An Egg Harbor Township man accused of stealing a deceased police sergeant’s pension money also faces a federal wire fraud charge in South Dakota.
Mark Johnson, 58, is accused of using his company to defraud the Dakota Magic Casino out of $149,600, according to a federal indictment lodged against him in March.
Johnson was charged in Atlantic County last year for stealing more than $22,000 due to the two juvenile daughters of retired Hamilton Township Police Sgt. James Puccio.
At the time of his arrest in August 2018, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said Johnson had deposited the money into accounts bearing the name “Mark Johnson” and/or his business.
While Tyner did not name the company, the federal charge does.
Johnson allegedly submitted a proposal March 25, 2014, through Atlantic Power & Equipment to the Dakota Nations Gaming Enterprise to sell refurbished law maintenance equipment.
The proposal was accepted and, three days later, he was sent a check for $149,600, payable to the company, according to the indictment.
The equipment was never delivered and Johnson never returned the money, the indictment states.
Johnson has been traveling back and forth for the two cases, his attorney told Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Donna Taylor during a court appearance Thursday.
