BAYONNE — Contrary to previous reports, former Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone was sentenced today to one year’s probation for misappropriation of campaign funds.
Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that Chiappone was sentenced today for filing false reports with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC).
The case was postponed from Sept. 10 because of the Jewish holidays, according to Chiappone, who was contacted earlier this week.
According to Taylor, Chiappone, 52, of Bayonne, who formerly represented the 31st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly, was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $5,000 by Superior Court Judge Gerald J. Council in Mercer County. Chiappone pleaded guilty on June 25 to a third-degree charge of tampering with public records or information. As a result of the guilty plea, Chiappone was required to forfeit his seat in the Assembly and is permanently barred from holding public office in New Jersey.
In pleading guilty, Chiappone admitted that he completed and certified the campaign contribution and expenditure reports filed with ELEC for the 2005 Chiappone for Assembly campaign, knowing that they were false because they failed to report five state-issued paychecks for a legislative aide totaling $3,233.64 that were deposited into the campaign account. He falsely certified that contributions to the campaign did not exceed ELEC limits, even though the total of the aide’s checks exceeded the limit of $2,600 for contributions from a single individual.
Deputy Attorney General Susan Kase prosecuted the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau and represented the state at the sentencing hearing.
“Mr. Chiappone broke the law, as well as the oath he took as a state assemblyman to honestly serve the people of New Jersey,” said Attorney General Dow. “As a result of our prosecution, he will never again hold public office in New Jersey.”
Chiappone was charged in an Aug. 26, 2009 state grand jury indictment, which also named his wife, Diane. The charges against her were dismissed based on his plea.
Chiappone was first elected to the Assembly in 2003. He lost the Democratic primary in June 2005, but was elected to the Assembly again in November 2007. He was re-elected in November 2009. He also served as a city councilman for Bayonne from 1998 to 2009.
Four will vie for vacant seat
Four candidates are running in a special election for the Assembly seat vacated by Chiappone.
Although Bayonne Public Safety Director Jason O’Donnell was sworn in as assemblyman for the 31st District this week, he will have to face three challengers in the upcoming special election in November. This includes Republican Joseph Turula, of Jersey City, who previously ran for the House of Representatives in the 13th District, and was a close associate of former state Senator and Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham. Turula also worked as deputy director for Gov. Christopher Christie’s successful election last year.
Denis Wilbeck, of Bayonne, who ran unsuccessfully for Bayonne City Council earlier this year, will also be on the ballot. Wilbeck has also run for freeholder and city council several times and is currently a vice principal in the Bayonne School District.
Robert Mays, who is an aide to State Senator Sandra Cunningham, and who has also run for Bayonne City Council in the past, will also be on the ballot.