TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced
that a Bergen County man pleaded guilty
today to stealing $128,000 from the cosmetology
school that employed him.
According
to Director Taylor, William J. Reilley,
57, of Carlstadt, pleaded guilty to second-degree
theft by deception before Superior Court
Judge Harry G. Carroll in Bergen County.
The charge was contained in a Nov. 13, 2009
state grand jury indictment.
Judge
Carroll scheduled sentencing for July 16.
Under the plea agreement, the state will
recommend that Reilley be sentenced within
the third-degree range, which is three to
five years in prison. He also must pay full
restitution to the victim.
In
pleading guilty, Reilley admitted that between
January 2004 and December 2006, he stole
$128,209 from his employer, Onyx Beauty
Academy in Fort Lee. Reilley was hired by
the school’s owner, Yong Ok Shin,
in 2004 to teach, assist with financial
management, and submit applications for
government loans and grants. Reilley –
who also worked on a per diem basis for
the state Division of Consumer Affairs as
a proctor for cosmetology exams –
led the owner to believe that his work for
the state would make it easier for him to
obtain government loans and grants for the
school.
Reilley
admitted that he obtained $128,209 in business
checks and money orders from Shin by telling
her that they were needed to pay creditors
of Onyx Beauty Academy as well as fees for
grant and loan applications. An investigation
determined that, in reality, Reilley used
the checks and money orders to pay personal
expenses, including rent, about $25,000
in rental car fees, and $1,000 for a deposit
on a catering hall for a family event. Reilley
never obtained any loans or grants for Onyx
Beauty Academy.
Deputy
Attorney General Vincent J. Militello represented
the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption
Bureau at the guilty plea hearing. The investigation
was conducted by Detective Sgt. Dustin Lesnever
of the State Police Official Corruption
Bureau and Deputy Attorney General Militello.
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