A Ventnor Code Enforcement officer who allegedly stole more than $91,000 was indicted on several counts earier this month, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced Monday.
Michelle Calderon, 37, of Egg Harbor Township, allegedly took cash from citizens and businesses intended as payment for various city permits, and then kept the cash for herself.
She was indicated on charges including pattern of official misconduct, official misconduct, misapplication of entrusted property and altering computer software to commit theft.
Calderon tried to cover up the discrepancy by removing the cash revenue from the paper copies of the Excel sheets saved for the annual audit that comes at the end of June or beginning of July, according to the affidavit of probable cause previously reported by BreakingAC.
The box ready for the 2022 audit was found behind Calderon's desk in the Building and Housing Department, according to the affidavit.
Surveillance footage shows Calderon bringing documentation from the Building and Housing Department to the Finance Office on the second floor in City Hall at the end of her shifts, the affidavit states.
When the paper copies were compared to the original computer copy, it shows the cash revenue was removed from the paper copy for the year 2022, according to the allegations.
Further review found $91,199 was misappropriated dating to 2021, the affidavit claims.
Suspicions were first raised June 16, sparking the joint investigation by the Prosecutor's Office Professional Standards & Accountability Unit and Ventnor police.
She was previously released on a summons.
