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For Immediate Release:
For Further Information:
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May 19, 2011

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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Former Director of County Garage in Passaic County Sentenced for Stealing Cash & Engine from Cars Seized by Law Enforcement

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Pau Mariano
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TRENTON – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that the former director of the County Garage in Passaic County was sentenced to prison today for stealing a large amount of cash found hidden in a car that was seized by law enforcement, and stealing an engine from a second vehicle.

According Director Taylor, Paolo “Paul” Mariano, 53, of Wayne, was sentenced to four years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Marilyn C. Clark in Passaic County. Mariano pleaded guilty on March 28 to two counts of second-degree official misconduct. The charges stem from an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.

Mariano was also ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution. As a result of his plea, he forfeited his position as director of the Passaic County Garage, and he will be permanently barred from public employment. Deputy Attorney General Vincent J. Militello prosecuted the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau and represented the state at the sentencing.

“Prison is the appropriate sentence for Mariano, who shamelessly stole cash and property that would have been forfeited to fund law enforcement efforts in Passaic County,” said Attorney General Dow. “His actions showed a complete disregard for the law and for the county he was supposed to serve.”

“This prison sentence sends a clear message that government officials who steal from their agencies and the public will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted,” said Director Taylor. “We have zero tolerance when it comes to official corruption.”

In pleading guilty, Mariano admitted that he stole cash totaling approximately $20,000 that was found inside a 2000 Ford Taurus that was seized during a narcotics investigation by the Passaic County Drug Task Force in 2004. The car was being repaired for use as an undercover car in 2005 when county mechanics found the cash in a hidden compartment. They found several stacks of $100 bills. The mechanics told Mariano, who took possession of the car and cash, directing them not to report anything. Mariano then had a mechanic disassemble the car.

Mariano also admitted that in November 2006, he directed county mechanics to remove an engine from a 1995 Toyota 4-Runner that had been seized by the county. He had the mechanics place the engine into a 1993 Toyota 4-Runner that he had given to his girlfriend but titled in his own name. The stolen engine was in better condition than the one it replaced. Mariano sold that car, with the stolen engine, to an undercover detective on May 14, 2010 for $2,000.

The investigation was led by Deputy Attorney General Vincent J. Militello, Deputy Chief Paul Castellvi, Detective Scott Donlan, and Detective Harry Maronpot Jr. They were assisted by Sgt. David Salzmann and Detectives Laura Clarke, Ruben Contreras and Nick Olenick.

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 site 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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