TRENTON
— Acting Director of the Division
of Criminal Justice Andrew Rossner announced
that a field collections representative
formerly employed by the New Jersey Division
of State Lottery has pleaded guilty to
stealing $5,000 in cash receipts collected
from Lottery agents.
A criminal Accusation filed by the Special
Prosecutions Bureau of the Division of
Criminal Justice charged Christopher Vitoritt,
41, Hamilton, Mercer County, with theft
by unlawful taking (3rd degree). The Accusation
and guilty plea was entered before Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Maria Marinari
Sypek on Feb. 1. Sentencing is scheduled
for March 17.
Rossner noted that An internal investigation
initiated by the New Jersey Lottery uncovered
the theft, which led to Vitoritt’s
immediate suspension and termination.
The results of the New Jersey lottery’s
investigation were forwarded to the Division
of Criminal Justice for criminal prosecution.
The Accusation charged that from July,
2003 through July, 2005, Vitoritt, while
employed as a field collections representative
for the New Jersey Division of State Lottery,
diverted up to $5,000 in monies collected
from Lottery agents as proceeds from the
sale of Lottery tickets. The investigation
determined that Vitoritt was assigned
a territory spanning several northern
New Jersey counties and that he was responsible
for collecting Lottery monies from agents
who had not remitted the funds electronically
from their Lottery accounts. The Accusation
charged that, in some instances, Vitoritt
collected cash from Lottery agents and
failed to account for the monies on official
reports.
The guilty plea requires Vitoritt to make
full restitution to the New Jersey Lottery.
A third degree crime carries a potential
sentence of up to five years in state
prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Vitoritt
will be prohibited from holding any future
public employment. Vitoritt was removed
from his public employment in July, 2005.
The investigation was coordinated by Deputy
Attorney General Anthony Picione assigned
to the Division of Criminal Justice -
Special Prosecutions Bureau. The investigation
was conducted by New Jersey State Police
DSG Keith Dangler and Det. Gerald Nachurski
and State Investigator Anthony Luyber
assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice
- Special Prosecutions Bureau.
A copy of the Accusation, plea agreement,
and Waiver of Indictment is available
via the Division of Criminal Justice Web
site at: www.njdcj.org.
