NJ Watchdog: Three-fourths of NJ sheriffs double-dip

For the past quarter century, Armando Fontoura has been looting a New Jersey state pension fund. But it won’t do any good to call the cops.

Fontoura is sheriff of Essex County. A dean among double-dippers, he draws $207,289 a year from public coffers – $144,896 in salary plus $62,393 from pension as a retiree of his own office.

Today is the 25th anniversary of Fontoura’s faux retirement. So far, he has collected $1.35 million in retirement cash without ever giving up his full-time county paycheck.

On Friday, Aug. 31, 1990, Fontoura retired as county undersheriff at age 47. The following Monday, he returned to work at Essex County with the same salary and duties, but a different title – sheriff’s officer chief. One year later, he took charge as sheriff, a post he’s held ever since.

"Does it look bad? Yes," admitted Fontoura. "No question about it, it looks bad. Was it legal? Yes."
Worse for taxpayers, three-fourths of New Jersey’s county sheriffs – plus hundreds of other public officials – are taking advantage of pension loopholes to collect dual incomes.

A New Jersey Watchdog investigation found the sheriffs in 16 of the state’s 21 counties are double-dippers. In addition, the sheriffs also employ 37 undersheriffs who returned to work after retiring as local, county or state law enforcement officials at relatively young ages.

In total, the 53 officers collect nearly $10 million a year from public coffers – $5.7 million in salaries plus $4.1 million in retirement pay – according to payroll and pension records.

The complete story – along with New Jersey Watchdog’s list of double-dipping sheriffs and undersheriffs – is online at http://watchdog.org/235267/sheriffs-double-dip/.

Ruben Scolavino Blasts Sheriff Golden for Pension Scam at Accreditation Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monmouth County Democratic Candidate for Sheriff Ruben Scolavino went on the offensive this Monday, calling out Republican Sheriff Shaun Golden for rubber stamping the Sheriff Department’s accreditation while a pension scam investigation still lingers.

Ruben Scolavino

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement held a public information session where they took comments from residents as a part of their on-site assessment of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department.

Mr. Scolavino’s statement before the commission addressed the long standing problem of pension fraud that has resulted in a still open investigation. Scolavino blasted Golden for changing several high ranking officers’ job titles, without any real change in their responsibilities, in order to allow their continued receipt of salaries - as well as a pension.

By simultaneously receiving a salary and pension, employees Donovan, Freeman, and Dawson received a total of $245,000, $151,000, and $184,000.

"Sheriff Shaun Golden has rigged the system so that employees could collect a salary while still collecting a pension. He has abused Monmouth County taxpayers and needs to be held accountable." said Scolavino. Mr. Scolavino urged the Commission to withhold accreditation pending the results of the ongoing investigation.

Scolavino said, “Shaun Golden has failed to meet the high standards set by the Commission. His behavior has cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and eroded their trust in his leadership.”

NJ WATCHDOG: Cracking the Cover-Up of Christie's #2

For Immediate Release:

NJ RECORDS COUNCIL REJECTS TREASURY'S BID TO AVOID REVIEW OF RECORDS ON GUADAGNO'S $245K PENSION SCHEME

TRENTON — New Jersey's Government Records Council rejected the state Treasury's latest attempt to avoid disclosing documents related to an alleged $245,000 pension scheme involving Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.

GRC voted 4-0 Tuesday to deny the Treasury's request for a stay and reconsideration of an Aug. 31 order that requires its state pension officials to turn over 26 records for inspection. After review, the council will decide what documents, if any, should be released to New Jersey Watchdog.

Treasury officials gathered the records while reviewing allegations that Monmouth County sheriff's officer Michael Donovan Jr. improperly collected nearly $85,000 a year in state retirement pay in addition to his $87,500 annual salary.

At the center of the controversy are false statements made by Guadagno when she was Monmouth County sheriff. New Jersey Watchdog first reported the scandal in 2010.

The stakes are high for Guadagno, whose political future could be in jeopardy. Under state statute, "Any person who shall knowingly make any false statement or shall falsify or permit to be falsified any record or records of this retirement system ... shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."

For the complete story, visit http://newjersey.watchdog.org.  For media inquiries, contact Mark Lagerkvist at Mark@Lagerkvist.net.