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TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that three high-level officials
at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission
were arrested today on charges that they
directed subordinate employees to complete
repairs or improvements at their private
homes or the homes of people close to them
while the employees were on agency time
during their regular work shifts for the
PVSC.
According
to Director Taylor, detectives from the
Division of Criminal Justice Corruption
Bureau arrested the following individuals
this morning at the offices of the PVSC,
adjacent to the agency’s wastewater
treatment plant on Wilson Avenue in Newark:
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Anthony Ardis, 56, of
Paterson, a former PVSC Commissioner who
currently is Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
and Director of Management Services at
the PVSC;
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Kevin Keogh, 45, of Roseland,
Superintendent for Special Services at
the PVSC; and
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Chester Mazza, 69, of
Totowa, Assistant Superintendent for Special
Services.
Each
man was charged by complaint with the second-degree
crime of official misconduct. The defendants
will be transported to the Passaic County
Jail, with bail for each set at $75,000.
“These
defendants allegedly used their supervisory
positions at the Passaic Valley Sewerage
Commission to require subordinates to complete
home improvements for them while on the
job for this public agency,” said
Attorney General Dow. “We have zero
tolerance for officials who unlawfully use
their public positions for personal gain.”
“We
allege that these three defendants illegally
exploited skilled employees, vehicles and
equipment which the public entrusted to
their management,” said Director Taylor.
“We are continuing our investigation
into allegations of misuse of public resources
at this agency.”
The
PVSC is a state agency responsible for managing
and regulating collection and disposal of
wastewater generated in a four-county area
along the Passaic Valley River Basin, encompassing
parts of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson
counties. The charges stem from an ongoing
investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice Corruption Bureau. The investigation
is being conducted and coordinated by Deputy
Attorney General Jeffrey Manis, Sgt. Lisa
Shea and Detective Michael Behar.
It
is alleged that between January 2006 and
May 2010, each defendant, on more than one
occasion, directed subordinate employees,
who were skilled trade workers at the sewage
treatment plant, to complete home improvements
at his private home or, in the case of Ardis,
at the homes of his mother and a girlfriend,
during hours that the employees were on
the job for the PVSC. The state’s
investigation revealed that the subordinate
employees used PVSC vehicles, equipment
and tools to travel to the homes and complete
the home improvements. They were not paid
by the defendants for any of the work performed
at the private homes.
With
respect to Ardis, it is alleged specifically
that on two occasions, approximately two
to three years ago, two PVSC employees were
directed to go to the home of Ardis’
mother in Paterson, while on agency time,
to tear down sheet rock in the garage. On
another occasion, between 2007 and 2008,
four or five PVSC employees were allegedly
directed to install wood panels and hook
up a microwave in the kitchen of the mother
while on duty for the PVSC. It is further
alleged that one to two years ago, two PVSC
employees were directed to go to the home
of Ardis’ girlfriend during their
regular agency work shifts and replace two
air conditioning units.
With
respect to Keogh, it is alleged specifically
that two employees for the PVSC were directed
to remove old windows and install replacement
windows at Keogh’s private residence
in Roseland during their regular shifts
for the agency. It is alleged that on another
occasion, PVSC employees worked on a deck
at Keogh’s home on agency time. On
a third occasion, two other agency employees
were allegedly directed to install two cabinet
doors in Keogh’s kitchen while on
the clock for the PVSC. It is alleged that
one employee was also directed to cut and
finish doors in a workshop at the sewage
treatment plant that were later installed
in Keogh’s kitchen.
With
respect to Mazza, it is alleged specifically
that on one occasion, two employees for
the PVSC were directed to install a roof
vent or fan in the roof of Mazza’s
home in Totowa while on agency time. It
is alleged that on another occasion, two
agency employees were directed to repair
a wall along the outside of Mazza’s
home while on their regular shifts for the
PVSC.
The
charge of second-degree official misconduct
carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in
state prison. For each defendant, conduct
is alleged that occurred after April 14,
2007, when enhanced penalties for official
misconduct took effect. As a result, each
defendant would face a mandatory minimum
sentence of five years in prison without
possibility of parole if convicted based
on that alleged conduct. Second-degree offenses
also carry a fine of up to $150,000.
The
charges are merely accusations and the defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Because the charges are indictable offenses,
they will be presented to a grand jury for
potential indictment.
Attorney
General Dow and Director Taylor 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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