TRENTON -Attorney General Peter C. Harvey
announced that an ongoing municipal corruption
investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice has resulted in the criminal indictment
of yet another Old Bridge Township municipal
official on charges of seeking and receiving
thousands of dollars in financial favors
from developers doing business with the
Township in expectation of expedited and/or
favorable service and rulings on applications,
permits and inspections. The State Grand
Jury indictment charged official misconduct
and other corruption-related charges.
“This
indictment results from an ongoing state
investigation targeting public corruption
by municipal officials who have demanded
favors and services from developers and
contractors doing business with the municipality,”
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 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, a State Grand Jury indictment
charged Barry C. Bowers, (age unavailable),
536 Summit Drive, Point Pleasant, Ocean
County, with two counts of second degree
official misconduct, three counts of acceptance
or receipt of unlawful benefit by public
servant, and six counts of gifts to a
public servant. Bowers is identified as
the current Engineering Inspector for
Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County.
If convicted on all counts, Bowers faces
more than 20 years in state prison and
fines of more than $750,000.
Director
McKoy noted that the State Grand Jury
indictment resulted from an ongoing investigation
targeting allegations of bribery and corruption
related to 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,
is targeting additional allegations that
public employees solicited money or favors
from developers, contractors, and others
doing business in the Township in exchange
for the expectation of 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.
According to McKoy, Bowers, as Engineering
Inspector for Old Bridge, maintained responsibility
for implementing the permitting functions
of the department, including fee assessment
and collection, applications and plan
review, permit issuance, inspection and
occupancy. The State Grand Jury indictment
charges that at various times from 1999
through 2003, Bowers used his government
position to repeatedly induce, solicit,
and accept gifts valued at more than $27,000
from developers and/or contractors doing
business in the municipality of Old Bridge.
The indictment alleges that:
- April
- June, 1999 - It is
alleged that Bowers obtained Andersen
brand windows valued at $7,439.13 and
a decorative exterior railing worth
$329.75 which were paid for by Woodcliff
Developers, Inc. - a developer building
Oxford Estates and doing business in
Old Bridge. The windows and railings
were installed in Bowers Summit Drive
residence;
-
September
- November, 1999 - The
indictment charges that Bowers arranged
for the installation of a $2,025.00
replacement furnace at the residence
of an Engineering Department secretary.
The furnace was paid for by representatives
from Woodcliff Developers;
-
July - August, 2001
- It is charged that Bowers received
“top-of-the-line” Diamond
kitchen cabinets and Corian countertops
at a total cost of $13,023.16 paid for
by Atlantic Realty, Inc. - a developer
engaged in the construction of various
Old Bridge Township projects, including
Matchaponix Hills, Matchaponix Estates,
Presidential Estates, and Rocky Creek
developments;
-
January, 2002
- The indictment charges that Bowers
arranged to have Andersen windows and
accessories worth more than $1,500.00
installed at his son-in-law’s
Point Pleasant residence. The windows
were paid for by Atlantic Realty; and
-
December, 2002 - February, 2003
- It is charged that Bowers arranged
to have a garage door installed at his
son’s Point Pleasant residence.
The door was valued at $1,200.00 and
was paid for by representatives from
Atlantic Realty.
Criminal Justice Director McKoy noted
that on Jan. 13, a State Grand Jury charged
John P. Vincenti, 43, Tall Oaks Drive,
Brick, Ocean County, with second degree
official misconduct, acceptance or receipt
of unlawful benefit by public servant,
gift to public servant, witness tampering,
and obstructing the administration of
law or governmental function. Vincenti
is the Director of Community Development
& Township Engineer for Old Bridge
Township, Middlesex County, and was Bowers’
supervisor. The indictment charged that
from May through August, 2003, Vincenti
solicited and received $3,800 which was
used to pay for landscaping services at
his Ocean County residence. The landscaping
services were paid by a representative
of Atlantic Realty. As Director of Community
Development/Township Engineer since 2002,
Vincenti supervised the Township engineering,
planning and code enforcement divisions.
Criminal Justice Director McKoy noted
that the investigation by the Division
of Criminal Justice Antitrust Procurement
Fraud Unit utilized undercover investigative
techniques and other investigative procedures
to document the alleged illegal activity.
In the interest of investigative security
and pursuant to established court requirements,
the Division of Criminal Justice is limited
in discussing specific details regarding
the alleged illegal activity and investigative
details, including identifying victims
and specific details of the alleged extortion
activity.
“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 Division of Criminal Justice
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.”
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 the Township
Attorney.
McKoy noted that the investigation tracked
a 2003 report compiled by the State Commission
of Investigation (SCI) which detailed
allegations of corruption and favors in
the county and municipal home inspection
process. The SCI referred the case to
the Division of Criminal Justice and continues
to provide investigative assistance to
the ongoing investigation.
The indictment was handed-up to Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg,
the Supervising Judge of the State Grand
Jury, on March 2. The defendant will be
required to appear in Middlesex County
Superior Court for arraignment and bail.
The defendant is presumed innocent of
the charge unless and until proven guilty
in a court of law. A copy of the State
Grand Jury indictment is available via
the Division of Criminal Justice Web site
at www.njdcj.org.