TRENTON
- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and
NJ TRANSIT Executive Director George D.
Warrington, announced that the Division
of Criminal Justice has charged a NJ TRANSIT
employee with stealing more than $23,000
in NJ TRANSIT inventory and replacement
bus parts and then selling the stolen
items via the Internet. The State Grand
Jury indictment charged official misconduct
and other corruption-related charges.
“This
indictment charges an NJ TRANSIT employee
with stealing inventory and then selling
the stolen parts via an Internet auction
site. It is also charged that the employee
attempted to conceal the thefts and obstruct
the investigation by returning stolen
parts to inventory and by eliminating
the E-Bay web page,” said Attorney
General Harvey. “It should be noted
that this investigation and prosecution
targeted a substantial theft. The Division
of Criminal Justice has established a
specialized program to assist government
agencies to identify and report procurement
fraud. The Attorney General’s Office
is continuing to target all forms of corruption,
at all levels of government.”
“I
want to commend NJ TRANSIT bus management
and police department for uncovering and
thoroughly investigating this incident.
Together with the Attorney General, we
want to make it clear that such behavior
will not be tolerated.” said NJ
TRANSIT Executive Director Warrington.
According to Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy, a State Grand Jury indictment
charged Douglas Deleeuw, 51, Church Road,
Brick Township, Ocean County, with second
degree official misconduct, theft by unlawful
taking (3rd degree) and money laundering
(3rd degree). Deleeuw is identified as
a former stock clerk at the New Jersey
Transit Garage located in Howell Township,
Monmouth County. Deleeuw’s employment
has been terminated. If convicted on all
counts, Deleeuw faces up to 20 years in
state prison, a fine of up to $130,000
and restitution.
Director McKoy noted that the State Grand
Jury indictment resulted from an investigation
initiated by the NJ TRANSIT Police which
targeted the removal of excessive amounts
of in-stock inventory of replacement bus
parts from the Howell garage. The investigation,
conducted by NJ TRANSIT detectives and
State Investigators assigned to the Division
of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions
Bureau, tracked the activities of individuals
scanning out inventory at the Howell garage
and determined that the quantity of inventory
scanned out by Deleeuw was in excess of
needed bus repairs.
The indictment charges that from December,
2003 through December, 2004, Deleeuw,
in his position as stock clerk, scanned
out parts from the NJ TRANSIT Howell garage
inventory and placed the parts for sale
on eBay. Additionally, the indictment
charged money laundering in that Deleeuw
knowingly sold the stolen parts and then
deposited cash proceeds from the sales
into an account established in the name
of an acquaintance. The investigation
determined that the parts for sale on
eBay included red and amber marker lamps,
seals, sensors, silicone hoses, batteries,
and at least one bus seat.
The investigation established an undercover
web address, credit card and PayPal account
in order to purchase items from Deleeuw’s
eBay web page. On separate occasions in
July, August, and September, 2004, undercover
investigators purchased brake lights,
turn signals, marker lights and silicone
hoses via Deleeuw’s “Wackimac”
and/or “Harradengarage” eBay
web page. A comparison of serial numbers
from the parts purchased via the eBay
web page confirmed that the parts had
been scanned out of the NJ TRANSIT Howell
garage. It is charged that when Deleeuw
learned that State and NJ TRANSIT investigators,
armed with State Grand Jury subpoenas,
were seeking various records and documents
related to the alleged activity, he (Deleeuw)
took steps to thwart the investigation
by replacing stolen inventory and removing
the stolen parts from the eBay web page.
Criminal Justice Director McKoy noted
that the investigation by the Division
of Criminal Justice Special Prosecutions
Bureau and the NJ TRANSIT Police utilized
undercover investigative techniques and
other investigative procedures to document
the alleged illegal activity. In the interest
of investigative security and pursuant
to established court requirements, the
Division of Criminal Justice is limited
in discussing specific details regarding
the alleged illegal activity and investigative
details.
“This
type of corruption - the theft of government
property - raises the cost of repair and
maintenance of NJ TRANSIT vehicles,”
said Director McKoy. “The Special
Prosecutions Bureau targets fraud and
corruption related to the procurement
process by working with, and providing
information to, New Jersey government
officials so they can identify and report
procurement fraud and theft.”
Det. Sgt. Ed Iandoli of the NJ TRANSIT
Police Department aggressively pursued
the investigation from beginning to end.
Deputy Attorney General Susan Kase and
State Investigator Daniel O’Keeffe
of the Division of Criminal Justice -
Special Prosecutions Bureau coordinated
the investigation. DAG Kase presented
the case to the State Grand Jury.
The indictment was handed-up to Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Maria Marinari
Sypek on April 12. The defendant will
be issued a complaint summons requiring
his appearance in Monmouth County Superior
Court at a future date for arraignment
and bail.
The defendant is presumed innocent of
the charges unless and until proven guilty
in a court of law.
A copy of the State Grand Jury indictment
is available via the Division of Criminal
Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org.
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