Ex-Ridgewood inspector gets probation after stealing nearly half-million in quarters
MARCH 21, 2014, 7:35 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014, 7:35 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Veteran defense attorneys could only describe it as a sweetheart-like deal — a former town official being convicted of stealing nearly half a million dollars and walking away with a slap on the wrist instead of going to prison.
“It’s startling to see that type of plea bargain,” said Frank Lucianna, of the deal given to Thomas Rica. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Related: Ex-Ridgewood inspector admits to stealing $460,000 in quarters from village
The deal, which was orchestrated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Rica’s attorney, Robert Galantucci, calls for the former Ridgewood public works inspector to receive five years’ probation when he’s is sentenced June 6. Rica also will have to repay the $460,000 in parking meter quarters he stole over a two-year period.
The sentence also caught village officials off-guard.
In a statement, Mayor Paul Aronsohn said that “the Prosecutor’s Office was clear with us that this was their investigation and their decision, and that we had no say in the matter.”
Aronsohn added: “We were surprised and disappointed that he wasn’t going to get jail time, but I appreciate the prosecutor’s determination to recoup all of the money stolen from Ridgewood taxpayers.”
Rica has to pay at least $2,000 a month over the next five years to Ridgewood, with a lump sum of $69,000 due at sentencing. Rica’s pension with Ridgewood will also count towards his overall debt, as will his unpaid personal time from the village.
Still, it’s the kind of plea deal any defense attorney would be thrilled to get for their client, Luciana said, especially since mandatory sentencing guidelines instituted by the state’s Supreme Court in 1979 imposed five- to 10-year prison terms for theft of anything worth over $75,000.
Aronsohn is sending out more and more ridiculous quotes in an attempt to stomp out this big bonfire. Instead is being a spin doctor, why doesn’t he start being a leader?
Obviously the recoupment of money is more important than a pound of flesh, whatever the mayor says is irrelevant because members of the blog lynch mob won’t believe it no matter what it is. A lot of the blogger here scream abo
How is it a ridiculous quote ? You are not paying attention to what the man said just grinding your own ax.
Obviously the recoupment of money is more important than a pound of flesh. Whatever the mayor says is irrelevant because the lynch mob bloggers won’t believe it. I wonder how many bloggers scream about taxes, and money spent, yet would put the thief in jail rather than get the money back, which is what would happen if he gets incarcerated.
The Village just lost $500K.
Someone should be held accountable other than Rica.
Who else had keys to the coin room?
Who is head of that department?
Rutishauser?
And what about the Finance Department?
It took them 25 months to figure out that were $500K short. OMG.
This is mismanagement at its worst.
We need a full audit.
Who knows maybe we’ll find out which line item the $10K NFL fine came out of.
I can’t really follow #4 because it isn’t English, but these posts, including #1, are just a continual smear job of the Mayor – what is your problem, what’s with the axe to grind ? Don’t you ever have anything positive to say or are you just a whining complainer ? Get a pair and attend Council meetings and make your voice heard openly if you have better ideas.
#6 clearly you are one of the pack of three.
#7, I don’t even know what that means. Are you in the Gang of Eight ?
#8 you must not live in Ridgewood if you do not know who the pack of three is that #7 is referring to.
#6 Just posts the same response everywhere on this blog whenever anyone criticizes the Mayor or his incompetent majority – who apparently vote, and stumble, together on everything. At what point does the Mayor or either of his running mates “get a pair” and take some responsibility for their words, deeds and lack of oversight? If the Mayor cannot be held accountable, who should be?
john spano fucked this town up with the bull shit story’s and all the head games. wait in till the work force talks to the new boss.
the workers told the mayor and council that we need a meeting . just the workers and council, no managers.
#11 do you REALLLY think that is going to happen? (the meeting that is ) I’ll agree the town is fucked up.
the guy is allowed to count his pension and accrued time against his restitution ? What is going on here ? The Village should be going after this guy for the full $460,000, his pension and accrued time, and any wages he was paid while this theft was happening. What does this guy have on the Village and Bergen County Judge ? By the way, $69,000 + $2,000 per month for 5 years ($120,000) + his $30,000 pension (not bad for only 10 years !), plus his $8,400 accrued leave only adds up to $227,400… I guess the judge has as much contempt for Ridgewood property taxpeyers as Rica. Where is the rest of the $460,000 ?