipline" for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The statewide "Corruption TipLine" is: 1-866-TIPS-4CJ. Additionally, the public can log-on to the Division of Criminal Justice Web Page at www.njdcj.org to electronically report suspected wrongdoing. All information received via the Division of Criminal Justice "Corruption Tipline" will remain confidential Both
the Corn and Wisnewski prosecutions are being handled by Deputy Attorney
General Susan Kase of the Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions
Bureau. The corruption investigation was conducted by New Jersey State
Police Det. II Gerald Nachurski and Det. Thomas Goletz and State Investigator
Kiersten Pentony assigned to the Special Prosecutions Bureau.
Related Plea Agreement Letter>>
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