Secaucus Tax Collector Alan Bartolozzi, who has been under investigation for several months after the town discovered accounting irregularities in his office, was charged Tuesday two counts of theft in the second degree, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.
DeFazio said second degree theft charges are issued when the amount of money allegedly stolen is in excess of $75,000.
“Each count of theft in the second degree carries a maximum penalty of 10 years,” DeFazio said. “But he would really serve 10 years, not 20, because the judge would combine the sentences to run concurrently.”
DeFazio added that a grand jury could still consider additional charges later.
The problems may date back to 2003.
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On Tuesday a judge set his bond at $200,000, which Bartolozzi has not yet posted. He was being kept at the Hudson County Correctional Center as of press time Thursday.
His attorney, John Lynch, was unavailable for comment last week.
Secaucus Chief Financial Officer Margaret Barkala and various auditors began investigating the reason for the shortfall in Bartolozzi’s office around February or March and the initial discovery of problems set off a series of overlapping investigations. As required by state law, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office were notified of the accounting problems and DeFazio’s office began its own inquiry into the matter.
Already facing drug, union theft charges
Even before these charges were issued Tuesday, Bartolozzi was already looking at possible jail time.
In August, he was charged with possession of cocaine in the third degree. According to DeFazio, the drug was allegedly discovered “in Mr. Bartolozzi’s desk or work station drawer” after he was suspended. It’s unclear how much cocaine was allegedly found in the desk, but DeFazio said, “The amount found is consistent with personal use, as opposed to distribution.”
The prosecutor has repeatedly declined to comment on published reports that drug paraphernalia was also discovered in Bartolozzi’s desk.
The drug charge carries a maximum penalty of five years for possession.
By the time Bartolozzi was picked up on the drug charge, he was already facing five years for another theft charge. This – stemmed from allegations that he took money from the Secaucus Public Employees’ Association, a local union.
Before his suspension as tax collector, Bartolozzi had served, on a volunteer basis, as secretary treasurer for the union. When shortfalls in the Tax Collector’s Office were discovered, union president Charles Schumacher also took a close look at the union’s books and apparently found a shortfall there as well.
In July Bartolozzi was charged with one count of theft in the third degree for allegedly stealing $20,000 from the Secaucus Public Employees’ Association.
If convicted of all charges and given maximum sentences, Bartolozzi could face 20 years in prison.
Town investigation continues, end in sight
Although few details have been released to the public, the accounting problems appear to date back to at least 2003, town officials have said. Town Administrator David Drumeler said last week after Bartolozzi’s arrest that the local investigation continues and has not been completed.
“I don’t foresee our investigation winding down until at least the end of the year,” Drumeler said.
Last week there were rumors that longtime Secaucus auditors Suplee, Clooney, and Company have given Mayor Richard Steffens a report that details how much money was allegedly stolen, how far back the alleged thefts date, and how Bartolozzi allegedly kept from getting caught for several years.
Drumeler denied these rumors.
While it’s still not known how much money may have allegedly been stolen, Drumeler emphasized that the town’s insurance will likely cover any losses. Secaucus has $1 million in insurance coverage for losses in the tax office. The first $250,000 would come from a bonding company that insures Bartolozzi; the next $750,000 would come from the New Jersey Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, or MEL.
Bartolozzi has been the Tax Collector in Secaucus since 1985.
Last month, the Town Council appointed Nicholas Goldsack to serve as temporary tax collector. Goldsack is not receiving a salary for this work. Instead he receives $35 an hour.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.