TRENTON
- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced
that the former Director of Community
Development and Township Engineer for
Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County,
today pleaded guilty to charges that he
received $3,800 in financial favors from
a developer doing business with the Township.
According to Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy, John P. Vincenti, 43,
Tall Oaks Drive, Brick, Ocean County,
pleaded guilty before Middlesex County
Superior Court Judge Fred DeVesa to a
third degree charge of gifts to public
servant. Vincenti faces up to five years
in state prison, a fine of up to $15,000,
permanent debarment from public service,
and loss of government position when sentenced
on Feb. 24.
Director McKoy noted that Vincenti was
charged via a State Grand Jury indictment
returned on Jan. 12, 2005. The indictment
resulted from an ongoing investigation
focusing on allegations of bribery and
corruption related to the Old Bridge Township
engineering and code department. The investigation,
conducted by state investigators assigned
to the Division of Criminal Justice -
Antitrust & Procurement Fraud Unit,
is targeting additional allegations that
public employees have solicited money
or favors from developers, contractors,
and others doing business in the Township
in exchange for expedited and/or favorable
service and rulings on applications, permits
and inspections. The investigation uncovered
no evidence that the alleged illegal activities
allowed for unsafe or under-code construction.
The indictment charged that from May through
August, 2003, Vincenti solicited and received
$3,800 which was used to pay for landscaping
services at his Ocean County residence.
The landscaping services were paid by
a representative of Atlantic Realty, an
Old Bridge developer which manages various
Old Bridge Township-area developments,
including Matchaponix Hills, Matchaponix
Estates (Rocky Creek), and Presidential
Estates.
As Director of Community Development/Township
Engineer since 2002, Vincenti supervised
the Township engineering, planning and
code enforcement divisions. Vincenti was
also responsible for overseeing the permitting
functions of the department, including
fee assessment and collection, applications
and plan review, permit issuance, inspection
and occupancy.
“This
type of corruption - the shaking-down
of contractors and developers for cash
and services - raises the cost of local
development by increasing the costs of
construction,” said Director McKoy.
“The Antitrust Procurement Fraud
Unit targets fraud and corruption related
to the procurement process by working
with, and providing information to, New
Jersey municipal officials so they can
identify and report procurement fraud.”
Deputy Director and Assistant Attorney
General Andrew Rossner and Deputy Attorney
General Steven Zweig coordinated the investigation.
Supervising State Investigator Kim Karasiewicz
and State Investigators Susan Marshall
and Kimberly Allen of the Antitrust Procurement
Fraud Unit conducted the investigation.
Additionally, the Division of Criminal
Justice investigation was assisted by
the administration of Old Bridge Mayor
James T. Phillips, the Old Bridge Township
Council, and the Office of Township Attorney.
The investigation tracked the 2003 report
compiled by the State Commission of Investigation
which detailed allegations of corruption
and favors in the county and municipal
home inspection process.