TRENTON
- Attorney General Zulima V. Farber today
announced that a Monmouth County jury has
convicted a former Human Services Police
Officer for participating in a scheme to
cheat on a 2003 Department of Personnel
promotional examination testing for the
position of Hudson County Sheriff’s
Office Sergeant. The jury verdict was announced
by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge
Bette E. Uhrmacher after a week-long trial.
“This
trial verdict sends a loud and clear message
that individuals who use their official
position for corrupt purposes will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law,”
said Attorney General Farber.
Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory
A. Paw said that former Human Services Police
Officer Damon P. Bassano, 28, North Bergen,
Hudson County, was convicted of multiple
counts of official misconduct, tampering
with public records or information, and
falsifying or tampering with records. The
jury acquitted Bassano of one count of impersonation
- identity theft. Bassano was formerly employed
as a campus police officer at the Stevens
Institute of Technology and later as a Human
Services Police Officer. Bassano resigned
his position as a Human Services Police
Officer in June, 2005. Bassano faces more
than 20 years in state prison and fines
exceeding $300,000 when sentenced by Judge
Uhrmacher on April 7.
Director Paw noted that Bassano was charged
via a Sept. 21, 2005 State Grand Jury indictment.
The indictment resulted from an ongoing
Division of Criminal Justice investigation
targeting alleged cheating on a Sergeant’s
promotional examination by former Hudson
County Sheriff’s Officer John Ramos.
Ramos, 47, of Bethlehem, PA, was charged
in a June 9, 2005 State Grand Jury indictment
with multiple counts of official misconduct,
tampering with public records, and impersonation.
Ramos pleaded guilty before Monmouth County
Superior Court Judge Edward Neafsey on Oct.
31 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April
14.
The Ramos-Bassano investigation determined
that in late 2002 and early 2003, Ramos
made arrangements to have Bassano take the
Hudson County Sheriff’s Office Sergeants
promotional examination scheduled for March,
2003 in his stead. The indictments charged
that Ramos undertook extraordinary steps
to perpetuate the impersonation.
The investigation determined that Ramos
created numerous fraudulent documents, including
a Hudson County Sheriff’s Department
credential and badge with all of his (Ramos)
personal information, but bearing Bassano’s
photograph; a fraudulent Hoboken Housing
Authority identification; a duplicate, non-photo
New Jersey driver’s license issued
to John Ramos; and a duplicate, unsigned
Social Security card issued to Ramos and
bearing Ramos’ Social Security number.
In exchange for Bassano taking the test,
Ramos offered to forgive a debt of between
$300 - $500 and to assist Bassano in applying
for a position in the Hudson County Sheriff’s
Office.
The investigation was conducted by DSG Myles
A. Cappiello, New Jersey State Police -
Official Corruption Unit and assigned to
the Division of Criminal Justice - Special
Prosecutions Bureau and State Investigator
Scott Donlan of the Division of Criminal
Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau. The
prosecution and trial was coordinated by
Deputy Attorney General Anthony Picione
of the Division of Criminal Justice - Special
Prosecutions Bureau. The Hudson County Sheriff’s
Office provided administrative assistance.
A copy of the indictments and related information
is available via the Division of Criminal
Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org.
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