TRENTON
- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and
Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of
Criminal Justice, announced that the Division
of Criminal Justice has charged the financial
Controller of an Essex County nursing
and rehabilitation home with stealing
more than $1.7 million from the Center’s
patient needs and payroll accounts. The
charges, which include first degree money
laundering, result from an extensive investigation
by the Division of Criminal Justice -
Major Financial Crimes Bureau.
“It
is unfortunate when a professional in
a position of trust and holding the responsibility
of protecting those unable to care or
protect themselves is compelled to steal
from those very persons they are assigned
to protect. This case was pursued by the
Division of Criminal Justice - Financial
Crimes Bureau which investigates and prosecutes
financial crimes, securities and investment
fraud and other crimes which impact investors
and others who entrust their funds to
licensed professional representatives,”
Attorney General Harvey said.
According to Criminal Justice Director
McKoy, a State Grand Jury indictment charged
Peter Joseph Leus, 38, 63 Ravona St.,
Clifton, Passaic County, with first degree
money laundering and theft by deception
(second degree). Leus faces up to 30 years
in state prison, a fine of up to $650,000,
and restitution to the nursing home if
convicted on both counts of the criminal
indictment.
Criminal Justice Director McKoy noted
that Leus is a fugitive from justice and
has been placed on the Division of Criminal
Justice “12 Most Wanted Fugitive
List.” Leus, a/k/a Joseph Q. Leus
and/or Joseph Leus, is a Filipino male
5'8" tall and weighing approximately
200 pounds. Leus has medium shade complexion,
short-cropped straight black hair, and
brown eyes. Anyone with information on
the whereabouts of Peter Joseph Leus is
encouraged to contact the Division of
Criminal Justice Fugitive TipLine at 1-866-TIPS-4CJ
(1-866-847-7425)
or State Investigator Danielle Han assigned
to the Major Financial Crimes Bureau at
973-599-5815. All information
will remain confidential.
“This
indictment alleges that for more than
two years, the defendant pilfered the
nursing home patient needs and payroll
accounts, stealing more than $1.7 million
in order to feed a gambling habit and
to pay personal expenses. As a result
of the actions alleged in the criminal
indictment, the financial health of the
New Vista Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
and its patients is in shambles,”
Director McKoy said.
The State Grand Jury indictment alleges
that from January, 2003 through February,
2005, Leus, the Controller of the New
Vista Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
located in Newark, Essex County for more
than 17 years, embezzled approximately
$1.7 million from his employer and the
patients at the nursing and rehabilitation
center. It is charged that during the
two year period, Leus wrote more than
1,000 unauthorized checks in varying amounts
from various accounts, including the patient
needs and payroll accounts.
The indictment charges that a portion
of the alleged fraud resulted from Leus
writing extra payroll checks to New Vista
employees -- payroll checks that the employees
were unaware of and did not receive. The
investigation uncovered 924 payroll checks
totaling $1,103,544 in the names of 175
different employees. It is charged that
the checks were deposited into a defunct
business bank account maintained by Leus.
Additionally, during the same time period,
it is charged that Leus wrote 185 unauthorized
checks totaling $594,377 payable to himself
from the New Vista payroll account.
The investigation was conducted by the
Division of Criminal Justice - Financial
Crimes Bureau. Deputy Attorney General
Francine Ehrenberg and State Investigator
Danielle Han coordinated the investigation.
The indictment was handed up to Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg
on Sept. 6. The case will be assigned
to the Essex County Superior Court for
trial.
An indictment is merely an accusation.
The defendant is presumed innocent until
proven guilty in a court of law.
Additional information, including a copy
of the State Grand Jury indictment and
information on the Fugitive TipLine is
available via the Division of Criminal
Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org.
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