TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that the president of the Elizabeth
School Board, a City of Elizabeth employee,
and the husband of the Head of Custodians
for the Elizabeth School District were arrested
this morning and charged with defrauding
the Elizabeth School District’s free
lunch program. The program provides free
and low-cost nutritious lunches for students
who cannot otherwise afford them.
The
following people were charged by complaint
this morning with third-degree theft by
deception and third-degree tampering with
public records or information:
- Marie
L. Munn, 46, of Elizabeth. Munn
is the president of the Elizabeth School
Board;
- Peter
W. Abitanto, 42, of Elizabeth.
Abitanto is the husband of the Head of
Custodians for the Elizabeth School District;
- Angela
Lucio, 35, of Elizabeth. Lucio
is employed by the City of Elizabeth and
is the ex-wife of a principal in the Elizabeth
School District.
According
to Director Taylor, Munn, Abitanto and Lucio
each allegedly falsified information on
applications for the Elizabeth Public Schools
Free and Reduced Price School Meals Program,
which led to the theft of a total of more
than $7,000 in free or low-cost lunches.
All three were arrested early this morning
at their homes by detectives of the New
Jersey State Police Official Corruption
North Unit. They were processed at the State
Police Newark Station and released.
“It
is deeply troubling that the president of
the Elizabeth School Board and the spouses
of two other high-level district officials
were allegedly stealing from a program intended
to ensure that disadvantaged children get
the nutritious lunches that they need to
thrive in school,” said Attorney General
Dow. “We will not tolerate this type
of abuse of a publicly funded assistance
program by school district insiders.”
“We
allege that the three individuals charged
today exploited the federally subsidized
school lunch program by lying about their
family incomes to obtain free lunches for
their children,” said Director Taylor.
“Our investigation into fraud in this
program is ongoing.”
It
is alleged that on five occasions from 2006
to 2011, Munn falsified information on school
lunch applications which resulted in the
theft of $3,946 worth of free lunches for
her two children. For example, on at least
one application, Munn allegedly falsified
her weekly income and omitted her husband’s
salary completely.
By
falsifying applications from 2006 to 2011
for free lunches, Abitanto allegedly wrongfully
obtained $2,169 worth of free lunches for
his child. An investigation determined that
Abitanto allegedly falsified his salary
information.
Lastly,
it is alleged that on three occasions from
2008 to 2011, Lucio falsified applications
and wrongfully obtained $899 worth of free
lunches for her two children.
The
investigation was launched by the Division
of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau after
an article in The Star-Ledger revealed that
the children of officials in the Elizabeth
school district were improperly participating
in the federally subsidized school lunch
program despite household incomes that exceeded
the limits for eligibility.
Because
the charges are indictable offenses, this
case is subject to presentation to a grand
jury for potential indictment. The charges
are merely accusations and the defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of five years in state prison and a $15,000
fine.
Detective
Lisa King of the New Jersey State Police
Official Corruption North Unit and Deputy
Attorney General Mark Ondris of the Division
of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau conducted
and coordinated the investigation. They
were assisted by Detective Pablo Castro
of the State Police Official Corruption
North Unit. The case has been assigned to
Deputy Attorney General Ondris for prosecution.
Attorney
General Dow and Director Taylor noted that
the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption
Bureau has established a toll-free Corruption
Tipline 1-866-TIPS-4CJ
for the public to report corruption, financial
crime and other illegal activities. 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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