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Peter
C. Harvey, Attorney General |
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February 17, 2004 GLOUCESTER COUNTY OFFICIAL CONVICTED IN CORRUPTION CASE |
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TRENTON — Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice, today announced that the Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau has obtained a guilty verdict in the case of State v. Daniel Wilson. The verdict, contained in an opinion issued by Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Walter L. Marshall, found Wilson guilty of multiple charges of falsifying or tampering with public records, tampering with public records or information, and concealment or misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures. Wilson was found not guilty of a theft charge. "This is a solid victory for the Division of Criminal Justice and for the citizens of Gloucester County and West Deptford," said Criminal Justice Director McKoy. "The verdict sends a loud and clear message that corruption - in any form - will not be tolerated and that the Attorney General's Office and the Division of Criminal Justice will investigate and prosecute corruption at any level. The cancer of public corruption cannot be allowed to further infect New Jersey's government and business communities. Through strengthened law enforcement partnerships and, as importantly, public intolerance and outrage, corrupt officials and executives will be removed from the business of government." Deputy Attorney General Anthony Picione, assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau, began the non-jury trial before Judge Marshall on Feb. 3. The State Grand Jury indictment charged Wilson, 53, of St. Regis Court, Mantua Township, Gloucester County and the treasurer of a Gloucester County municipal election campaign committee, with violating state campaign expenditure and filing laws and the theft of more than $27,000 in campaign contributions. The State Grand Jury indictment was returned on Nov. 20, 2002. The indictment charged that from September, 1996 through November, 2000, Wilson, as Treasurer of the West Deptford Democratic Campaign Committee, failed to report more than $100,000 in campaign contributions to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC), stole approximately $27,000 from the committee and diverted a portion of the stolen monies for his own personal use. The Division of Criminal Justice investigation focused on alleged irregularities involving the accounting, disbursement and reporting of campaign contributions received by the West Deptford Democratic Campaign Committee - a joint candidates campaign committee representing various local officeholders and political candidates seeking elective office. The investigation uncovered what appeared to be deliberate actions intended to cover-up potentially illegal campaign contributions and to frustrate the reporting requirements of New Jersey's stringent election laws. The investigation is continuing. Judge Marshall found Wilson guilty of Count Two of the indictment which charged falsifying or tampering with records (4th degree), Counts three through seven which charged tampering with public records or information (3rd degree), and Counts eight through twelve charging concealment or misrepresentation of contributions or expenditures (4th degree). The third degree crimes carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000 per count. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by up to 18 months incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000 per count. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2. The
investigation was coordinated by Deputy Attorney's General Anthony
Picione and Thomas Goan of the Division of Criminal Justice, Special
Prosecutions Bureau. State Investigators Robert Walker, Paul Marfino,
Eric Ludwig and Albert Palentchar of the Special Prosecution's Bureau
conducted the overall investigation. # # # |
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