TRENTON
- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced
that a former Old Bridge code inspection
officer and construction official is the
third municipal official to plead guilty
to charges of demanding and receiving
nearly $3,000 in home repairs and appliances
from a developer doing business with the
Middlesex County township.
“The
ongoing Attorney General’s Office
investigation targeting public corruption
by Old Bridge construction officials demanding
favors and services from developers and
contractors has resulted in three former
officials pleading guilty to official
misconduct,” said Attorney General
Harvey. “The demanding of goods,
services, favors, and cash from contractors
in order to obtain routine approvals and
inspections is perhaps the most insidious
example of corruption - corruption that
is, unfortunately, considered ‘business
as usual’ by far too many government
officers. This type of corruption reaches
into all levels of government and truly
impacts the level of municipal services
and the quality of life in our municipalities.”
According to Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy, Ronald Concannon, 69,
Lakewood, Ocean County, pleaded guilty
before Middlesex County Superior Court
Judge Fred DeVesa on Jan. 5 to two counts
of third degree taking gifts while a public
servant. Concannon will be required to
pay $3,000 in restitution, perform 400
hours of community service, serve a period
of probation, and be permanently barred
from future public service and/or government
position when sentenced on Feb. 24.
Director McKoy noted that Concannon was
charged via a State Grand Jury indictment
returned on Aug. 5, 2005. The indictment
resulted from an ongoing investigation
targeting allegations of bribery and corruption
within the Old Bridge Township engineering
and code department. The investigation,
conducted by state investigators assigned
to the Division of Criminal Justice -
Antitrust & Procurement Fraud Unit,
uncovered allegations that public employees
solicited money or favors from local developers,
contractors, and others doing business
in the Township in exchange for expedited
and/or favorable service and rulings on
applications, permits, and inspections.
The investigation uncovered no evidence
that the alleged illegal activities allowed
for unsafe or under-code construction.
Concannon is the third municipal employee
to plead guilty to corruption-related
charges.
The
indictment charged that from August through
October, 1998, Concannon solicited and
received $3,000 in replacement windows
and household appliances. The 11 replacement
windows and a Sears washer/dryer installed
in Concannon’s residence were paid
for by Woodcliff Developers, Inc., which
was involved in the construction of the
Oxford Estates housing development in
Old Bridge Township.
“This
type of corruption - the shaking-down
of contractors and developers for cash
and services - raises the cost of local
development by increasing the costs of
construction,” said Director McKoy.
“The Antitrust Procurement Fraud
Unit targets fraud and corruption related
to the procurement process by working
with, and providing information to, New
Jersey municipal officials so they can
identify and report procurement fraud.”
Director McKoy noted that John P. Vincenti,
43, Tall Oaks Drive, Brick, Ocean County,
the former Director of Community Development
and Township Engineer for Old Bridge Township,
pleaded guilty on Dec. 15 to charges that
he received $3,800 in financial favors
from a developer doing business with the
Township. On Nov. 29, Barry C. Bowers,
63, Summit Drive, Point Pleasant, Ocean
County, a former Old Bridge Township construction
officer, pleaded guilty to a charge of
second degree official misconduct. In
pleading guilty, Bowers admitted that
he solicited and accepted more than $7,400
in home repairs from a construction company
doing business with the Township. Sentence
is pending for both Vincenti and Bowers.
Deputy Director and Assistant Attorney
General Andrew Rossner and Deputy Attorney
General Steven Zweig coordinated the investigation.
Supervising State Investigator Kim Karasiewicz
and State Investigators Susan Marshall
and Kimberly Allen of the Antitrust Procurement
Fraud Unit conducted the investigation.
Additionally, the Division of Criminal
Justice investigation was assisted by
the administration of Old Bridge Mayor
James T. Phillips, the Old Bridge Township
Council, and the Office of Township Attorney.
The investigation tracked the 2003 report
compiled by the State Commission of Investigation
which detailed allegations of corruption
and favors in the county and municipal
home inspection process.
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