Township resident charged with extortion
Old Bridge engineer to plead not guilty to charges of bribing
BY LAUREN MATTHEW
Staff Writer

The Old Bridge Township engineer was indicted last week on charges he took financial favors from a developer who does business with the township.

The Jan. 13 indictment charges John Vincenti, who is also Old Bridge’s director of community development, with official misconduct, accepting or receiving unlawful benefit, gift to public servant, witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

Vincenti, 43, of Brick, allegedly sought and received services from Woodbridge-based developer Atlantic Realty. A representative of that firm paid $3,800 for the removal of trees from Vincenti’s home between May and August 2003, according to the indictment, announced by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Justice.

Atlantic Realty, a prominent builder in Old Bridge whose developments include Matchaponix Hills, Matchaponix Estates and Presidential Estates, paid Stonaker Tree Service for the work at Vincenti’s home, according to John Hagerty, spokesman for the Division of Criminal Justice.

Hagerty said that Atlantic Realty was told that a better work relationship would come from the favor.

The builder, however, will not be charged in the matter, and representatives of the company could not be reached for comment for this story.

“The indictment charges that he [Vincenti] solicited and accepted $3,800 of services to which he’s not entitled,” Hagerty said. “That’s a violation of his position as a township official.”

Other allegations state that Vincenti asked an Atlantic Realty project manager, who was a potential witness in the investigation against him, to lie to the grand jury.

“He attempted to tamper with witnesses, to get an individual to lie to support his version,” Hagerty said.

Additionally, Vincenti is said to have tampered with documents to make it appear that he had paid for the landscaping work done at his home.

If convicted on all five corruption counts, Vincenti faces up to 30 years in state prison and a fine of up to $340,000.

Brick Township Business Administrator Scott MacFadden said last week that Vincenti has not done any engineering work for the township. His only connection to Brick is that he lives there, he said.

Mark Anderl, Vincenti’s Perth Amboy-based attorney, said Monday that his client will plead not guilty to the charges against him. Anderl said he would not comment further on the charges, however.

No substandard construction has been found as a result of the supposed shakedown, according to Hagerty.

Attorney General Peter Harvey, in a statement last week, called the matter “an insidious example of corruption that is unfortunately considered ‘business as usual’ by far too many government officers.”

The investigation into Vincenti’s alleged activities involved “undercover investigative techniques and other sophisticated investigative procedures to document the alleged illegal activity,” according to state Criminal Justice Director Vaughn McKoy.

Officials would not comment on specific methods used in the investigation, however.

The indictment branches from an investigation that began last February, when the state subpoenaed Vincenti, now-resigned engineering secretary Mary V. Chin, township subcode officials Barry C. Bowers and John D. Amabile, and retired subcode official Ronald Concannon. All township records pertaining to those individuals were requested by the state.

That investigation began on a tip given to the Division of Criminal Justice in mid-2003, Hagerty said. Due to the nature of the investigation, Hagerty would not comment on that tip.

McKoy said the initial investigation, which is ongoing, focused on allegations of bribery and corruption related to the township engineering and code department. State investigators are looking at further allegations that municipal employees “have solicited money or favors from developers, contractors and others doing business in the township in exchange for expedited and/or favorable service and rulings on applications, permits and inspections,” McKoy said.

Further arrests are possible.

“Should [this investigation] continue in its current fashion, there is the potential for additional charges,” Hagerty said.

Hagerty would not comment on the possibility of further investigations in Old Bridge as a result of this case.

“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,” McKoy said in the statement.

Old Bridge Mayor Jim Phillips said Vincenti has been placed on administrative leave without pay. Vincenti was on a preplanned vacation last week when the indictment was handed down, the mayor noted.

Vincenti began working for the township in 2001 as acting township engineer and acting director of community development. He has held statutory appointments to both positions since October 2002. The appointments expire in November of this year.

Indictment is not a valid reason for Vincenti’s termination, Phillips said. He can only be taken from his post if convicted.

“We’re in a difficult situation,” Phillips said. “The accusations are directly related to his job.”

As an engineer, Vincenti has been responsible for the review of many documents and involved in the approval of many applications, making sure they conform to township ordinances and codes, Phillips said. He oversaw permitting functions including fee assessment and collection, and inspection and occupancy matters.

“He’s had a big part in the development of the town,” Phillips said.

Assistant Township Engineer Parmindar Sumal is now serving as acting township engineer, and Business Administrator Michael Jacobs is in charge of community development.

Phillips said township officials and his administration have been helping with the state’s investigation as much as possible.

“We’ve been actively supporting the investigation,” Phillips said. “We’re working hand-in-glove with the Attorney General’s Office.”

Phillips, the Township Council and Assistant Township Attorney Carol Berlen have been instrumental in the investigation, state officials said.

“Whatever it takes to assist the Attorney General, to clean up the situation, I’m willing to do,” Phillips added.

Phillips said that he does not think this investigation will be over anytime soon, and said he expects the state’s inquiry to be thorough.

“There has been such a mountain of information that has been requested,” he said. “I can’t imagine that this will stop with one individual.”

Vincenti is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court, Middlesex County, for arraignment in the next few weeks.

The indictment was handed up by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg.