Monday, March 11, 2013
Still unclear when and just how much money school district will receive
Thought it remains unclear when it will arrive and just how much will be paid, Toms River schools are expecting a few million dollars in restitution stemming from the Michael Ritacco bribery case. A U.S. District Judge concluded last December that the district was "unquestionably" the victim of the bribery and kickback scheme involving Ritacco and others and should be paid $4.3 million in restitution. If the guilty cannot pay all of that, insurance is expected to pay $2 million. Whatever the sum, administrators will need to figure out how to appropriate the funds. "If and when that money comes, that's going to be a discussion," said school board member Joseph Torrone during a recent meeting to discuss the 2013-14 budget. "There's going to…
Monday, December 10, 2012
Former Toms River schools supervisor sentenced Monday in Trenton
Toms River's former supervisor of athletics and special projects was sentenced Monday to over 3 years in prison in connection with a scheme to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to the former schools superintendent. Frank D’Alonzo, 55, of Lavallette received the 37 month prison sentence in federal court in Trenton, before U.S. District Court Judge Joel A. Pisano, for his association with the kickback schemes involving former Superintendent Michael Ritacco. Pisano also was sentenced D'Alonzo to three years of supervised release once his prison term is completed, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. A restitution and forfeiture hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 12 before Pisano. D'Alonzo pleaded guilt to one count of …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Former Toms River superintendent pleads guilty to federal charges
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Thursday, April 5, 2012
The prosecution of former Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco appears to nearing its conclusion, as he pleaded guilty this morning to mail fraud and conspiracy to impede the IRS, officials said. Days before jury selection was to begin, Ritacco allegedly admitted his role in years of corruption where millions in bribes were said to be passed between the superintendent, insurance brokers and other intermediaries. Now that he faces sentencing, we want to know: What do you think? Are you pleased Ritacco has admitted wrongdoing? Do you think he should have pushed for his day in court? Does the guilty plea close a sad chapter in the history of the Toms River School District? Vote in our poll and leave your comments …
Monday, April 2, 2012
Francis X. Gartland admits to mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud the IRS, and perjury.
Francis X. Gartland admitted in federal court today that while he served as the insurance broker for Toms River Regional Schools he funneled bribes through a series of intermediaries to then-superintendent Michael J. Ritacco. The payments were in excess of $1 million total from 2002-2010, announced the U.S. Attorney's office. Gartland, 70, had plead not guilty previously and was awaiting trial, scheduled to begin in a week alongside Ritacco, in a 27-count federal indictment that alleged bribery, kickbacks, fraud and tax evasion. The district's former insurance broker pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton federal court to charges of mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud the IRS, and perjury. U.S. Attorney …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Toms River Regional trying to recoup alleged funds lost to bribery, fraud under former Superintendent Ritacco, who is awaiting trial
The Toms River Regional School district has filed an insurance claim, in an attempt to recoup funds that former superintendent Michael J. Ritacco is accused of taking in a alleged bribery kickback scheme. The claim is on the "dishonesty policy" of the school district's insurance package, which was taken out to specifically protect the district in the event of theft, illegal wrongdoing or ethical violations, said school board attorney Thomas Monahan. The claim was filed Feb. 15, said Business Administrator William Doering, and it is through the district's insurance provider, Traveler's Insurance, through broker Connors Strong. The parameters of the dishonesty policy claim — such as total amount claimed, potential payment or other policy …
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Down comes the name that was hidden since last October
The sign is down. The words “Ritacco Center,” hidden behind a white cover for almost a year, were removed from the building formerly known as the Ritacco Center yesterday. Sign crews were seen removing the signage yesterday morning, part of the transition to Pine Belt Arena. The arena is on the Toms River High School North campus, on Old Freehold Road. The cover over “Ritacco Center” went up shortly after former Superintendent Michael Ritacco resigned last October, the same day of his arrest for a federal indictment, accused of a multi-million kickback scheme with an insurance broker. According to federal prosecutors, his trial was again rescheduled from January to April, the fourth rescheduling of the trial. Pine Belt Automotive Group …
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Francis Gartland charged in South Amboy incidents, US Attorney Fishman announced
n insurance broker indicted on fraud charges connected to the Ritacco scandal was indicted again today on federal charges of election fraud. A Newark federal grand jury has indicted Francis X. Gartland, an insurance broker, and Thomas J. O’Leary, the Executive Director of the South Amboy Housing Authority, for alleged federal election fraud, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. In the six-count indictment, the incidents involving Gartland, 70, and O’Leary, 49, of South Amboy, surrounded the 2006 Democratic primary campaign of Joseph Vas for United States Congress in New Jersey’s 13th District. Gartland’s Federal Risk Hill Management was also the focus of a Barnegat Township School District-conducted forensic audit, in the wake of …
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Previous trial date was July 25 for former superintendent of schools
The trial date for former Toms River Schools Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco, who faces a 27-count indictment for tax evasion and bribery, was pushed back to Oct. 3. That’s about a full year from when Ritacco surrendered to federal authorities in 2010, amid allegations he took between $1 million and $2 million in bribes from Francis X. Gartland, the school district’s former insurance broker, in exchange for using his influence to make sure Gartland received multi-million dollar contracts from the district. The original trial date was July 25. Both sides agreed to adjourn the trial to Oct. 3, during a trial conference held at the end of January, according to the U.S. District court records. Gartland and Ritacco plead not guilty in …
clamdigger
10:10 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
don't hold your breath waiting for it, once they have their hands on it getting it back is like trying to take food from a 'gator. more ›