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TRENTON - Attorney General
Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director
Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that the
campaign treasurer for a former state assemblyman
was indicted today on charges she stole money
from his election fund.
According to Director Gramiccioni,
the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption
Bureau obtained a state grand jury indictment
charging Rosemary McClave, 66, of Hillside,
with one count of third-degree theft by deception
and six counts of third-degree tampering with
public records. McClave currently is chief
financial officer for the Borough of Teterboro.
McClave was treasurer for
the Election Fund of Neil Cohen. The indictment
alleges that between March 2003 and November
2006, McClave wrote 10 checks to herself from
the election fund totaling $5,562.54, which
she used for personal purchases. The checks,
which were written and signed by McClave,
were purportedly written as reimbursement
for various campaign supplies, including computers,
ink, paper and other items.
The checks were made payable
to American Express to pay McClave’s
American Express bills. However, McClave did
not purchase any campaign supplies using her
American Express card. Instead, she purchased
personal items, including clothing from QVC
and toys. McClave allegedly filed six reports
with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement
Commission that falsely claimed she was reimbursed
by the election fund for campaign supplies.
The investigation was conducted
and coordinated by Detective Sgt. John R.
Pizzuro of the New Jersey State Police Official
Corruption Unit and Deputy Attorney General
Erik Daab of the Division of Criminal Justice
Corruption Bureau. Deputy Attorney General
Daab presented the case to the state grand
jury.
Third-degree crimes carry
a maximum sentence of five years in state
prison and a $15,000 fine.
The indictment was handed
up to Superior Court Judge Maria Marinari
Sypek in Mercer County. The case was assigned
to Mercer County, where McClave will be ordered
to appear in court at a later date to answer
the charges.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and
the defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty.
Cohen
resigned from the Assembly in December after
the Division of Criminal Justice obtained
a state grand jury indictment charging him
with official misconduct and child pornography
offenses. Those charges are pending.
Attorney
General Milgram and Director Gramiccioni noted
that the Division of Criminal Justice - Corruption
Bureau has established a toll-free Corruption
Tipline for the public to report corruption,
financial crime and other illegal activities.
The statewide Corruption Tipline is 1-866-TIPS-4CJ.
Additionally, the public can log on to the
Division of Criminal Justice Web page at www.njdcj.org
to report suspected wrongdoing. All information
received through the Division of Criminal
Justice Corruption Tipline or Web page will
remain confidential.
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