N.J. State Commission of Investigation

Misappropriation of Public
Funds, Atlantic County
1971

In December 1971, the Commission reported the details behind the diversion of over $130,000 in public funds by the assistant county purchasing agent between 1958 and 1970, as well as the cover-up of the affair before and after his suicide. The County implemented several Commission recommendations to insure greater financial accountability.

After an October 1971 public hearing (reported in the Commission's 1971 Annual Report), two bills implementing SCI recommendations were enacted into law. One improved the urban renewal process and the other tightened statutory provisions to prevent a purchaser of publicly owned lands from receiving any part of the brokerage fee on such a purchase.

In addition, the Commission referred records to prosecutorial authorities. A Hudson County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging a former Jersey City building inspector with extorting $1,200 from an official of the Port Jersey Corp. and obtaining money under false pretenses. The inspector was convicted of obtaining money under false pretenses, fined $200 and given a six-month suspended sentence.

50 West State St. 14th Floor
P.O. Box 045
Trenton, NJ 08625-0045
Tel (609) 292-6767 Fax (609) 633-7366

50 West State St. 14th Floor
P.O. Box 045
Trenton, NJ 08625-0045
Tel (609) 292-6767 Fax (609) 633-7366