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For Immediate Release:
For Further Information:
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November 17, 2010

Office of The Attorney General
- Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
- Stephen J. Taylor, Director

Media Inquiries-
Peter Aseltine
609-292-4791
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925

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Third Employee of Port Authority Training Facility Pleads Guilty to Theft for Falsifying Attendance, Mileage, Meal Records

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TRENTON – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that a third employee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey training academy in Morris County pleaded guilty today to collecting pay and reimbursement based on false attendance, mileage and meal records he submitted. On Nov. 9, a supervisor and another employee at the academy pleaded guilty to theft charges for the same conduct.

According to Director Taylor, Stephen Valenzano, 43, of Hazlet, pleaded guilty today to third-degree theft by deception before Superior Court Judge Kevin G. Callahan in Hudson County. The charge was contained in an accusation filed by the Division of Criminal Justice as a result of an investigation by the Port Authority’s Office of Inspector General.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Valenzano be sentenced to a term of probation. He will be required to pay restitution to the Port Authority of $2,544. He resigned his job and will be permanently barred from public employment. Judge Callahan scheduled sentencing for Valenzano for Jan. 7, 2011.

On Nov. 9, Cotea Jones, 46, of Palmer, Pa., the supervisor of the Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals Training Academy in Morris County, and Vincent Price, 50, of Roselle, N.J., an academy employee, each pleaded guilty to theft by deception before Judge Callahan. The state will recommend that Jones be sentenced to 364 days in the county jail and a term of probation. She must pay restitution of $7,922. The state will recommend that Price be sentenced to a term of probation. He must pay restitution of $2,103. Jones and Price forfeited their jobs and are permanently barred from public employment. They are scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 7

The Port Authority’s Office of Inspector General commenced its investigation after a routine audit uncovered irregularities in the records submitted by the defendants. Detectives from the Port Authority OIG obtained further records and conducted surveillance of the defendants. The matter was referred to the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau for prosecution.

Valenzano, Jones and Price admitted that, for various dates from September 2009 through January 2010, they submitted attendance sheets indicating they worked a full day at the Morris County training academy or at other training locations, when, in fact, they had arrived late, left early, or had not reported to work at all. As a result, they were paid for a full day of work.

In addition, the three defendants admitted that they submitted false forms regarding mileage and meals that resulted in them receiving reimbursements to which they were not entitled.

Deputy Attorney General Vincent J. Militello took the guilty pleas for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. Detectives Danny DiPrimo and John Fitzgerald conducted the investigation for the Port Authority OIG. Detective Laura Clarke was assigned to the investigation for the Division of Criminal Justice.

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