Three Ocean County residents have been indicted on charges they stole more than $30,000 from a group that helps veterans.
Jesse Violante, Mary Anne Dileo, and Gary Mclain are charged with theft by unlawful taking.
Each allegedly took additional checks beyond their normal salaries.
Violante, 34, of Tuckerton, was director of Vetwork, a Lacey Township-based nonprofit that provides resources and assistance to veterans in Ocean County, Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
It is governed by a board of directors that assists veterans with various services, such as obtaining employment and finding suitable housing.
It was partially funded by a county grant.
Violante was responsible for overseeing employees and certifying all expenses.
Dileo, 67, of Manahawkin, was the office manager who processed the payroll. Mclain, 34, of Little Egg Harbor, was in charge of community outreach.
An audit by the Board of Directors sparked the investigation after they found the three received extra payroll outlays, Billhimer said.
Violante received five extra payments totaling $5,855; Dileo received 26 duplicate payments totaling $19,588, and Mclain received five duplicate payments totaling $4,972, according to the charges.
Violante and Dileo surrendered themselves to law enforcement and were charged on summonses, processed by Ocean County Sheriff’s officers. They were released on summonses.
Mclain, who was originally charged on a warrant, surrendered himself to authorities and was subsequently released pursuant to New Jersey Bail Reform.
Billhimer commended the work of Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Heisler who is handling the case on behalf of the state, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Unit with the assistance of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, for their thorough investigation.
